Gloucester scored three tries in a stunning four-minute period to take charge of their Guinness Premiership derby clash with Bath at Kingsholm.

In total, five tries were scored in a thrilling first half, with Gloucester taking a six-point lead into the break.

James Simpson-Daniel scored two of Gloucester’s tries before limping off, while Bath’s third-choice hooker Rob Hawkins has gone over for both of his side’s tries.

Bath opened the scoring after bossing a frantic opening five minutes, during which they lost a clearly dazed Michael Claassens.

The visitors started at their trademark tempo – and benefited when hooker Hawkins, only in the side with Lee Mears and Pieter Dixon both missing, opened the scoring.

Bath kicked a penalty to touch, securing a five-metre line-out, and drove over the line with Hawkins emerging with the ball. Butch James’ conversion gave Bath a 7-0 lead.

Gloucester, who began to take charge at the scrum, worked their way back into the game and registered their first points through a Carlos Spencer penalty after Bath captain Alex Crockett had been yellow-carded for persistent offside.

Spencer and James exchanged penalties to leave Bath 10-3 up, before Gloucester’s attacking blitz.

Simpson-Daniel dived on Spencer’s chip through for Gloucester’s first try, before Charlie Sharples crossed in the corner two minutes later following a determined run down the left.

And when Bath coughed up cheap possession in their own half, Simpson-Daniel raced in from halfway, injuring himself in the process, to complete a remarkable four-minute turnaround. From 10-3 down, Gloucester were 20-10 up.

But Bath hit back, Hawkins stretching to the line for his second try after Matt Banahan’s offload. James again converted to make it 20-17, before replacement Olly Barkley landed a penalty with the final kick of the half to increase Gloucester’s lead.

Gloucester Rugby: O Morgan; I Balshaw, J Simpson-Daniel (O Barkley 39), A Allen, C Sharples; C Spencer, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, G Somerville, A Eustace, A Brown, A Satala, A Hazell, G Delve (capt). Reps: A Titterrell, J Forster, D Wright, D Williams, R Lamb, M Foster.

Scorers: Tries – Simpson-Daniel (2), Sharples. Con – Spencer. Pens – Spencer, Barkley.

Bath Rugby: J Maddock; A Higgins, A Crockett (capt), E Fuimaono, M Banahan; B James, M Claassens (S Bemand 3); D Barnes, R Hawkins, D Bell, J Harrison, P Short, A Beattie, J Scaysbrook, D Browne (J Fa’amatuainu 33). Reps: M Lilley, A Jarvis, S Hooper, S Berne, M Stephenson.

Scorers: Tries – Hawkins (2). Cons – James (2). Pen – James.

Sin-binned: Crockett (16-27, persistent offside).

Referee: W Barnes.