Following Gloucester’s 26-15 win over Harlequins at Kingsholm, here are our five key takeaways from the PREM Rugby clash.
The top line
Gloucester ended their wait for a PREM win with a 26-15 victory over Harlequins, but it was by no means a walk in the park for George Skivington’s side.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges, capped off with a score for Cadan Murley after a concentrated period of pressure close to the try-line. That lead, though, lasted mere minutes as Ben Redshaw danced over following a well-worked strike move.
Quins again came back strong, and regained the lead in the 23rd minute as Alex Dombrandt powered over from short range.
On the stroke of half-time, though, Gloucester were gifted the lead after a misplaced Rodrigo Isgro kick found its way into Lewis Ludlow’s grasp, and the flanker gleefully dived in under the sticks. Advantage Gloucester.
That momentum carried into the second-half, with the hosts adding two more tries to their tally through Redshaw and Ollie Thorley, while Quins added a mere Marcus Smith penalty to their own as Gloucester claimed an impressive bonus-point win.
Game of two halves
You felt both sides needed the win tonight, for their own reasons too. Gloucester came into the game winless after the first five rounds of the PREM, while Harlequins could have pushed themselves further into the play-off pack.
That desperation really stood out in the first-half, creating a rather scrappy contest – in both senses of the word.
It all just felt a touch impatient from both sides, with neither really finding their true rhythm. Yes, there were flashes – the first-half tries came directly from clever attack – but flashes were few and far between. Crucial last passes found themselves travelling forward, balls were spilt out of the back of mauls, rucks were turned over and tries were even gifted out (Lewis Ludlow’s score on the stroke of half-time for example).
Around that, there was a little bit of needle in the contest, again likely driven by both sides’ desire to win. There was the odd shove off the ball, the odd tussle between the sides on the touchline; which then added some extra spice to the contact area.
That changed at the turn of the half, though, with the game quickly finding the fluidity it lacked in the first period. Spaces just presented themselves in a way they didn’t earlier on, passes found their way into hands more frequently and intent turned to accuracy.
Back in the mix
The 2025/26 season has been difficult for the Cherry and Whites, especially compared to last year, but this game could serve as a turning point for them.
If you take out some of the messiness from the first-half, Gloucester have now set their blueprint in attack. Things seemed to click like they did last season, with Williams and Byrne linking in a way they’ve not quite managed to do to date.
Around that, Seb Atkinson’s and Redshaw’s ability to act as an extra playmaker allowed the Leinster import to sit slightly deeper and then let the play happen around him, rather than him coming up flat to the line and making things happen.
Then, Gloucester pounced. The timing of pass out to Thorley, whose work really sparked the Cherry and Whites into life, and Will Trenholm saw Gloucester power through the Quins defensive line and finally turn half-chances into points.
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It was also rugby without fear, something that was a cornerstone of their game last year too. Seb Blake nailing a ridiculous 50:22 was the perfect example of that, but there were many more. This Gloucester side is different to last year, granted, but the hallmarks are very much there. They play their best rugby when they are allowed to express themselves and play without fear.
They are still someway down the table, despite the win, but this could relight their season.
Inconsistencies again
Quins are capable of some dazzling bouts of play, but yet are also plagued by the inevitable sense of implosion. That happened today.
They started really brightly, to their credit, leading 12-7 after 23 minutes, and would have taken a lead into half-time if not for a gifted try for Ludlow.
From there, inconsistencies and errors began to creep their way into their game. Marcus Smith and Jarrod Evans seemed to lose the spark they had in those early moments, as their shape just faded into nothing, while the battle in the breakdown, something which had served them so well in those early moments, shifted towards the hosts.
This is an all-too familiar tale for the Londoners this season. The same thing happened against Bath and Leicester where they had the game by the scruff of the neck, and they will certainly have the same sort of lingering feeling today about what could have been.
If Harlequins want to make themselves genuine top-four contenders, they need to make the most of games like this. They need to put their foot on the throat.
They don’t quite seem to have that ability just yet.
Test watch
As always, there were some players who put their hand up for Test selection.
Young England A flier Redshaw caught the eye with some flashy scores, but he was also pretty tasty around the park. He offered some real solidity in the backfield, particularly in the air, and combined that with some deft handling skills to act as that link option in attack. Returning winger Ollie Thorley was simply phenomenal today, proving the real spark behind Gloucester’s resurgence. His power, speed and eye for space allowed him to motor through the Quins defence with every touch, and it could be a performance that seems him climb the England ranks as well.
Wales might be in the midst of a hammering at the hands of the Springboks, but Tomos Williams again looked the real deal.
For Harlequins, Alex Dombrandt again showcased his shift towards a more traditional number eight role with his work in the tight, while Fin Baxter also impressed both at scrum time and in the loose as well.
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