Gloucester was all summery sunshine but there was a hint of chill in the air which was not entirely to do with the onset of autumn. Nigel Melville's side are having a particularly fruitful September and on Saturday duly returned to the top of the table four points clear of Leeds, but the atmosphere at Kingsholm is far from mellow right now.
Gloucester could not be doing much better on the pitch, with four wins from four, culminating in this six-try defeat of their near-neighbours. But on Friday the fans mailing the team's website were more concerned about any financial fall-out linked to the owner Tom Walkinshaw's ailing Arrows formula one team.
This was said to be behind the sale of the popular French prop Patrice Collazo to Toulouse, and was expected to result in further departures. As an illustration of the febrile atmosphere, on Saturday morning a rumour was doing the rounds that the France hooker Olivier Azam might follow Collazo back across the Channel.
Azam confirmed that he had been in contact with French clubs, but added that he was staying at Kingsholm for the foreseeable future "unless they decide they don't want me any more", which did not sound like total confidence.
Melville, meanwhile, said that "about five guys" may be released, adding "a few of the French players have been contacted, and it will be considered by the board".
"It's been a difficult week," the Gloucester director of rugby added, trying hard not to grit his teeth visibly. "Of course it is unsettling. I've a team to prepare and the people who run the club have a business to run. Certain decisions are taken and we have to get the team out. Business decisions will be taken and a business decision was taken."
On the pitch, things are far more straightforward. Bristol took an early lead after Brendon Daniel mesmerised the Gloucester cover, and fought hard in spite of the loss of their captain Ross Beattie after five minutes and their new All Black centre Daryl Gibson after 20 minutes. As late as the half-hour they held the lead, but they felt the backlash in the final quarter as three late tries gave a genuine contest the appearance of a rout.
The visiting coach, Paul Thorburn, could explain it, though. "You don't need to be Einstein - we saw a champion side there, well drilled, aggressive and capitalising on any turnover ball," he said. Bristol are a better side than their place at the foot of the table suggests, but after four straight defeats Thorburn is acquiring a nice line in gallows humour. "Anyone got a rope?" was his parting shot.
No rope could have have held Marcel Garvey on Saturday. A hat-trick of tries for the 19-year-old wing on his second full start says much, and Melville says more. "He's a special talent. He has incredible pace, and such power in his legs. Without his shirt on he's like a bodybuilder. Because of his strength he has great lateral movement."
For his first, to level the scores, the local lad with the bulldozer build cut inside from halfway, ran laterally, then changed direction at pace.
Garvey's second, after a fine interchange between Henry Paul and Robert Todd, put Gloucester ahead. His third, a touch-line dodge around Felipe Contepomi followed by a perfect kick and chase, came when Bristol were already buried.
The Shed has much to applaud at present, especially the promise of their No8 James Forrester, who was on fire. It was Forrester who launched the try of the match with 13 minutes remaining, leading a break-out from his own 22.
He then had the wit to find Paul, who had the nerve to resist any temptation to hoof the ball into touch, and after Terry Fanolua and Thinus Delport had got in on the move, Junior Paramore found the Bristol corner. After that the visitors looked mentally and physically spent.
Local loyalties mean everything here: after one set of neighbours had been sent packing, the announcement of the half-time score at Northampton, who were leading Bath 19-3, was met with raucous cheers. Gloucester may lead the Premiership, financial meltdown may or may not be round the corner, but some things never change.
Gloucester: Paul; Garvey, Fanolua (Beim, 80), Todd, Delport (Simpson-Daniel, 78); Mercier, Gomarsall; Woodman, Fortey (Azam, 59), Vickery (capt), Fidler (Pearce, 70), Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore (Buxton, 78).
Tries: Garvey 3, Mercier, Boer, Paramore. Cons: Mercier 3. Pens: Mercier 3.
Bristol: Williams (Drahm, 70); Daniel, Rees, Gibson (Shaw, 20), Christophers; Contepomi, Pichot; Crompton (Bergamaschi, 55), McCarthy (Nelson, 74), White, Archer, Brown (Sheridan, 55), Sturnham, Lipman, Beattie (capt; Salter, 5).
Tries: Daniel, Archer. Con: Contepomi. Pens: Contepomi 2.
Attendance: 10,117
Referee: T Spreadbury (Somerset)
