KO
Dylan Hartley leads out the Saints, in their black, green and gold this afternoon. There's a decent travelling presence in the stands this afternoon. Meanwhile the Shed gives a raucous welcome to their Cherry and Whites, skippered by Tom Savage. Stephen Myler kicks off, with the Saints playing from left to right as we look
GLOUCS 0 SAINTS 0
3mins
It's been an entertaining few minutes of opening exchanges. Saints have had the edge in terms of territory, with Ben Foden making a couple of decent runs. Charlie Sharples looked dangerous, stepping around Luther Burrell, and Gloucester drew first blood at the first scrum, winning a penalty. But Darren Dawidiuk sends a wonky throw, Saints win a penalty at this scrum and Myler kicks 10 metres into the home half
GLOUCS 0 SAINTS 0
6mins
Try for the Saints! Kahn Fotuali'i's pass bounces well for the Saints, Burrell bursts through the middle, and although there should have been a try in that phase Saints retain possession and Foden steps inside the tackle to score by the sticks. Myler converts
GLOUCS 0 SAINTS 7
10mins
Saints fumble the kick off, but even on the Gloucester put in Alex Waller and Tom Mercey have the edge on their opponents, winning a penalty. Myler kicks 10 metres into Gloucester territory on the near side, but there's crossing at a breakdown and Freddie Burns kicks long for a lineout just outside Saints' 22
GLOUCS 0 SAINTS 7
11mins
A lucky let-off for Saints is spoiled when Mercey picks up the ball in an off-side position. Gloucester wasted their last possession in the danger zone, Billy Twelvetrees flinging a long pass into touch. What can they do here?
GLOUCS 0 SAINTS 7
14mins
Gloucester batter away around the fringes, but can't find a way through to the whitewash. Nevertheless play comes back for a penalty, and Burns gets his team on the score sheet
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
17mins
Gloucester got a lucky bounce from a rebounded kick, and as Saints try to run the ball back Christian Day is penalised for holding on. Burns goes for goal from halfway, but the kick is to the right of the posts. Myler drops out from the 22
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
19mins
When the history of misses is written that one will go down as an open goal. Gloucester's pack had sucked in their opponents from a maul, and Burns slid through a nice grubber. It seemed harder not to score, but Henry Trinder knocked the ball on and it's a five-metre scrum. Saints win the penalty and Myler clears 30 metres upfield
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
20mins
After having done the hard work by clearing their lines, Saints suffer a set back when Sam Dickinson is yellow carded for an early tackle on James Simpson-Daniel. Fotuali'i's box kick was immense, and had the tackle been one second later it would have been superb. Nevertheless Saints now have to spend the next 10 minutes down to 14 men
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
24mins
Saints are riding their luck a bit, forcing a couple of passes too many. But they're looking dangerous, too, George North combining with Foden in midfield. But had James Wilson not hit Rob Cook at exactly the right time Gloucester would have had a massive overlap on their left
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
28mins
This time it's Gloucester who are let off, as Saints get all the way to the whitewash but couldn't cross it. Wilson's tackle and pick up set up the position, and although Jamie Elliott came close, and the forwards charged around the fringes, Foden and North couldn't combine for a second try. Gloucester turn the ball over, win a penalty and clear
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
29mins
Another missed opportunity for Gloucester, Sione Kalamafoni sending a hospital pass to Simpson-Daniel on the near side. The winger would have been away, instead Saints have a lineout and Fotuali'i clears
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
32mins
Some justice there for Saints. Calum Clark was harshly penalised for not rolling away after a tackle, despite having been the second man there. Burns kicks deep into Saints' 22, but the visitors' pack holds out and wins a scrum
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 7
35mins
Fotuali'i wins a penalty after a Gloucester man holds on close to the visitors' line. Saints go through the phases from a lineout and Myler sends a good kick ahead to give Gloucester a lineout in their own 22. Saints nick the ball back, then lose it at a breakdown, then charge Jimmy Cowan down to recover and eventually win a penalty. Myler kicks the three pointer
GLOUCS 3 SAINTS 10
38mins
A sliced kick from the 22 gave Gloucester a lineout on the visitors' 22, and this time they make the most of the opportunity. Burns and Twelvetrees suck in the midfield defenders, and Cook gives the scoring pass to Sharples in the right corner. Burns misses from the touchline so Saints still lead - just!
