GLOUCESTER centre Henry Trinder’s outside chance of gaining a place on the bench for the big West Country derby against Bath on Saturday were dashed when he picked up a hamstring injury in a run-out for Hartpury College at the weekend.

Trinder, who has been recovering from a fractured shoulder picked up in only the second game of the Aviva Premiership season against Sale back in September, made a try-scoring cameo for his old college side, while his Gloucester team-mates were in Italy confirming their place at the top of the European Challenge Cup Pool Five with a 32-16 win over Zebre.

“I had surgery on my shoulder and had some titanium put in there and everything had been going well with my recovery,” said Trinder.

“I was about four weeks ahead of schedule and in my mind I was hoping to be involved in the Bath and Wasps games on either side of Christmas.

“That’s not going to happen now as I have a hamstring injury and I am back in the hands of the medics.

“My original target for a comeback game was the European match against Oyonnax at Kingsholm on January 15 and I am hoping that is still a possibility.”

Trinder was thoroughly enjoying his comeback game – Hartpury’s 25-20 victory over Blaydon in National One – until the setback.

“It was great to play with a few friends from college and get some match practice in a good standard of rugby, but coming off after half an hour was not part of the plan,” said the 25-year-old England Saxons international and former Cirencester RFC junior.

As for Saturday’s derby, Trinder said: “The Bath game is the biggest of the season – and they usually end up very close.”

They don’t get much closer than last season’s affair when Bath left Kingsholm 18-17 victors in one of the most incendiary clashes between the sides.

Gloucester, reduced to 12 men by the sending-off of Sila Puafisi and the sin-binning of Mike Tindall and Huia Edmonds, were valiantly defending a 17-11 lead when Bath were awarded a last-minute penalty try.

A mass brawl ensued, resulting in the Cherry and Whites being further reduced to 11 when Tavis Knoyle was dismissed for his part in the fight, and George Ford kicked the conversion which gave Bath their first win at Kingsholm since 2006.

Minutes earlier, Trinder had to cut short his involvement in that game due to a hamstring problem, having put his side in a strong second-half position with Gloucester’s only try of the match.

“One or two decisions didn’t go our way and we were all very aggrieved,” said Trinder. “I’m sure the lads will want to put it right.

“We come into the game with some good momentum from the European victories. We targeted five points from the home and away matches with Zebre and came through both with flying colours.”