Injured wing Jonny May has called for greater consistency from Gloucester Rugby if they are to fulfil their ambitions of a top-six finish next season.

A number of promising results in February and March – including a first victory against an in-form Wasps since September 2012 – had looked like laying the foundations for a strong finish to the season for the Cherry and Whites.

But four Premiership Rugby defeats in a row put the brakes on things somewhat, with Gloucester dropping down the table as hopes of a place in next season’s European Champions Cup faded.

To compound matters, their defence of the European Challenge Cup trophy came to an end as they were beaten 23-21 by Newport Gwent Dragons at the quarter-final stage.

But while disappointed with the ways things are turned out, May admits the team is already thinking about how to correct matters next season, with a strong finish to the current campaign important for building momentum.

“We would all be lying if we didn’t say it was disappointing, I think we definitely targeted top six and to retain the Challenge Cup,” said May, speaking after opening a new inclusive sports facility at the Hearth of the Forest Community Special School, which was part funded by rugby charity Wooden Spoon.

“Six weeks ago we were doing really well, but for whatever reason we have had a drop off. “We bounced back with a great win against Exeter and we have got a couple of games to finish strongly.

“We’re not good enough yet but we know it and we are going to work extremely hard over the pre-season to come back and do better next season.”

May missed England’s RBS Six Nations Grand Slam after undergoing knee surgery and consequently won't be fit for the squad’s tour to Australia.

But the 26-year-old is optimistic of a full pre-season with Gloucester ahead of the new campaign and believes consistency is key for the Cherry and Whites.

“We spoke about it at our end of season dinner and the best way to break into the top six has got to be consistency,” added May.

“We have shown that we can beat Wasps, at home, and we have beaten Exeter, they are two top four sides.

“But then we go away to Irish and lose, we lost to Worcester away too, those are games that top six sides don’t lose.

“It’s probably a case of just making sure we are as close to our best as possible each week.

“We have all the ingredients but it’s a case of making sure we blend them all together. It’s easier said than done but it’s a bit of fine tuning really because the margins are so fine.”

Wooden Spoon is the UK's leading grant-making charity dedicated to helping disabled and disadvantaged young people through rugby, to find out more visit: www.woodenspoon.org.uk