Cardiff Metropolitan 6s beat University of Gloucestershire 33-21 on Wednesday despite the hosts having less of the ball in the fixture.
Gloucester left the field deflated as their winless run was stretched to five in all competitions in a fixture that included enough chances for the visitors to snatch it from the Archers.
The hosts started the game on the upper hand with strong carries and probing attacks aplenty.
With the Gloucester defence being tested heavily in the early stages, Met were able to convert their dominance into points.
Captain Charlie Bancks, who was impressive from number eight all afternoon, gave his side a brilliant start with two tries inside the first quarter of an hour.
The home side began to swing the game’s momentum in their favour by setting the tone with a strong first half hour.
In Gloucester territory once more, hooker Rhys Smith charged the Archers’ pack over the line at the tail of a dominant maul to put the hosts 19-0 up.
Despite it being a difficult first half hour, Gloucester hadn’t done too much wrong to find themselves behind by three scores.
Therefore, once they got their hands on the ball, they too added points to the score line.
As the game progressed, set piece became vital for the visitors as their strong scrum created a spark of belief that they could build back into the game.
After going to the corner from a scrum penalty on halfway, Kian Healy pounced onto a loose ball off the lineout.
The scrum-half danced his way through the Cardiff Met defence to dot down for a try that his coach, Callum Braley, would’ve been proud to score himself.
Gloucester had finally woken up, and just four minutes later, they were within five points of the once rampant hosts.
Returning to action for the first time since his concussion in early October, Dan Page was back amongst the action and the tries.
The Welsh prop bundled over the Cardiff line from close range from a tap penalty move with the extras being added by captain Aodha Hession who was flawless off the tee all afternoon.
With the score 19-14 going into the half time, Gloucester’s confidence was high as their hunt for their first win of the season seemed on.
However, just as they did in the first, the home side started the second half strong and secured a bonus point with their fourth try.
Another strong driving maul allowed scrum half George Harris to spot a gap on the blind to score under the sticks undetected in the first five minutes of second half play.
But Gloucester remained in the fight.
Chance after chance was created, but the home side were always able to turn the ball over and kick it long for the Gloucester back three to chase and restart the attack.
After refusing to go for the corner on numerous occasions, Gloucester took it to their opponents with tap penalties any time the visitors were penalised.
Their bravery was rewarded as Sam Fellowes powered over to score his first ever try for the club.
But the Gloucester elation quickly turned to agony.
Cardiff Met replied instantly with another score to successfully prevent the comeback with the game’s last score with 12 minutes remaining.
Connor Corbet was able to get the ball down in the corner after the ball was flung wide in clinical fashion to see the win through for the hosts.
After the new year, Cardiff Met 7s head to Plock Court to face Gloucester on Wednesday, January 22.
Gloucester will hope they can put a forgettable 2024 behind them and start 2025 with a long-awaited victory.
