Agen see off Gloucester in France
James Simpson-Daniel's efforts were in vain for Gloucester
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Friday, 12, Jan 2007 11:00
French sides Agen and Biarritz came out on top in the latest round of Heineken Cup games, seeing off Gloucester and Overmach Parma in the Friday night fixtures.
Gloucester, needing a win to stand a realistic chance of qualifying from Pool Two, went down 26-18 to Agen at the Stade Armandie. The visitors had led with 13 minutes to go, but a succession of late penalties spelt disaster for their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.
The French were too much for the away side and soon took a 14-0 lead via tries from Pepito Elhorga and Arnaud Mignardi.
Gloucester gave themselves a chance of a positive result when Iain Balshaw stole down the blindside to reduce the deficit to 14-5 at half time.
The Cherry and Whites' fightback began in earnest in the second half, with a prolonged period of pressure ending with them 15-14 in front.
A Ryan Lamb penalty was followed by a storming run from James Simpson-Daniel, who sped past two men before feeding the ball inside to Peter Richards, who went over for the try. The subsequent conversion by Lamb, following by another penalty, meant that Gloucester had scored 18 points without reply and were now in the ascendancy.
But Agen hit back with two penalties of their own, and though subsequent Gloucester pressure saw Simpson-Daniel and Mike Tindall both go close, the hosts sealed it with another penalty late on.
With a game against group leaders Leinster still to come, Gloucester now only have a mathematical chance of qualification.
Biarritz had earlier continued their ominious form with a comprehensive 45-3 win in Pool Six. Bottom side Overmach Parma offered little resistance as they were swept aside by the side from south France.
Last year's semi-finalists ran in seven tries to secure their fifth bonus-point win in a row and move ten points clear at the top of their group.