Bristol axed by three-try Forrester

That put Gloucester 15-10 up at the break and Forrester added his second try after 55 minutes, bounding through Bristol tacklers in a 30-metre sprint for the line.

His full repertoire was needed to complete his hat-trick - a chip ahead and chase ending with Forrester beating Felipe Contepomi to the touchdown which finally broke Bristol's resistance eight minutes from time.

Saint-Andre begins contract talks with Gloucester owner Tom Walkinshaw later this month but his understandable pride in the performance of his young team can only strengthen his chances of staying put after his present deal runs out next summer.

He said: 'Two and a half years ago there was no foundation to the club. Now we are more organised and have a much better structure.'

Saint- Andre now has a squad of depth with challengers in several positions.

'I think I will have a big headache,' said Saint-Andre. 'Before the game I told them they had a good opportunity to show me they could be first choices - and now I am worried. But it's good for the present of Gloucester and good for the future.'

The present had looked a good deal worse when Bristol scored a cracking try after only 90 seconds. Centre Phil Christophers sliced open Gloucester's midfield and lofted a pass to David Rees, who crossed in the corner.

Henry Paul, starting a match at fly half for the first time in his eighth game for Gloucester, struggled with his kicking from hand and missed four of his nine attempts at goal. But Gloucester were in tryscoring mood and Terry Fanolua set them on their way by finishing off a neat counter-attack launched by back row stand-ins Koli Sewabu and Pierre Caillet.

Forrester then took over before Marcel Garvey ran in an injury-time fifth.

Bristol promised much but could add only one more try when full back Lee Best powered his way through the middle five minutes into the second half.

His try took back a lead which changed four times after the interval.

Too many of his colleagues had bad days, however, giving up the ball in the tackle a staggering 24 times in the first half alone. They badly missed lock Garath Archer, banned for punching Gloucester's Trevor Woodman in the Premiership five weeks ago, and the injured Andrew Sheridan.

Saint-Andre's priority this season is Heineken Cup qualification and, with his team sitting third in the Premier-ship and unbeaten in the Parker Pen Shield, the Frenchman feels the Powergen Cup is the third most likely route to his favoured destination.

However, a few more league defeats may force him to revise his strategy before the Powergen quarter-final at London Irish.