WORCESTER 17-14 GLOUCESTER

sundaymirror.co.uk 30/03/2008

Gloucester regained top spot in the Guinness Premiership despite suffering a dramatic late defeat against Worcester at Sixways.

Former Gloucester back Thinus Delport sunk his old club with an injury time try.

England wing Lesley Vainikolo's first-half try stirred Gloucester after they fell 12-0 behind to early Worcester touchdowns by centre Sam Tuitupou and wing Miles Benjamin.

Scrum-half Rory Lawson then pounced to inch Gloucester ahead by the break and Worcester were left frustrated until Delport struck by grasping Benjamin's overhead pass with the final move of the game.

Worcester are 14 points clear of bottom club Leeds Carnegie, entering the final four Premiership games.

Gloucester moved back to the top above Bath and Leicester, courtesy of a losing bonus point, yet they will need a considerable improvement when Heineken Cup quarter-final opponents Munster arrive at Kingsholm next Saturday.

Dean Ryan, the Gloucester boss, said: "We left the opportunity out there for them to mug us.

"We had every opportunity to have managed the game, but we just didn't do it."