Surrey 22 Gloucestershire 38

A hat-trick of tries from wing Sam Baker in eight second half minutes eased Gloucestershire ahead of a determined Surrey side which had enjoyed a comfortable lead at half time.

Baker finished with four of Gloucestershire's six tries as the visitors secured maximum points to apply pressure on pool leaders Cornwall.

After Surrey had made a hash of the kick-off Newent scrum half James Dean broke from a scrum on the halfway line in the first minute to take Gloucestershire to the Surrey line.

Baker scored the first try after three minutes when coming off his wing and bisecting the Surrey centres to score between the posts. Leo Fielding converted but Gloucestershire squandered two glorious chances to increase their lead, the first of which saw right wing Reuben Goatley tackled without the ball inches short.

Rather than Gloucestershire receiving a penalty try Surrey raced up-field and outside half Matt Noble opened their account with a penalty.

Noble added a try after the Gloucestershire defence was caught ball-watching to put Surrey ahead. Gloucestershire handling was poor and the numerous errors were capitalised upon by Surrey. After Gloucestershire butchered a third try-scoring chance further poor defence allowed Surrey centre Alfie Molloy to score a second home try. Noble's conversion saw Surrey lead 15-7 at half time.

A different Gloucestershire kicked off the second half and good support play enabled lock Jack Robson to finish off a fine move ninety seconds after the restart. Fielding's conversion reduced the deficit to a point.

Gloucestershire then capitalised when home skipper Ian Kench was yellow-carded. Gloucestershire took a quick penalty and Baker finished off a magnificent sweeping move to score and take the lead.

Gloucestershire ran back the restart and fine handling put Baker in again. Fielding's conversion opened up a 26-15 lead. Six minutes later a powerful surge from the Gloucestershire forwards created space and Baker charged in for another try. Fielding converted and at 33-15 the game was effectively won.

Surrey wing Karyim Irving secured a consolation try, with Noble adding the extras, but Fielding completed the scoring with a try in last play after replacement scrum half Jak Evans took a quick penalty and spotted space out wide.

In football parlance this was a game of two halves. Gloucestershire over-complicated play in the first half but played with composure and control after the break for a deserved win.

However, Cornwall’s win at Hertfordshire means that Gloucestershire have to beat Hertfordshire at Clifton on Saturday and hope Surrey can win in Cornwall to have a chance of making the Bill Beaumont Cup Final.

Scorers: Surrey: tries - Noble, Mallory, Irving; conversions - Noble (2); penalty - Noble Gloucestershire: tries - Baker (4), Robson, Fielding.

Teams: Surrey: O Turner; T Richards, A Molloy (all London Irish Wild Geese), E Carne, K Irving; M Noble (all Dorking), W Crow (Rosslyn Park); C Connor (London Irish), S Johnson (Dorking), C Zeiss (Esher), I Kench (Esher - capt), M Higgins (Dorking), D Livett (London Irish), H Elbrow (Dorking), H Rowland (Rosslyn Park).

Replacements: M Bunn (London Irish), S Obano, H Shepherd, T Lee (all Dorking), M McDonald (London Scottish), J Gott (London Irish) - all used Gloucestershire: E Rees (Lydney); R Goatley (Newent), S Hanks (Cinderford), L Fielding (Blackheath), S Baker (Cinderford); M Wilcox (Cinderford - capt.), J Dean (Newent); J Wrafter (Hartpury College), N Stroud, S Fritchley (both Old Centralians), P Buxton (unattached), J Robson (Dursley), C Rovery (Lydney), M Brown, M Lane (both Cinderford).

replacements: S Preece (Old Centralians), A Gibson (Newent), T Jerrum (Lydney), R Birkin (Cinderford), R Webb (Newent), S Rodwell (London Irish Wild Geese), J Evans (Thornbury) - all used.

Referee: R Bourke