Melville targets runners-up spot
April 21, 2002

Nigel Melville has set his sights on securing the runners-up spot in this season's Zurich Premiership following their narrow 41-40 win over Bristol.

It was Gloucester's first win in their last three attempts on the road following hefty losses against Wasps and Northampton.

And the five-try success took them back into second spot with just two league games remaining.

"We are back in second place now and it is up to us to keep it - that is one of our goals for the remainder of this season," said Gloucester rugby director Melville.

"We worked on discipline and defence following the Northampton game and our penalty count was down today.

"We are looking ahead much more positively now and it was good to see Phil Vickery come through the full 80 minutes today following his recent injury."

Gloucester owed their victory to a second-half try double from number eight Junior Paramore and two late drop goals by fly-half Ludovic Mercier.

That scoring burst ultimately finished off a brave Bristol side, who had led 27-18 early in the second period.

Despite the defeat though, Bristol still collected two bonus points.

"I am very proud of the way the players stuck at it - we didn't throw in the towel," said Bristol coach Dean Ryan.

"We showed a lot of courage on a day when we could have gone missing when you consider we were without Jason Little and Garath Archer through injuries.

"Ultimately, we couldn't hold the pressure they put on us up front."

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