Shane Monahan ran in four tries as Gloucester thrashed London Irish to move seven points clear at the top of Pool One of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Freddie Burns converted Monahan's first two scores and kicked three penalties as Gloucester led 23-3 at the break, Tom Homer replying for Irish.

Rob Cook extended the lead before Monahan completed his hat-trick to secure a bonus point.

Monahan crossed for a fourth time before Dan Robson completed the rout.

It leaves Gloucester with their destiny in their own hands going into their final two pool matches against Mont de Marsan and Bordeaux-Begles early in the new year.

But, after this heavy defeat, the Exiles, who are second in the pool, will need to win both their remaining games against the two French teams and hope Gloucester slip up to stand a chance of pipping them to a place in the quarter-finals.

LINE-UPS

Gloucester: Cook, Sharples, Tindall, Twelvetrees, Monahan, F. Burns, Cowan, Murphy, Dawidiuk, Harden, James, Hamilton, Savage, Qera, Kalamafoni.

Replacements: M. Thomas for Cook (66), Molenaar for Tindall (61), Robson for Cowan (52), Britton for Murphy (50), Wood for Dawidiuk (50), Knight for Harden (19), Cox for Savage (61), Evans for Kalamafoni (61).

Sin Bin: James (46), Britton (77).

London Irish: Homer, Ojo, Shingler, Armitage, Watson, Geraghty, Allinson, Lahiff, Paice, Aulika, Sandford, Evans, Low, Gibson, Gray.

Replacements: Gaston for Ojo (66), Moates for Allinson (51), Yanuyanutawa for Lahiff (41), Lawson for Paice (41), Halavatau for Aulika (41), Garvey for Sandford (51), Danaher for Gibson (74). Not Used: Tagicakibau.

Att: 10,535