Bath have eased past Gloucester Rugby 39-16 at Kingsholm Stadium this evening to extend their current winning run to six games.

The hosts were ahead inside three minutes when Greig Laidlaw kicked over the first of his three first-half penalties, while George Ford helped accumulate the points for his side with five pens of his own.

Following what was a battling first-half performance from Gloucester, they found themselves further adrift on 51 minutes when Ford split the sticks yet again to put his side in command.

Gloucester's task was made all the more difficult shortly before the hour when replacement Sila Puafisi was shown a yellow card, and Bath capitalised on the man advantage when they rumbled over for a penalty try.

Matt Garvey dived over for the visitors' second of the evening 10 minutes later, which was awarded after some deliberation, although Gloucester hit back immediately following some smart awareness from Dan Robson to dash down the left and cross over.

There was still time for Garvey to add a second try on his return to action, with Ford's successful conversion signalling the end of the contest.

The victory sees Bath move back within two points of Aviva Premiership leaders Northampton Saints, while Gloucester drop to ninth.