WATCH: Adam Hastings wins it for Gloucester with MASSIVE drop-goal against London Irish

Dylan Coetzee
Gloucester's Adam Hastings catached the ball against London Irish.

2K89334 Gloucester Rugby's Adam Hastings in action during the Gallagher Premiership match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Picture date: Friday October 21, 2022.

Gloucester were trailing 21-19 in the 62nd minute against London Irish in a gruelling Premiership clash before a moment of solo brilliance turned the tide.

Fly-half Adam Hastings took the game into his own hands, running back to claim an Irish clearance over his head only to steady himself and launch an absolute rocket of a drop-goal attempt from 55 metres out to give his side the lead.

Little known to Hastings at the time is that the three points would prove decisive in the clash, giving Gloucester a narrow 22-21 win away from home.

Outrageous feat

A truly remarkable feat to kick a drop goal from such a distance especially given the context of the clash. Hastings told BT Sport after the game that he felt he had “decent” contact and the ball was “hanging” but was delighted it went over.

“I thought I had made a decent contact. I had hit two in the warm-up from similar distance so I felt confident. It was actually a bit of a hangin’ one but they all count,” Hastings said after the win.

The Premiership continued to produce tight and exciting scorelines with this clash as the Exiles controlled much of the game, taking an early 15-5 lead thanks to Agustin Creevy and Ben Loader crossing for tries whilst Paddy Jackson was on hand to kick five extra points.

Santiago Socino scored a try between the two from London Irish before Ruan Ackerman crossed before half-time. Socino completed his brace after the break, with Hastings kicking two from three conversions.

However, it was the drop goal and game management in the remaining minutes that held the scoreline resulting in an impressive win for George Skivington’s men.

Licence to play

The Gloucester coach believes the heroic moment comes out of the licence to play what it is in front of them during the game.

“The guys have always got licence to play what is in front of them. It was sticky out there, we weren’t breaking them down, they weren’t breaking us down so moments like the drop goal make the difference,” Skivington said after the game.

The win moves Gloucester into fourth place on the table but with a game in hand on all three teams above them as they face Exeter Chiefs, who are in third by virtue of points difference, at home this weekend.

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