Gloucester took a giant stride towards the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as Henry Paul inspired victory over fierce European rivals Munster at Kingsholm tonight.
Paul kicked 17 points and created the game's solitary try for wing James Simpson-Daniel thrilling a capacity crowd.
Paul's goalkicking and creative midfield play proved the difference between two hugely-committed sides, setting Gloucester up nicely for next Saturday's return Pool Five encounter in Limerick.
Gloucester currently head the group, five points clear of Munster, but they will recall only too painfully last season's 33-6 defeat at Thomond Park that cost them a quarter-final place.
Munster had their moments tonight, but only threatened fleetingly in attack, and Gloucester's well-oiled forward machine, coupled with the inventiveness of Paul outside, proved too heady a combination.
Up front, although Munster manfully matched their opponents in many areas, the home side held a physical edge.
Munster wing Anthony Horgan scored a late Munster try, but fly-half Ronan O'Gara, who had earlier kicked two penalties, missed the conversion, and hopes of a losing bonus point disappeared into the mud.
Gloucester went into action without suspended hooker Chris Fortey and injured prop Phil Vickery, but there was an intriguing contest at fly-half between Duncan McRae and Munster's Irish international O'Gara. The last time they opposed each other, McRae received a red card and seven-week ban when he landed a flurry of punches on O'Gara during the Lions' 2001 tour of Australia.
The opening exchanges proved predictably fast and furious, and Gloucester established impressive momentum which culminated in Paul slotting a third-minute penalty from 10 metres out.
Munster would have expected an early onslaught, but their defence was up to the task and they drew level 10 minutes later when O'Gara found his range via a post. The tackling from both sides was ferocious.
Gloucester were the more dangerous team with ball in hand, and Munster only just held out when centre Terry Fanolua tried to squeeze over in the corner. The home side also made their presence felt in the set-pieces, stealing Munster lineout possession on three occasions, but in slippery, wet conditions, handling errors undid much of that work.
Munster spent most of their time defending, relying on the kicking skills of half-backs O'Gara and Peter Stringer to clear danger, and Gloucester knew they needed a score before the break, otherwise the psychological edge might have been lost.
It did not materialise though, and Munster made a rare excursion into Gloucester's 22 as half-time approached. Gloucester cleared their lines, but not sufficiently well enough and they had a lucky escape when O'Gara rifled a 35-metre penalty chance wide with the half's final kick.
The rain relented after half-time, and Munster reappeared with a spring in their step, taking the game to Gloucester for the first time. Horgan and centre Rob Henderson both went close, but Gloucester could notescape, and O'Gara put Munster ahead with a 45th-minute penalty. The lead lasted barely a minute, as Gloucester struck through a superb piece of vision by Paul.
He spotted a gap behind Munster's defensive line-up, and his cleverly placed kick allowed Simpson-Daniel to dash through, pick up and dive over. Paul completed a virtuoso effort by booting the touchline conversion. And he was not finished, adding penalties in the 58th, 63rd and 70th minutes that took Gloucester clear, leaving Munster with a mountain to climb. Horgan managed a consolation effort, but there was no stealing Paul's thunder, and his drop-goal two minutes from time completed a truly outstanding contribution.
And to compound Munster's misery, Donnacha O'Callaghan was sin-binned during injury time after Gloucester scrum-half Andy Gomarsall was taken out off the ball.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
