Jump to Main ContentJump to Primary Navigation
SaintsConference & EventsFoundationStore
News

WANDERERS 6 GLOUCESTER 12 Flawless Billy Burns Wandies

Travis PerkinsSponsored by Travis Perkins

In another battle of the boot, it was Gloucester who left smiling and with the Aviva ‘A’ League points on a miserable, wet evening at Franklin’s Gardens.

Neither side could muster a clear try scoring opportunity and with Billy Burns landing all four of his shots at goal, the Wanderers had to settle for a losing bonus, despite a late barrage inside the visitors’ 22.

A couple of early chances went begging for the hosts, Jordan Onojaife knocking on stretching for the line and Sam Olver pulling a penalty attempt wide.

When a similar chance presented itself for Gloucester, Burns made no mistake and having captured the lead, the Cherry and Whites would enjoy their best spell of the half. Crucially, the pressure would not yield points and though Sion Bennett’s powerful break came to nothing, it would afford the Wanderers another shot at goal.

It was another that strayed just wide for Olver, the elements making for tricky kicking conditions for the Saints fly half - not that Burns was experiencing the same frustrations with the elements in his favour. He flew another over on the wind from 40 metres to double the lead four minutes before the break and take his side in with the upper hand.

They would find themselves up against it shortly after though, Elliott Stooke yellow carded with the Wanderers pressing hard and Sam Olver opening the hosts’ account with an altogether more simple opportunity as a result. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of moments before Burns would again hit the mark and re-establish a six-point gap that was looking increasingly handy as the evening wore on.

Stooke returned with no damage done and Burns continued to reward Gloucester’s hard work when Howard Packman held on under pressure. Importantly, his fourth penalty made it a two score advantage but with five left on the clock that became one thanks to Olver’s second three-pointer of the night.

Aided by a yellow card for Burns, a couple of penalties took them close, but the visitors were savvy enough to sack a threatening rolling maul. With no time to go to the corner, the Wanderers tapped the penalty but threw it too wide and into touch.

TIMELINE
10mins WAND Miss pen Olver
18mins GLOS Pen Burns 0-3
33mins WAND Miss pen Olver
36mins GLOS Pen Burns 0-6
HALF-TIME WAND 0 GLOS 6
45mins GLOS Yellow Stooke
46mins WAND Pen Olver 3-6
48mins GLOS Pen Burns 3-9
51mins GLOS Miss DG McColl
65mins GLOS Pen Burns 3-12
75mins WAND Pen Olver 6-12
79mins GLOS Yellow Burns
FULL-TIME WANDERS 6 GLOUCESTER 12

WANDERERS - Mallinder; K Pisi, Elliott, Stephenson, Collins; Olver, Kessell; Hobbs-Awoyemi, Williams, Denman, Onojaife, Woolford (capt), Marshall, Allman, Bennett

Dawes, Stout, Parkins, Moon, Cardall, Mitchell, Eves, Packman

GLOUCESTER - McColl; Halaifonua, Trinder (capt), Atkinson, Purdy; Burns, Braley; Murphy, Lindsay, Thomas, Latta, Hicks, Stooke, Thomas, Ludlow

Spencer, Gibbons, McNulty, Wilson, Mullis, Vellacott, Protheroe, Thorley

REFEREE Gareth Holsgrove

Visit the Saints Store
Visit the Saints Store
Match tickets on sale now!
Match tickets on sale now!
23/24 Rugby Camps
23/24 Rugby Camps