Gloucester 34-22 Bath: Freak injury leaves Olly Barkley with suspected double fracture

England international Olly Barkley suffered a suspected double fracture of his left leg as Bath's unbeaten Aviva Premiership run came to a grinding halt against play-off rivals Gloucester.

Barkley was carried off during the second half wearing an oxygen mask following a lengthy delay while he was treated on the Kingsholm pitch by paramedics.

Although there was no immediate news about the stricken Bath centre, there are fears he has broken his leg in a repeat of a pre-season injury suffered in 2009.

"I know the ambulance was called and I am presuming he went to hospital, but I don't have any information," said Bath head coach Steve Meehan. "It seemed to be the same leg he injured a couple of seasons ago. I can only assume it is a fracture around the same position.

"You don't want to see anyone out of the game for a long period of time - let's just hope it is not complicated and he can get back to full fitness as quickly as possible."

Barkley's departure, which came after his team-mate Butch James appeared to fall on him, completed a dismal day for Bath as they suffered a 34-22 defeat.

Although the visitors scored tries through Matt Banahan, Tom Biggs and Ben Williams, Gloucester claimed a bonus point success through touchdowns by Tom Voyce (two), Henry Trinder and Paul Doran-Jones, while fly-half Nicky Robinson kicked 14 points.

Third-placed Gloucester not only completed a season's double over their fierce local rivals Bath, but a ninth successive win in all competitions represents their longest unbeaten run since 2002.

Meehan added: "I think we invited Gloucester in today and they accepted the invitation.

"Our breakdown wasn't as good as it had been, or needed to be, and our decision-making to get out of our defensive third wasn't particularly composed.

"We had some good opportunities to score more tries, but our decision-making, accuracy and execution let us down. We let ourselves down and our supporters down with that performance."

A dominant Gloucester scrum underpinned their bonus-point victory, confirming a team transformed following early-season struggles that rendered them anything but play-off contenders.

They have two games in hand on the two clubs above them - Leicester and Saracens - while they remain unbeaten in league action at Kingsholm since October 2009.

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath said: "We had a lot of control in the first half. We created quite a lot, but didn't capitalise because of our own mistakes. But in general, the scrum was strong, collectively we were good and we didn't panic or try to force things in the wrong areas of the pitch.

"But you are only as good as your next game, not your last one.

"Harlequins away in three weeks' time is massive, then we have a huge eight days in April with Leicester away, Northampton at home on a Tuesday night and then Saracens away.

"Some big challenges lie ahead that will determine whether or not we make the top four, top six or whatever. All we can do is keep plugging away.

"We are doing all right - I am chuffed for the players."

Scorers: Gloucester: Tries: Trinder, Doran-Jones, Voyce 2. Con: Robinson. Pens: Robinson 4. Bath: Tries: Banahan, Biggs, Williams. Cons: Barkley, James. Pen: Barkley.

Gloucester: Morgan, Sharples, Trinder, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Voyce, Robinson, R Lawson, Narraway (c), Hazell, Buxton, Hamilton, James, Doran-Jones, S Lawson, Wood. Subs: Azam, Thomas, Harden, Brown, Strokosch, Pasqualin, Burns, Molenaar.

Bath: Cuthbert, Banahan, Williams, Barkley, Biggs, James, Claassens, Taylor, Watson (c), kirving, Grewcock, Hooper, Bell, Mears, Flatman. Subs: Dixon, Barnes, Palma-Newport, Fernandez Lobbe, Mercer, McMillan, Vesty, Scott.