Two tries from lock George Skivington propelled London Irish to an 18-12 victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday.

Relegation candidates Irish had already lost three times to their hosts in domestic and European competitions this season, but two first-half tries an unlikely source helped the Exiles exact revenge.

Centre Steven Shingler added a penalty and conversion, while England international Freddie Burns booted four Gloucester penalties, yet Irish deserved a first Premiership away victory this season at the seventh attempt, which was sealed by fullback Tom Homer's late penalty.

It took them five points above bottom club Sale Sharks, who tackle Saracens tomorrow, and sent them into a five-week league break with renewed optimism of avoiding the drop. In contrast, a losing bonus point was scant consolation for Gloucester after a four-month unbeaten home record disappeared.

They were architects of their own downfall in many ways, taking wrong options, lacking the patience to break Irish down and losing composure when clear attacking opportunities presented themselves.

While the west country club remain firmly in the play-off picture, they could have few complaints about a defeat that underlined the Premiership's tight, intense nature this term.

Former England skipper Mike Tindall captained Gloucester in the absence of finger injury victim Jim Hamilton. Tom Savage filled Hamilton's second-row berth, while loosehead prop Dan Murphy took over from Nick Wood and Rob Cook returned at full-back.

Irish included England centre Jonathan Joseph on the wing - Sailosi Tagicakibau and Shingler were rugby director Brian Smith's preferred midfield partnership - but England prop Alex Corbisiero failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Max Lahiff.

Burns booted Gloucester into a second-minute lead, yet Irish were not daunted by the size of their task, and after Shingler landed an equalising penalty they deservedly went ahead.

Gloucester were guilty of trying to run before they could walk, throwing out ambitious passes that were invariably spilled, with Burns guilty inside his own 22 by lobbing an ill-conceived ball to wing Charlie Sharples that Irish almost capitalised upon.

The visitors' opening try, though, arrived after 23 minutes when a spell of concerted pressure near Gloucester's line resulted in Skivington powering over. It was Irish's first touchdown for almost five hours of Premiership rugby.

London Irish's George Skivington crashes over for a try © Getty Images

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Shingler missed the conversion, but Irish continued to grow in confidence and they capitalised on another Gloucester blunder after Burns had kicked his second penalty.

Gloucester wing Shane Monahan was the guilty party, making a hash of trying to gather the ball just inside the home 22, and Irish scrum-half Pat Phibbs scrambled possession to Skivington, who touched down unopposed.

Shingler landed the conversion, and Gloucester could have few complaints about a 15-6 interval deficit as Irish threatened a first Premiership away win since they triumphed at Worcester last April.

The only blot on Irish's landscape was an injury to England squad hooker David Paice, who limped off on the stroke of half-time and was replaced by former Gloucester forward Scott Lawson.

Gloucester boss Nigel Davies made a triple substitution just 10 minutes into the second period, taking off Murphy, scrum-half Jimmy Cowan and flanker Akapusi Qera, but there was no immediate sign of his team showing an improvement.

Irish were content to keep their defensive shape and absorb Gloucester's heavy-duty runners, although Burns gave the home side hope when he completed his penalty hat-trick after 58 minutes and then slotted a fourth penalty three minutes later.

Shingler, having missed four of his six shots at goal, was replaced by Homer, and his 73rd-minute penalty from 40 metres meant Gloucester were sunk.

And they finished the game with 14 players when lock Will James was sin-binned by referee David Rose following a melee that spilled over the touchline in front of the main grandstand.

Reflecting on his side's formbook-shredding victory, Irish boss Brian Smith said: "We picked a big pack so we could go toe-to-toe with them. The game could have gone either way, that is fair to say, but we came out on top. The team showed a lot of character and toughed it out. I thought the whole pack was immense today. It was won up front."

And his opposite number Nigel Davies had few complaints despite seeing his side ssuffer a first home defeat since September 1. "We are hugely disappointed," Davies said. "For whatever reason, as a group, we got it wrong today. We don't think that is acceptable.

"The important thing is that when you lose games, it's how you deal with it, manage it and come back. Today showed we are not good enough to slip off the hard work, intensity and accuracy. When we do that, like we we did today, then we were second best. We had little control over the game. Our set-piece didn't function, which put a bit of pressure on us, and there were far too many errors in our game."

London Irish's George Skivington stretches to score © Getty Images

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