George Barton conversion save draws comparisons from Gloucester days of old

This past weekend, Gloucester fullback George Barton was applauded by fans for his quick thinking in sinking a conversion after the ball had fallen off the kicking tee.

Barton was left with two options; freeze and allow the two points to be wasted or pick the ball up and attempt a drop goal. Well, not wishing to allow his West Country rivals to pull away, Barton put the ball right through the posts under humongous pressure.

Sadly for Barton and his teammates, the score would not affect the end result, with Bath eventually winning 31-55.

Bartons Gloucester have a rich and proud history going well back into the amateur days, well before the modern kit and playing styles came into fashion. Certain parts of the game remain relevant, however, notably Barton’s score.

Gloucester Rugby’s social media team checked back through the archives to find former fullback Tim Smith pulling off the exact same move against Nottingham at Beeston back in the latter part of the last century.

Check the videos out here:

𝗧𝗜𝗠 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛 🤝 𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡

Decades apart but the same quick-thinking from the two Gloucester full-backs. 👏#GLOvBAT | 🍒🛁 pic.twitter.com/95x2WrXPNq

— Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) October 14, 2024

Tim Smith (1982-1996, 351 apps)

Tim finished his Gloucester career with a triumphant farewell at Twickenham on 20 April 1996, playing full back for Gloucestershire in the County Championship Final. Gloucestershire beat Warwickshire 17-13 to equal Lancashire’s record of 16 titles, in the last season of the competition in its traditional format.