| Gloucester (14) 29 |
| Tries: Clarke, Harris, Alemanno, Carreras Cons: Hastings 3 Pen: Hastings |
| Northampton (24) 31 |
| Tries: Langdon 2, Mitchell, Coles, Litchfield Cons: Smith 3 |
Northampton Saints climbed to 3rd within the Premiership as they narrowly beat Gloucester in a see-saw nine-try tussle at Kingsholm.
Saints led 17-0 after 22 minutes following tries from Alex Mitchell, Alex Coles and Curtis Langdon.
Tries from Freddie Clarke and Chris Harris, both aspect of a second from Langdon, made it 24-14 at half-time.
Matias Alemanno and Santiago Carreras scores put Gloucester in entrance however Tom Litchfield’s transformed strive gained it.
After Carreras had helped Gloucester observe Saints in incomes a strive bonus level, centre Litchfield’s Sixty fourth-minute strive levelled the scores – and Fin Smith added the extras to grab victory.
However, having already landed three conversions and a penalty on his return from damage, Scotland’s Adam Hastings missed a 45-metre angled penalty with the final kick of the match.
Saints now head into Christmas inside two factors of latest leaders Bathtub, whereas, regardless of struggling a seventh straight league defeat, ninth-placed Gloucester’s additional shedding bonus level lifts them 10 away from backside membership Newcastle.
Having trailed 24-7 after 35 minutes, it was a yellow card for Saints centre Rory Hutchinson for a excessive deal with on Ollie Thorley which introduced an on the spot change in momentum as Gloucester scored 22 unanswered factors.
The hosts capitalised instantly earlier than the break with a strive from Scotland centre Harris after which additional lowered the arrears when Argentine lock Alemanno compelled his approach over.
Hutchinson then returned however couldn’t shift the momentum again his aspect’s approach as Gloucester took the lead for the primary time.
Carreras completed off a flowing transfer for strive quantity 4, transformed by Hastings to take his aspect forward for the primary time, earlier than the Scot added a penalty to make it 29-24 going into the ultimate quarter.
However Northampton broke out of defence when scrum-half Mitchell despatched Litchfield racing to the left nook to tie the scores once more.
Worcester outdated boy Smith then knocked over the match-winning conversion from the touchline to regain their misplaced lead.
Who’s subsequent?
Northampton now host Sale in a gathering of third in opposition to second subsequent Saturday earlier than travelling to Exeter on Saturday 6 January.
Gloucester go to Twickenham for a night kick-off to face Harlequins subsequent Saturday, earlier than the native derby with Bathtub on Sunday 7 January.
Gloucester head coach George Skivington:
“Within the first 25 minutes, they got here out of the blocks quickly and opened us up too simply. Our defence had been significantly better within the earlier sport in opposition to Clermont however a few of our unhealthy habits snuck again in.
“A few of our strike-plays paid off and we have been very a lot in management however they broke out to attain a typical Saints check out of nothing. We overplayed within the final 20 minutes. We should always have kicked the ball extra behind them.
“I am positive we scored a authentic maul strive in that essential last interval but it surely wasn’t given. I consider I will be given an apology a while later for that call.
“It was good to see Adam Hastings again as it’ll blow the cobwebs away after being out for seven months. It was an important and troublesome kick and we’ll forgive him that.”
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson:
“We have been nowhere close to our greatest. Our self-discipline was very poor. It was our dedication that simply noticed us via.
“We gave away lots of penalties together with two essential ones which may have simply price us. We’re lucky in that respect. Nonetheless, we have been excellent at taking our possibilities.
“The yellow card was essential as we instantly conceded a strive after which spent the primary seven-and-a-half minutes of the second half underneath the cosh in our 22.
“Our boys purchase into our DNA in order that they study to not take the proportion possibility and as a substitute search for house and it paid off with our breakaway strive.”
Gloucester: Carreras; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Llewellyn, Thorley; Hastings, S Varney; Elrington, Socino, Balmain, Clarke, Alemanno, Ackermann, Ludlow, Mercer.
Replacements: McGuigan, Ford-Robinson, Gotovtsev, Jordan, Clement, Englefield, S Atkinson, Evans.
Northampton: Furbank; Litchfield, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman; F Smith, Mitchell; E Waller, Langdon, Hill, Mayanavanua, Coles, Lawes, Pearson, Graham.
Replacements: S Matavesi, Haffar, Millar-Mills, Munga, Augustus, Braley, Savala, J Garside.
Sin-bin: Hutchinson (40)
Referee: Hamish Smales (RFU)