KO
Big moment for skipper Phil Dowson as he leads the Saints out on his 200th Premiership appearance! Freddie Burns to kick off…
SAINTS 0 GLOS 0
2mins
SAINTS TRYYYYY!! Ken with the freedom of the Gardens after a high ball bobbles free. The winger is under the posts and after a quick check with the TMO, Myler converts.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 0
3mins
Perfect start for the Saints, ironically from a dangerous looking cross-kick by Glos fly half Burns. Now a loose pass from the Cherry and Whites gifts Saints possession and a great chance to attack.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 0
7mins
Gloucester hit back! A bizarre start to the game and we're all square. Stephenson carves Glos open but with the visitors just about scrambling enough men back, Saints look to spin it wide and Trinder picks off an interception, running the length of the field and beside the posts.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 7
11mins
Having looked moments from going two tries up, Saints are enduring a scrappy few minutes and van Velze has to scramble at the second time of asking to collect Cook's grubber. Just as Gloucester looked to be in the ascendency though, Saints pour over the top and win a penalty.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 7
13mins
Sloppy again as a lineout move fails to go to hand and Wilson’s punt upfield goes out on the full. 40-odd metres conceded but Glos then make a mess of their own lineout and Saints will put into the game’s first scrum. After an exciting start, it’s been scrappy to say the least!
SAINTS 7 GLOS 7
15mins
Different Waller, same outcome! Ethan gets on top of Harden and while it looks to be heading for a stalemate, the Glos tight-head crumbles and Saints are back in enemy territory, Ken again making ground through a half gap.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 7
17mins
Maybe it's the fact that they're not used to the dry conditions, but both sides are struggling to keep a grasp of the ball! Saints do from this lineout though and while the maul only rumbles a few metres, Gloucester yank it down at the cost of a penalty.
SAINTS 7 GLOS 7
19mins
The two no.8s Dickinson and van Velze are giving Saints ball carrying impetus and though the latter looks isolated in midfield, Gloucester go in from the side and Myler guides over a simple three pointer. Bit of a bang and some claret for can Velze but the South African shakes it off and resumes.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 7
21mins
Saints could do with a few more of those from the right boot of Myler just to settle. They'll be hoping for more charitable contributions from Glos full back Cook, who spills what looks like a bread and butter catch but Saints are then penalised for feeding in the scrum.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 7
22mins
Much like the try earlier, Gloucester don’t need long to level things up. A quick tap from afore mentioned scrum makes ground up the blindside and while the wide channels are covered well, play comes back for Burns to guide over a penalty.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
24mins
Muscular work from Dickinson to wrap up a Gloucester maul after a solid restart take. Net result is a Saints scrum just outside the visiting 22, one which results in a free kick but after a quick burst into the 22, a knock on brings us back for a Gloucester scrum. A disjointed pattern to the game goes on.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
31mins
Gloucester certainly looking like they want to play, but Saints are quick to close down their options on halfway, forcing Burns to kick. Elliott goes back, feeds Wilson and the full back punts to halfway, taking the game back into a midfield where it has spent a lot of time.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
33mins
van Velze looks like he has succumbed to his earlier head injury and Manoa is ready for action in a rather fetching pair of new ‘teal’ boots. Not a bad option from the bench!
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
35mins
Wilson is having a very rare off day, this time spilling what looked like a poor clearing kick from Burns. Very un-Wilson-like, but Robson feeds at the scrum and Saints get the ball bad for a free kick.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
38mins
It’s a scrum that has taken an age to complete, but finally referee Wigglesworth runs out of patience with Gloucester. Saints penalty god to the corner and there’s one last chance to have a go at the Cherry and Whites.
SAINTS 10 GLOS 10
40mins
A real slow-burner of a maul, but one that edges closer and closer before crumbling at the cost of a penalty. Myler lines it up with the clock on zero and duly clips it over.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 10
HT
Saints lead, but will be hoping for much better after the break. They’ve certainly had the better of the game but having taken a slightly fortunate lead, Gloucester then took advantage of their moment of luck to level the game with an interception. Game still very much in the balance.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 10
47mins
Not a lot has changed since the break - the score included. It remains scrappy but Gloucester have earned a first penalty chance of the half.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 10
48mins
And we’re back as we started, Burns landing his third kick of the afternoon.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 13
50mins
Saints first to make tactical changes, Alex, Dickson and Foden emerging from the bench for Ethan, Fotuali’i and Wilson. Big ovation for returning full back Foden.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 13
51mins
Gloucester quickly follow suit in the midst of a long scrum, Puafisi on for Harden and James for Stooke.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 13
53mins
Turnover ball and Saints finally get something going forward with some nice handling. Ken runs out of space on the right though and his inside ball strays forward. Another home change, Mercey for Ma’afu.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 13
54mins
Fresh legs in both front rows but it's the Saints marching forward and through this Gloucester set-piece. Huge shunt for a penalty and Clark looks fired up as the disappointed visitors throw their handbags.
