Gloucester Rugby strolled through to the next round of the European Challenge Cup in a dominant 68-19 defeat of USA Perpignan at Kingsholm.
The Cherry and Whites put ten tries past their French visitors in an thoroughly entertaining display of attacking rugby headlined by a brace from Jordy Reid.
Team-mates Lewis Ludlow, Kyle Moyle, Santi Socino, Mark Atkinson, Stephen Varney, Jack Singleton, Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit joined him on his side’s try scoring charts on the day.
The sides entered the clash with a win and a loss apiece in the group stage of the competition.
Despite the away side controlling much of the early proceedings it was Gloucester that would take the early lead as an interception from Ludlow saw the captain run half the pitch unopposed.
Minutes later Rees-Zammit’s offload would reach Moyle, with the fullback touching down in the corner.
Perpignan responded through hooker Seilala Lam as the visitor’s pack powered over from a maul, but shortly after Gloucester would regain their comfortable lead as Reid linked up with Ludlow to score the home side’s third.
The French side once again responded, this time through Nino Seguela who drove over from short range before George Skivington’s side once again responded through their infamous driving maul as Santi Socino touched down to secure the bonus point.
England international Atkinson scored the final try of the half after fooling Matteo Rodor with a clever dummy to send his side into the changing rooms 35-12 up.
Gloucester started where they left off after the half time break as Arthur Joly was yellow carded for repeated team offences, before Reid would add his second try of the game.
Perpignan continued to show some attacking flair as they broke out of their own 22 to put Seguela over for a brace, but once again the home side responded with fury as scrum-half Varney crossed the white line.
Gloucester would then show off some phase play, putting in Singleton before Harris got his side’s ninth after some TMO deliberation on the grounding.
Rees-Zammit took his side to double figures as he grabbed an interception of his own, characteristically out-sprinting Patricio Fernandez in the final play of the game.
After the game Gloucester Director of Rugby George Skivington spoke positively about the opportunities the game had afforded his players.
With the victory Gloucester confirm their place in the round of 16 of this year’s European Challenge Cup, with hopes of continuing their run in the competition.
In the mean-time the Cherry and Whites look ahead to a Gallagher Premiership clash on Saturday, when they will take on northern rivals Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.
