Gloucester do the job in France but Andy Hazell faces lengthy ban

Fourteen-men Gloucester earned an ugly 11-6 win at Mont-de-Marsan in the opening game of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Ian Clark’s first half try was enough to give the Cherry and White the start of the competition they wanted but they might be without Andy Hazell for a few weeks after the flanker was sent off on 55th minute for repeatedly punching Sebastien Ormaechea on the floor as well as striking him to the head with his knee.
Gloucester travelled to the South of France on the back of five undefeated game with some key players rested and a front row made of youngsters just coming out of the academy but they stood tall dominating the scrum for most of the game.
In poor weather conditions, countless handling errors prevented both team to get their game going but Gloucester were helped by a superb Sione Kalamafoni from No.8 who put his side on the front foot with every carry.
Mont-de-Marsan, who earned a late losing bonus-points, were heroic in defence but couldn’t control the ball for long enough to threaten Gloucester.
Despite dominating the first half hour without scoring, Gloucester finally got the scoreboard ticking when Ian Clark dived in the left corner to reward his pack domination.
Tim Taylor missed the conversion but the Cherry and White were leading 5-0 at the break.
Taylor kicked a penalty early in the second half but the home side got on the scoreboard with a penalty from Jean-Baptiste Claverie.
The game then turned upside down with Hazell’s incident and Sean Cox being sent to the bin on the same action.
But despite being down to 13 men, Gloucester extended the lead through a penalty from Billy Twelvetrees.
Mont-de-Marsan came back within five points with four minutes to go when Claverie landed his second penalty but Gloucester held on to clinch the four points.
For Mont-de-Marsan
Penalties: Claverie 2
Sin Bin: Murray, Taukafa
For Gloucester:
Try: Clark
Penalties: Taylor, Twelvetrees
Sin Bin: Cox
Sent off: Hazell
Mont-de-Marsan: Claverie; Beaulavon, Baegert, Mchedlidze, Dubié; Douvesy, Cabannes; Correia, Bordes, Giudicelli; Murray, Liebenberg; Brethous, De Chaves, Lescure.
Replacements: Taukafa, Phelipponneau, Dos Santos, Farre, Magnaval, Duvallet, Durquet, Ormaechea.
Gloucester: M. Thomas; Sharples, Molenaar, Tindall (capt.), Clark; Taylor, Lewis; Y. Thomas, Britton, Knight; Buxton, James; Cox, Hazell, Kalafamoni.
Replacements: D’Apice, Wood, Chistolini, Stooke, Evans, Cowan, Trinder, Twelvetrees.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Star man: Sione Kalafamoni – Gloucester
NICK VERDIER