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Match Details |

Saturday 5 April 2003

Gloucester Rugby 40-22 Northampton Saints

Twickenham Stadium

Powergen Cup Final.

Gloucester Rugby Team |

Starting XV

1. Trevor Woodman
2. Olivier Azam
3. Andy Deacon
4. Adam Eustace
5. Rob Fidler
7. Andy Hazell
8. James Forrester

9. Andy Gomarsall
10. Ludovic Mercier
11. James Simpson-Daniel
12. Henry Paul
13. Terry Fanolua
14. Marcel Garvey
15. Thinus Delport

Replacements

Junior Paramore

Robert Todd

Match Report |

From Gloucester Rugby Heritage

The final was played in front of 75,000 spectators.

Early on Paul Grayson kicked a penalty for the Saints, but Gloucester soon applied pressure and an error by Matt Dawson handed possession to Simpson-Daniel who darted over unopposed.

Paul’s long grubber kick was well chased, possession regained, and Mercier dropped a goal to make the score 10-3. But after 20 minutes the Saints got on top. Grayson kicked two penalties, and with Fidler yellow-carded,

Nick Beal crossed, Grayson converted and Northampton were 16-10 up. For a brief moment, Gloucester regained the lead after Forrester broke and fed Garvey who used his speed to beat the defence. Mercier converted. But by half-time Grayson had kicked two more penalties to one from Mercier, which put the Saints 22-20 up.

In the second half, Gloucester became dominant and Northampton would not score again. Fanolua made a break, and Simpson-Daniel almost made it to the line. The ball was recycled to Paul who put Forrester into the corner. Mercier converted and kicked a penalty after a foul tackle on Paul.

Another Mercier penalty meant that Gloucester were nearly there. Then with little time left Mercier intercepted on the Gloucester 22, and raced on to halfway before passing to Simpson-Daniel. There was only one way that move was going to end.

Full match |

On this day | Gloucester Rugby 40-22 Northampton Saints

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