What happened?
Gloucester Rugby put on a clinical performance to take the full five points in a 31-7 victory at Franklin’s Gardens.
Two tries from recently announced Lion, Louis Rees-Zammit as well as scores from Jack Singleton and Ed Slater gave the Cherry and Whites the try scoring bonus point with three penalty kicks from Billy Twelvetrees adding the extras.
It was a dominant first half and Gloucester Rugby went into the break 10-0 ahead after a strong opening 40 minutes. Twelvetrees got the Cherry and Whites on the scoreboard early on through an accurate 40m penalty kick at goal and the attacking structures were working well and space was being found.
It was Rees-Zammit who got over for the Cherry and Whites’ first try and it was Mark Atkinson, who was dangerous all game, who sparked the attack with an offload back on the inside to Santiago Carreras who then passed to the Welshman who showed his pace to get to the line.
In the second half, things started to open up and Slater made the most of a poor kick from Northampton to run at the space and dive over the line.
It wasn’t as easy a game as the score line might suggest and Northampton were in the fight for the full 80 minutes with their physical carrying and relentless work rate.
However, the Cherry and Whites were simply better on the day and it was a dominant drive at the lineout which saw Singleton get over for Gloucester Rugby’s third.
It was Rees-Zammit who got over for the all-important fourth score and the winger chased Willi Heinz's box kick and got to the line to dot down before anyone could stop him.
Unfortunately, Santiago Carreras was yellow carded along with Piers Francis for the scuffle that happened after the score and it wasn’t long before the Cherry and Whites were down to 13 men as Tom Seabrook was deemed to have deliberately knocked the ball on when going for the intercept which cost him 10 minutes in the bin.
Henry Taylor got over for Saints’ only score of the game but soon Gloucester Rugby were back to full strength and were able to hold out for the win with a late penalty from Twelvetrees.
Key moment – Rees-Zammit gets over for two
Rees-Zammit proved why he will be going on the plane to South Africa with the Lions this summer.
It was another brilliant display from the 20-year-old winger who scored twice at Franklin’s Gardens showing his raw pace in both scores.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby is back in action on May 17 when they travel to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears.
What a game! What a result!
Twelvetrees slots the penalty!
Barton is on for Atkinson.
Morgan is on for Ludlow.
Henry Taylor gets over for Saints.
Ford-Robinson is on for Balmain.
Tom Seabrook is yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. Gloucester Rugby down to 13 men.
Clement is on for Ackermann
Seabrook is on for Rees-Zammit
Socino is on for Singleton
So is Piers Francis!
Carreras is shown yellow for the scuffle after the try.
TRY number two for Louis Rees-Zammit! The winger chases Heinz's box kick and gets to the line and dots down before anyone can stop him!
Great work from Carreras in defence. Twelvetrees fires the ball to touch and Gloucester Rugby will have the lineout.
Jack Singleton gets over the line! A great lineout maul that shoves itself over!
Twelvetrees goes to the corner.
Saints replace their front row.
Billy Twelvetrees slots the penalty!
Great work from Gloucester Rugby. They have the put in to the scrum on the Saints 22.
ED SLATER! He gets over to score and extends the Cherry and White lead. Northampton made a poor kick and the Gloucester Rugby attack capitalised with the lock sliding over to score.
Solid effort from the Cherry and Whites to hold up the maul up. They win the scrum and exit their half.
Northampton have a great start to the half. They put pressure on the Cherry and Whites and are attacking deep in the Gloucester Rugby half.
Furbank gets us underway for the second half.
What a first half! More of the same needed in the second half.
The Cherry and Whites spill the ball forward. Saints scrum 5m from their try line.
Offside at the lineout! Twelvetrees goes to the corner. Gloucester Rugby have a 6m lineout.
Saints knock the ball on. Gloucester Rugby put in to the scrum! And they win the penalty! A good shift from the forwards.
Biggar is off for a HIA. Twelvetrees stays on.
The clock is off. Biggar is down after colliding with Twelvetrees who also looks to have hurt himself.
Twelvetrees slots the conversion.
TRY! Atkinson put the ball back on the inside for Carreras who makes a break and passes flat to Rees-Zammit who gets over to score! A wonderfully worked try finished by the Welshman's speed.
Twelvetrees puts a chip through. Northampton collect but Moyle gets the man to touch. Cherry and White lineout.
Chapman is off for a HIA. On comes Willi Heinz.
Northampton bring down the maul illegally. Twelvetrees goes to the corner.
Some good kicks from both sides. Play will resume with a line out to Gloucester Rugby just outside the 22.
He slots it with ease.
A good start from the Cherry and Whites. Northampton not rolling away. Twelvetrees lines up a shot at goal.
Billy Twelvetrees gets us underway!
Not long to go now.
Not long until kick-off!