Northampton Saints overturned a 14-point deficit to overcome the early Gallagher PREM pacesetters Gloucester to end the first block of league fixtures with maximum points.
All of Saints’ first-half scoring came in the final ten minutes at a sold out DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens as Tom Pearson and Curtis Langdon crossed to cancel out two converted Gloucester scores for the sides to go in even at the break.
Those early fears of a first home defeat in 19 months began to fade as Northampton combined defensive resolve with a cutting edge as George Hendy and Rory Hutchinson landed the only points of a low-scoring, but compelling second period.
FIRST HALF:
Saints spent the majority of the opening 30 minutes inside their own half and largely without the ball, as Gloucester stepped out as the aggressors and earned momentum‑sapping penalties at the breakdown and scrum.
Their tries in that period were separated by 20 minutes, with Josh Barton first cutting a neat ninth‑minute line and offloading for Max Llewellyn to apply the finishing touch from close range.
Saints’ notable moments were limited to defensive interventions: Callum Chick put his neck on the line for a key turnover, and Hendy covered superbly to field a grubber in behind.
Losing starting scrum‑half Alex Mitchell prompted an earlier‑than‑expected introduction for Jonny Weimann, yet still the men in Black, Green and Gold held firm, surviving a barrage of pressure inside their own 22.
It was going to take a moment of magic for Gloucester to double their lead, and it arrived when Seb Atkinson ripped the ball out the back for Will Joseph to hit the line at speed and roll over close to the posts, with Barton adding his second successful conversion.
Two scores down, Saints enjoyed their best spell of the half with a sustained period of tight carries following an advantage for a high tackle. Anthony Belleau showed immense bravery to kick to within five metres of the line, where the lineout launched a maul that saw Langdon pop off the deck for Tom Pearson to reach over and score – Belleau cutting the deficit in half with the extras.
In the second minute of first‑half stoppage time, Saints earned a central penalty from a scrum inside the 22 and rolled the dice with a kick to the corner. Langdon looped his arrow deep into the safe hands of Alex Coles before the hooker arrived to help drive the mass of bodies over the line, with Belleau’s conversion levelling the scores as the half‑time whistle sounded.
SECOND HALF:
The last time Saints played at home in the league, a record-breaking 18 tries were scored in the 71-48 victory over Bath. Their attacking prowess in that win was matched by the defensive intensity in this encounter – as the defending champions of England proved, if it was in any doubt, they can win in more than one way.
Entering the final third of the match, and after surviving another period of testing defensive work, the tide began to turn through some brilliant play from James Pater. First came a booming central clearance kick, then a break through midfield that put Saints on the front foot – only for Joseph to pull in a looping pass attempt and turn over possession a few metres from his own line.
Tension grew approaching the hour mark, with so much rugby being played between the 22s. Only Belleau’s fleet‑footed break raised pulses as the game entered the final quarter with the score firmly in the balance.
Ion Neculai, on just his sixth PREM appearance, led the charge with some bludgeoning carries as Gloucester were forced backwards.
When a penalty was awarded under the posts, Saints showed their trademark ambition to trade in five and seven‑pointers. Fellow replacement prop Danilo Fischetti tapped quickly and punched a hole, before the backs clicked into gear – Fraser Dingwall linking beautifully with Belleau to lob a perfect pass for Hendy to catch and land his fifth try of the season. Belleau struck a perfect touchline conversion.
A retreating Gloucester player was then penalised for offside, allowing Belleau to nudge to the corner once more. When the muscle‑on‑muscle battle had run its course, Weimann showed remarkable composure to thread a pass for replacement centre Hutchinson, who rode a tackle and reached over to secure the bonus point. Belleau remained 100 per cent from the tee as Saints took a 14‑point lead into the final ten minutes.
Gloucester kept battling in search of a third score that would – with a conversion – earn them a losing bonus point, but Saints stayed hungry and alert to ensure the Cherry and Whites returned home empty‑handed for their efforts.
The five-point haul sees Phil Dowson‘s side end the first five rounds in the top four heading into the PREM Rugby Cup block that begins with the visit of Leicester Tigers to DPD Stadium on Friday 6 November – tickets are available by clicking HERE.
LINE-UPS:
Saints: 15 James Pater, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall (c), 11 George Hendy, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Cleopas Kundiona, 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Callum Chick.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 JJ Van Der Mescht, 20 Tom Lockett, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Jonny Weimann, 23 Rory Hutchinson.
Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson (c), 11 Will Knight, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Freddie Thomas, 7 Deian Gwynne, 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Will Trenholm, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Lewis Ludlow, 22 Dan Robson, 23 Ben Redshaw.