GLOUCS 8 SAINTS 10
HALF-TIME
Cook knocks the ball on at the kick off, giving Saints a scrum in a dangerous position. But despite getting the nudge on at the first put in, and home loosehead Dan Murphy looking to be boring in on Mercey, nothing is awarded, and when Gloucester win the ball against the head Burns sends a kick into touch to end the half
GLOUCS 8 SAINTS 10
41mins
Saints win the kick off, but put themselves under pressure immediately as no one sends a clearance kick downfield. Gloucester win a turnover to set up a good position, and although Elliott comes close to winning the ball back he knocks it on, giving the hosts a scrum 15 metres out
GLOUCS 8 SAINTS 10
42mins
Gloucester go forward and win a penalty. Cowan taps quickly, Twelvetrees cuts a good line and goes over by the posts. Burns converts to give Gloucester the lead for the first time
GLOUCS 15 SAINTS 10
45mins
Try for Saints! Twelvetrees turns from hero to villain, sending a clearance kick straight into touch after taking the ball back into his 22. Saints have a decent lineout, and when they win a penalty Myler goes for the corner. The pack turn on the power and Samu Manoa touches down. Myler converts superbly and Saints are back in front. Wilson comes off for George Pisi
GLOUCS 15 SAINTS 17
49mins
North comes within a couple of metres of his first Saints try, tackled into touch by Sharples. But it's Christian Day who put Saints into the position in the first place with a cracking break from first receiver. Gloucester clear, but despite Saints running it back well a penalty is conceded in the home 22 and Burns clears long to midway inside the visitors' half
GLOUCS 15 SAINTS 17
53mins
Saints nick another lineout, and despite Pisi and North taking play over halfway the ball rebounds off Tom Wood's knee for a knock-on. Good defence from Elliott on Cook sees the ball go to ground, and hacked ahead, but Saints can't capitalise. Eventually play comes back into the visitors' half and North is penalised for not rolling away. Burns kicks the three
GLOUCS 18 SAINTS 17
58mins
Gloucester have their tails up now, but even with a strong breeze behind him Burns's penalty shot from inside his own half was ambitious to say the least. The ball drops well short and is cleared by Myler. Meanwhile Fotuali'i has been replaced by Lee Dickson
GLOUCS 18 SAINTS 17
61mins
The balance of play is definitely swinging Gloucester's way, now, and Burns's confidence despite missing a drop goal is emphasised when he taps a subsequent penalty to go for the whitewash. But Saints hold out around the fringes, and when play comes back to the fly half to spread it wide Burns puts the ball to ground for a Saints scrum. Saints make a sub, Phil Dowson on for Manoa
GLOUCS 18 SAINTS 17
66mins
Try for Gloucester, and it's been coming. Even though Saints had done the hard work around the fringes and got a nudge on at the scrum they lose the ball. Gloucester come left, then right, and after Twelvetrees spins in midfield and Simpson-Daniel dances through a gap Elliott Stooke crashes over. Burns misses, but Saints now have to score a try to go back in front
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
67mins
A load of subs for Saints - Ethan Waller, Gareth Denman and GJ Van Velze on for Alex Waller, Mercey and Dickinson
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
70mins
This is a massive 10 minutes for the Saints. But the forwards lay down a marker, marching a maul 20 metres upfield before winning a penalty. Myler kicks to the home 22, but the challenge is now to do it again!
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
72mins
The answer is no. The maul couldn't be set up, and when play goes into midfield the ball is lost for a Gloucester scrum. Mike Haywood comes on for Hartley
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
75mins
Somehow Gloucester awarded a penalty at that set piece, despite Saints going forward. Twelvetrees - now at fly half - sends up a Garryowen, which Foden collects under pressure. Saints win a penalty, Myler kicks for a lineout on the home 10-metre line. The ball is won, but Saints hold on at a ruck and the danger is nullified
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
77mins
So close! The pack rucks superbly to win a turnover, and Luther Burrell puts North away with a pass. But the ball's drifted forward and instead of a match-winning try for Saints it's a scrum for Gloucester
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 17
79mins
Drama at Kingsholm! Twelvetrees kicked ahead, and with a decent chase it looked like North had been pinned down. But a shimmy off one foot, superb pace and balance and Saints are on the front foot. Clark juggles the ball, and eventually Elliott is put into the clear to outpace Dan Robson to the line. Referee Martin Fox goes to the TMO, but the try stands. Myler converts
GLOUCS 23 SAINTS 24
FT
Unbelievable ending here at Kingsholm. Scrum resets a couple of times and after a third go, Gloucester are awarded the penalty. Kingsholm holds it's breath and Twelvetrees thumps it over. The Saints' late heroics are in vain
GLOUCS 26 SAINTS 24
TEAMS
GLOUCESTER - Cook; Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Simpson-Daniel; Burns, Cowan; Murphy, Dawidiuk, Harden, Savage (capt), Stooke, Kvesic, Qera, Kalamafoni
Reps - Britton, Thomas, Knight, James, Morgan, Robson, Tindall, May
SAINTS - Foden; Elliott, Wilson, Burrell, North; Myler, Fotuali'i; A Waller, Hartley (capt), Mercey, Manoa, Day, Wood, Clark, Dickinson
Reps - Haywood, E Waller, Denman, Van Velze, Dowson, Dickson, G Pisi, K Pisi
REFEREE - Martin Fox
ATTENDANCE - 12,688
TIMELINE
6mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Myler 0-7
14mins GLOUCS Pen Burns 3-7
17mins GLOUCS Miss pen Burns
20mins SAINTS Yellow card Dickinson
35mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-10
38mins GLOUCS Try Sharples 8-10
HALF-TIME GLOUCESTER 8 SAINTS 10
42mins GLOUCS Try Twelvetrees Con Burns 15-10
45mins SAINTS Try Manoa Con Myler 15-17
53mins GLOUCS Pen Burns 18-17
58mins GLOUCS Miss pen Burns
61mins GLOUCS Miss DG Burns
66mins GLOUCS Try Stooke 23-17
79mins SAINTS Try Elliott Con Myler 23-24
80mins GLOUCS Pen Twelvetrees 26-24
FULL-TIME GLOUCESTER 26 SAINTS 24
