(Photo credit - Martin Bennett)
Gloucester Rugby beat Saracens 25-24 to claim their first victory at the StoneX Stadium.
The Cherry and Whites scored three tries with Adam Hastings keeping the scoreboard ticking with two further penalties.
What happened?
It was a tight and physical 80 minutes and it went down to the wire.
Gloucester Rugby were first to get on the scoreboard through a Fraser Balmain try. The prop powered over from the lineout drive as the Cherry and White maul proved powerful again.
The competitive nature of the game continued as Dom Morris and Rotimi Segun got over for the hosts and Saracens built a good lead.
The Cherry and Whites hadn’t helped themselves. Both Santiago Carreras and Lewis Ludlow were yellow carded in desperate attempts to stop the Sarries attack and it was with this two man advantage that the home side capitalised.
However, the score was tight at half time thanks to a try from Jack Singleton. Jordy Reid made an electric break and the hooker was there to collect the pass and get over to score making the score 14-12 to the hosts at the break.
In the second half, Hastings kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty goal but Saracens were quick to get back in the lead from an Andy Christie try from the following restart.
Gloucester Rugby refused to stay behind and used the maul to get over for a further try. The driving push went over and it was Lewis Ludlow who was credited for the try, although the captain informed the media afterwards that it wasn't him who scored! It was in fact Jack Clement who went over for the try.
Nailing the conversion, Hastings put us in front and another penalty kick at goal gave the Cherry and Whites some breathing room.
It looked like Saracens were going to snatch the victory when Alex Lewington went over for a late try but Alex Lozowski’s failed conversion left the score 25-24 with just minutes on the clock.
It was a tense final few moments as Saracens fought back up the pitch but getting the turnover, Gloucester Rugby secured the narrow victory over the London club.
Key moment – Jack Singleton
It was a great try from the hooker who capitalised on Jordy Reid’s line break. The hooker has now scored six tries this season.
What’s next?
Gloucester Rugby have a week without a game before hosting Perpignan at Kingsholm in the Challenge Cup on the Saturday 22 January 5:30pm. Tickets are available here.
What a result here at the StoneX Stadium!
That's the game!! After a long period of Saracens attack, we turn the ball over!!!
A Gloucester Rugby scrum! Forward pass from Sarries.
They have the lineout on halfway.
Alex Lewington gets over for Saracens.
Goode goes to touch. They have the lineout in our half.
Hastings slots the penalty.
Hastings calls for the tee.
Hastings adds the extras.
That maul gets rolling again! It looks like it was Lewis Ludlow who got over.
Ciaran Knight is on for Alex Seville. Jack Clement is on for Jordy Reid.
High tackle from Saracens.
Billy Twelvetrees is on for Jonny May. Harris goes out to the wing.
Segun knocks the ball on from Hasting's kick. We ahve the scrum and a huge opportunity on the Sarries 22m line.
Santiago Carreras is off for Louis Rees-Zammit.
We spill the ball forward in attack.
Charlie Chapman has hurt himself and is replaced by Ben Meehan. Singleton is also replaced by Santiago Socino.
We have the scrum.
Ludlow was off his feet. Sarries have the lineout on our 22.
Nick Tompkins is on for Dom Morris.
Kirill Gotovtsev is on for Fraser Balmain.
Saracens offside. Hastings goes for touch.
We spill the ball forward. Saracens will have the scrum.
We were taken out early. We go for the lineout again...
Another tackle off the ball so we have the penalty. Hastings goes for the corner.
Ed Slater is on for Matias Alemanno.
Andy Christie gets over for the home side from the restart.
Hastings slots the penalty.
Ruan Ackermann was tackled off the ball so we have the penalty. Hastings calls for the tee.
They win the penalty at the scrum. They kick to touch and have the lineout inside our half.
A great kick from Santiago Carreras. We have the lineout in their 22. But we spill the ball into touch. Sarries elect for the scrum.
Just inside our half.
A great chip through. But he's caught on his own and gives away the penalty.
Saracens win the penalty at the scrum. Goode goes to touch and they have the lineout just outside our 22.
We knock the ball on so Sarries have the scrum. Segun is off for Mawi as Vunipola is yellow carded.
Sarries caught on their hands. Hastings goes to touch and we have the lineout in their half.
Alex Goode kicks us off!
Half time here at the StoneX Stadium. All to play for in the second 40.
They pinch the ball at the breakdown. They kick the ball away to end the half.
Hastings goes for touch and we have the lineout inside the Sarries 22.
Vunipola is yellow carded for collapsing our maul. We go again.
A great chip from Mark Atkinson sees Chris Harris collect the ball and go forward. But the attack dies so we go back for the penalty. Lineout in the Sarries half.
We clamp over the ball at the breakdown. Hasting goes to touch and we have the lineout on our 10m line.
Hastings slots the conversion.
WHAT A TRY! Jack Singleton gets over the line after Jordy Reid made a great break and offloaded to the hooker who scored!
Lozowski adds the extras.
Rotimi Segun gets the ball and steps back on the inside to go over to score.
Freddie Clarke changed his bind in the maul. Sarries go again.
We were offside. Sarries go to touch and have the lineout in out 22.
Gloucester Rugby make good ground as Chapman ends the game of kick tennis by aiming to touch. Sarries have the ball in their half.
Lozowski adds the extras.
Dom Morris gets over for the hosts.
Lewis Ludlow has been yellow carded.
Carreras is yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. Sarries have the lineout 5m out.
They have the lineout on our 22.
Fraser Balmain!!! The prop has got himself over from the maul. What a score to get us on the board.
We play with the advantage as Sarries hold on at the breakdown. Hastings goes for the corner again as the attack dies.
Jonny May was bumped off the ball by Segun. We have the lineout 10m out.
We get the maul rolling forward but the ball is held in and it goes to ground. Sarries have the scrum.
Saracens hold onto the ball but they are off their feet at the breakdown. We go to touch and have the lineout on their 22m line.
Well chased by the captain. Sarries kick and we know have the ball.
But we go to the air again.
We get the maul rolling on halfway. Ruan Ackermann is carrying hard but we are stuck in our half so Chapman kicks.
A strong start for the home side who force us to kick.
Lots of possession for the Cherry and Whites but the Saracens defence is strong.
Adam Hastings kicks us off and we are underway!!
We're all set for our Gallagher Premiership game against Saracens. Kick off is 3pm so stay tuned for live updates!