Premiership: Remarkable Adam Hastings drop-goal helps Gloucester to narrow win over London Irish

Adam Hastings’ incredible 55-metre drop-goal proved to be the difference as Gloucester sealed a tense 22-21 Premiership victory over London Irish on Friday.

Santiago Socino’s second try had brought the Cherry and Whites back into contention when the Scotland international received the ball and brilliantly bisected the uprights from inside his own half.

The Exiles had controlled much of the match and were particularly dominant in the opening half-hour as they went 15-5 up through Agustin Creevy and Ben Loader tries, and five points from the boot of Paddy Jackson.

Socino crossed the whitewash and Ruan Ackermann followed him to reduce the arrears to 15-12, but successive Jackson penalties extended the gap to nine points.

However, Gloucester’s Argentine hooker went over before Hastings stepped up to stun the home crowd.

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George Skivington’s men still had to see out the final 20 minutes, but they defended brilliantly for their fourth Premiership victory in five games.

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The only downside to a thrilling contest were the injuries to England players Henry Arundell and Jonny May.

Wing Loader had an unwitting role in both injuries, first by colliding with Exiles team-mate Arundell as the pair covered the backfield in response to a Louis Rees-Zammit chip and chase.

Seven minutes later and he was joined in the stands by May, who tangled with Loader as they competed in the air for a kick and fell awkwardly.

Immediately sensing the injury was serious, he kept his left arm flat on the floor and called for medics before climbing to his feet several minutes later and leaving the field with the damage protected by a large brace.

England’s second highest men’s try-scorer of all time was poised to return to the wing for the Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, but another significant spell in the treatment rooms now appears likely.

If Arundell joins him, Eddie Jones will lose another important back-three option who was set to provide gamebreaking ability off the bench.

Full-blooded clash

While England were working out the injury repercussions, Irish and Gloucester were battling a full-blooded clash that was decided when Hastings landed a stunning drop-goal.

It was the first time all night they had taken the lead as from the moment Agustin Creevy capitalised on their absent maul defence in the second minute, they were playing catch-up.

Arundell was treated by the physio after making contact with Loader and it was in the moments after he departed that Gloucester hit back.

Inside centre Giorgi Kveseladze sucked in defenders with a hard carry but it was Hastings’ delayed pass that created the opportunity that ended with Santiago Socino sliding over.

An eventful first half took its most drastic turn yet when May departed following his tangle with Loader, who compounded the England wing’s misery by not only winning the jumping contest but also touching down.

Ruan Ackermann rounded off strong work from Gloucester’s pack but once Jackson had rifled over a penalty there was no further score for 17 minutes.

Jackson nudged Irish 21-12 ahead with half an hour remaining but a Gloucester maul finished by Socino blew the match wide open.

Hastings landed his long-range drop-goal that defied expectations by wobbling between the posts and despite a late fightback from Irish, the visitors closed out the narrowest of wins.