SAINTS 13 GLOS 13
55mins
SAINTS TRY!! A patient lineout drive works well and Gloucester are forced to concede another penalty. Saints have the visitors right under the cosh here and while a second lineout is a little loose, Cit’s that man Clark who bursts from the side of a ruck to score. Delight for a packed house, but no one more so than Clark!
SAINTS 18 GLOS 13
57mins
Myler goes dead centre with the conversion and the Saints are seven-up again.
SAINTS 20 GLOS 13
58mins
If that score and reaction from Clark doesn’t get the Saints going, not a lot will. They’re having to defend at the minute though and Ken positions himself well to usher Thomas into touch.
SAINTS 20 GLOS 13
60mins
More good stuff from the Saints as Dickson and Myler combine following Foden’s burst. Decent chip ahead from Myler but the bounce this time goes against Ken and Gloucester’s chance to clear is compounded by a penalty.
SAINTS 20 GLOS 13
63mins
The game is coming to life and a slick Saints counter is almost counter-countered by Sharples and Glos thanks to a knock on. Myler goes soccer centre back to hack a horribly bouncing kick free away from the flying winger’s path and Dickinson then nicks the lineout.
SAINTS 20 GLOS 13
66mins
SAINTS TRY!!!! This kid's pretty good! A second in two weeks for Stephenson, who crashes through, shakes off a tackler and bamboozles Cook with a gorgeous step in front of the Burrda Stand. George Pisi-esque from the 19-year-old.
SAINTS 25 GLOS 13
67mins
Myler maintains his 100% record for the afternoon and that’s three tries now for the Saints. We’ll whisper it for now, but another decent chance for a bonus point.
SAINTS 27 GLOS 13
69mins
As expected, Gloucester aren’t going away and the hosts find themselves pinned to their own line after a couple of penalties take the Cherry and Whites into the danger zone.
SAINTS 27 GLOS 13
71mins
Gloucester lineout maul is going nowhere and Saints wrap one up to pinch the ball back for a scrum. Make that a penalty, Gloucester with a little ill discipline in the aftermath.
SAINTS 27 GLOS 13
73mins
Brilliant stuff from Nutley under Dickson’s box kick and his eagerness to win back possession sends Foden scampering forward and with the Pisis combining to go within touching distance, Gloucester revert to any means necessary, James seeing yellow for killing the move.
SAINTS 27 GLOS 13
75mins
SAINTS TRRRY!!!!! It’s bonus time at the Gardens! The lineout drive has proved unstoppable today, legally at least, and this time Glos buckle for the Saints pack to drive Waller over.
SAINTS 32 GLOS 13
76mins
Another excellent nudge from Myler for the extras. McMillan and Hooley have joined the action in place of Haywood and Stephenson.
SAINTS 34 GLOS 13
78mins
SAINTS TRRYYY!!! Gloucester are out on their feet. Foden looks rapid in attack and while Gloucester hook clear, McMillan leads the charge back at the Cherry and Whites, offloading beautifully to send Hooley into the corner. His first senior Saints try!
SAINTS 39 GLOS 13
79mins
Disappointment for Myler as his perfect record is ended by the post! No matter though as Saints gather the restart and Dickson ends a good afternoon at the Gardens.
SAINTS 39 GLOS 13
FT
Not a hint of controversy at the Gardens this afternoon, the Saints roaring clear after the break with 26 unanswered points in a scintillating final 25 to earn a maximum haul against Gloucester. Sets it all up nicely heading back into the LV= Cup for a home semi-final with Saracens in a week’s time.
TIMELINE
2mins SAINTS Try K Pisi Con Myler 7-0
7mins GLOS Try Trinder Con B Burns 7-7
20mins SAINTS Pen Myler 10-7
23mins GLOS Pen B Burns 10-10
40mins SAINTS Pen Myler 13-10
HALF-TIME SAINTS 13 GLOS 10
55mins SAINTS Try Clark Con Myler 20-13
66mins SAINTS Try Stephenson Con Myler 27-13
75mins SAINTS Try A Waller Con Myler 34-13
78mins SAINTS Try Hooley 39-13
FULL-TIME SAINTS 39 GLOS 13
SAINTS: Wilson, K Pisi, G Pisi, Stephenson, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali’i; E Waller, Haywood, Ma’afu, Dickinson, Day, Clark, Dowson (capt), van Velze
Reps: McMillan, A Waller, Mercey, Manoa, Nutley, Dickson, Hooley, Foden
GLOUCESTER: Cook; Sharples, Trinder, Tindall (capt), M Thomas; F Burns, Robson; Y Thomas, Edmonds, Harden, Stooke, Hudson, Cox, Kvesic, Evans
Reps: George, Murphy, Puafisi, James, Moriarty, Knoyle, B Burns, Monahan
TP Man of the Match: Calum Clark
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Att: 13,238
