Albanese's game has the hallmarks of a Latin cliche

Gloucester 33 Harlequins 7

Ian Botham used to excuse his less sensible behaviour by saying that he was not a light switch that could be turned on and off. In other words, if you applaud his genius, you have to forgive his stupidity. Those frequently left picking up the pieces may not necessarily agree but it is a fact that we do like maverick personalities. They thrill and exasperate, frequently in the same match, if not the same minute. That is why they are so attractive to watch. Their unpredictability can lose matches as easily as win them, but rarely bores.

Quite what Diego Albanese's team-mates thought of his first-half performance would depend on what time of the day they were asked.

The Argentine wing scored a superb solo try in the 19th minute to restore Gloucester's seven-point lead and then, 20 minutes later, received a red card for aiming a head-butt at Mark Mapletoft. Taken on its own, it is an act so stupid as to be worthy of contempt, but to do it when standing next to the referee defies belief.

It is not enough to excuse his behaviour by trotting out all the favourite clichés about the fiery Latin temperament. It left his team-mates with the entire second half to protect a seven-point lead, which they extended to 13 points through two Ludovic Mercier penalties in the 55th and 59th minutes.

And yet it would be churlish not to compliment Albanese for the jinking, side-stepping run from the halfway line that left the Harlequins defence clutching at thin air. They were no more successful in the second half, when they really should have made their numerical superiority count. Mercier and Dimitri Yachvili kicked for territory and Harlequins lacked the organisation to force the game downfield. When they were not conceding penalties they were turning over ball and Gloucester were content to let Mercier keep attempting drop goals. Successful in the 64th minute, Gloucester now had a 16-point lead and, but for a vital steal by Tony Diprose on his own line, they would have added a try as well. It mattered little.

Another penalty in the 78th minute preceded a try for Junior Paramore and a second-half scoreline of 19-0. A quite extraordinary performance and, not surprisingly, there are few complaints around Kingsholm. Unbeaten in the European Shield, up to third in the League, with one of the shrewdest back coaches, Paul Turner, installed last week and the sublimely gifted Henry Paul arriving on Monday fresh from the other code's Grand Final, it certainly looks good for the West Country outfit.

Albanese will get his forgiveness because results are all that matters. Quite what Quins will get when they report for extra training this morning is difficult to know but introductions to each other would not be a bad start. They recovered from a dreadful start to last season and when Will Greenwood and Mapletoft linked neatly in midfield to level the scores, there at least seemed to be some hope. Not now. Not unless they do some hard work.

Gloucester: C Catling (J Goodridge, 69); D O'Leary, J Ewens, R Todd, D Albanese; L Mercier, D Yachvili; P Vickery (capt), O Azam (C Fortey, 64), P Collazo (F Pucciarello, 71), R Fidler, E Pearce, A Eustace (J Forrester, 74), A Hazell, J Boer (J Paramore, 68).

Harlequins: R O'Neill; M Moore, W Greenwood (J Dawson, 66), N Greenstock, D Luger; M Mapletoft (N Burrows, 73), S Bemand; J Leonard, T Fuga (J Roddam, 73), A Olver (P Burke, 65), G Morgan (capt), S White-Cooper (A Codling, 66), P Sanderson (R Winters, 66), T Tamarua, T Diprose.

Referee: J Barnard (Yorkshire).