Wayward Hayward given kick up the backside
Gloucester
September 10, 2000

Exasperated Gloucester coach Philippe Saint-Andre will send his wayward goal-kickers out on to the practice field after a painful defeat in Saturday's West Country derby.

Outside-half Byron Hayward and scrum-half Andy Gomarsall missed seven goal kicks between them as Gloucester lost to local rivals Bath by a single point at Kingsholm.

Neither man could blame the conditions, which were near-perfect, and their performances contrasted sharply with Bath's Jon Preston, who landed four goals out of four in a 22-21 win for the visitors.

Although Gomarsall scored a try, his penalty miss from bang in front of the posts in the second half was to prove crucial.

``It is very hard to take,'' admitted a downbeat Saint-Andre.

``We controlled more than 60% of the game, but missed seven kicks, which was a great shame.

``All my kickers will have goal-kicking sessions next week, and I will be speaking to Gomarsall about that kick in front of the posts.

``Against Bath, you have got to take the points, especially from 20 metres out in front of the posts.''

Bath coach Jon Callard, who amassed more than 1,000 league points during his playing career and won the Heineken Cup with an injury-time penalty, knew those misses represented a huge let-off.

``At this level of rugby, any time you give away a penalty in your own half, you expect to concede three points,'' he said.

Hayward, relieved of the kicking duties by Gloucester captain Ian Jones following four first-half failures, scored an injury time try that slashed Bath's lead and secured a bonus point, but it was of scant consolation.

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