Northampton Saints withstand a ferocious Gloucester fightback to secure their first Prem win of the season.
The Prem
Gloucester (7) 35
Tries: Jordan 2, Joseph, Venter, Fasogbon Cons: Byrne 5
Sin-bin: Byrne (72)
Northampton (31) 37
Tries: Pearson, Litchfield, McParland, Hendy Cons: Belleau 4 Pen: Belleau 3
Sin-bin: Hendy (50), Pearson (53), Lockett (64)
Northampton withstood a ferocious second-half fightback from Gloucester at Kingsholm to secure their first Prem win of the season.
It looked like the Saints were suffering a nightmare repeat of their opening-day draw with Exeter Chiefs last week, when they lost a 33-7 half-time lead by failing to score after the break.
They sprinted into a 31-0 lead in front of a stunned Shed as Tom Pearson, Tom Litchfield, Archie McParland and George Hendy secured the bonus point inside 35 minutes.
Gloucester summoned the spirit of the Chiefs from last week as Northampton again fell apart, lock Cameron Jordan getting the hosts on the scoreboard before half-time and then Will Joseph, James Venter, and Jordan again putting them within striking distance as three Saints players were sin-binned for repeat infringements.
Afo Fasogbon looked to have won it in dramatic fashion with Gloucester's fifth try, giving Ross Byrne an easy conversion, but Northampton cleared their heads and, after Byrne was yellow carded, Anthony Belleau coolly kicked the resulting penalty to win it.
More to follow
Gloucester: C. Atkinson; Loader, Joseph,S. Atkinson, Thorley; Byrne, Williams; Knight, Blake, Fasogbon, Thomas, Jordan, Basham, Venter, Mann.
Replacements: Innard, McArthur, Laulala, Alemanno, Bokenham, Taylor, Englefield, Edwards-Giraud.
Northampton: Hendy; Todaro, Hutchinson, Litchfield, Martin; Belleau, McParland; Iyogun, Walker, Miller Mills, Coles, Van Der Mescht, Scott-Young, Chick, Pearson.
Replacements: R. Smith, Fischetti, Kundiona, Lockett, Brown, Weimann, Thame, Pater.
Referee: Adam Leal
Category: General Sports
