KO
"We will remember them..." An impeccably observed minute's silence from a packed house at the Gardens, as well as the wreath laying at the club's war memorial, precedes Freddie Burns' kick off...
3mins
James Craig charges down Burns’ attempted clearance and while backs beat him to the ball, they don’t release on the ground and Glenn Dickson has his first chance of Saints points. No mistake from the fly half and Saints lead.
SAINTS 3 GLOS 0
6mins
Maybe a few nerves for young Packman as he kicks out on the full and Gloucester have a penalty right in midfield from the resulting lineout. After a short injury delay, Burns clips the three points over.
SAINTS 3 GLOS 3
10mins
Penalty for Glos on halfway as Saints defenders stray offside. This one goes to touch and after mauling the lineout, Gloucester look to get their big men carrying forward. Saints turnover though and Glynn hits the stands with his clearance.
SAINTS 3 GLOS 3
13mins
Penalty for Glos on halfway as Saints defenders stray offside. This one goes to touch and after mauling the lineout, Gloucester look to get their big men carrying forward. Saints turnover though and Glynn hits the stands with his clearance. Penalty advantage coming for Gloucester in the next phase and when a cross kick is well defended by Saints, Burns lands his second from the tee.
SAINTS 3 GLOS 6
15mins
Super high kick from Dickson and even when Gloucester collect from the air, they’re still under huge pressure. A knock on brings the first scrum and a free kick for the Saints. Second time round a penalty comes and Dickson maintains his 100% record.
SAINTS 6 GLOS 6
19mins
Saints don’t deal with the restart well and Packman has to motor just to reel the flying Kvesic in. The young wing makes his tackle though and two passes later Gloucester knock on.
SAINTS 6 GLOS 6
21mins
Second scrum penalty of the evening for the Saints as this one wheels. Dickson goes long to touch and when Glynn looks to dart through a gap, Cox catches him big with a swinging arm at the cost of a yellow card. Miss kick from Dickson means the penalty misses touch.
SAINTS 6 GLOS
24mins
No matter though as Nutley retrieves a high ball and Dickson’s flat pass creates space in behind Burns for Waldouck. Deft grubber from the Saints skipper is kicked equally smartly forward by Wilson and Ken wins the race to get the ball down in the Shrubbery Corner.
SAINTS 11 GLOS 6
27mins
A third scrum penalty in a row for the Saints and referee Lee is forced to have a word with Glos skipper Burns. Another one from the boot of Dickson doesn’t quite find touch though and play is halted as a Gloucester chaser clatters through Glynn on the ball. The dangerous play costs Glos a penalty but could just of easily have been another yellow card.
SAINTS 11 GLOS 6
29mins
The lineout is mauled heavily and when the ball comes loose for the Saints to play, Ken races down the left touchline and skins Thomas with a swift sidestep to slide over. Two tries in five minutes for the Samoan and the Saints and Dickson converts.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
32mins
Nothing going Gloucester’s way and when George takes too long at the lineout, Saints are given a free kick. The visitors just about survive the scrum and despite knocking on in the next play, have a free kick from another set-piece.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
35mins
Fine break from Gibbons for the Cherry and Whites (or Navy and Pinks this evening!) but his 20m burst goes unrewarded as Reynolds knocks on coming onto a pass in midfield. Another scrum penalty for the Saints is followed by some handbags before a wonky lineout from Haywood is punished.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
HT
Glos attack but it’s a Saints penalty to end the half as the ball is wrapped up on the ground. A good half from the Saints who have defended well in the most part and clinically took their two chances, Ken Pisi doubling up on the left for a handy half-time advantage.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
40mins
Second half underway through Dickson and Glos have a penalty on their own 22 as Mercey goes offside round a ruck. Burns thumps it upfield and into touch and after a turnover goes the Saints’ way, Glynn kick to touch goes out on the full. The visitors will have another chance to attack after a tackle is deemed dangerous for a second penalty of the half.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
44mins
The lineout never really gets going from the lineout though and Saints earn themselves a scrum , holding the man and ball up. van Velze takes the penalty quickly and makes bruising yards but the ball pops free at the breakdown and into touch.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
46mins
First chance for Packman to stretch his legs and after beating the first man up, the winger is knocked down off the ball after a chip through. Nothing doing says the referee though and as Saints look to attack again, the ball slips from Dickson’s grasp for a knock on.
SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
51mins
Kiwi to Kiwi as Dickson gets underneath Wilson’s towering kick and Saints have front foot ball from the forwards. Even with a knock on at the base, Saints turn the scrum back over and the penalty straight in front is guided over by Dickson.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
56mins
Alex Day has come on at scrum-half for his Saints debut. Gloucester spring from the back of a scrum and Cox looks to be racing into the corner but Saintsmen cover and the back row knocks the ball on close to the line. Ethan and Denman now on in home colours too, Alex and Mercey departing.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
57mins
A 5m scrum doesn’t go to plan but as Gloucester put the ball through the hands, Nutley isolates his man and wins his side an important penalty.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
60mins
Packman’s debut comes to an end as Artemyev comes on - a few bright showings from the Academy wing this evening. Saints get their maul going and having glided round one man, Artemyev is cut down going after his own kick. No penalty says the referee and Gloucester get a 22 dropout from the resulting bounce of the ball.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
64mins
Nifty little run from Day makes use of spaces in the Glos line and after a bruising carry from van Velze, Saints win a lineout on the Glos 22. Woolford comes on for a debut as Craig comes off and Haywood is replaced by McMillan.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
67mins
Saints get turnover ball and Wilson carves through on a lovely line, supported well by Dickson. Penalty against Gloucester and Saints choose to scrum, some 8m from the try line. Another delicate chip through from Waldouck is well defended by Burns, who takes a knock for his troubles on the left.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
69mins
Another Saints debut, this time for Matt Williams as Nutley departs after a big shift in the Saints back row. Sam Olver joins the action too in place of Dickson for his first senior appearance.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
72mins
Wilson flies through a gap but the full back couldn’t quite gather the pass behind him for what might have been a Saints third. Sums up the second 40 really, plenty of promise and enterprise but also plenty of frustration.
SAINTS 21 GLOS 6
74mins
What were we saying?! Turnover ball for the Saints and when Williams goes through on Olver’s inside ball, the The flying flanker feeds Day for a debut try. Olver converts for his first senior points and Saints are home and dry.
SAINTS 28 GLOS 6
77mins
Bonus beckons for the Saints as Olver smashes a beauty into touch 5m from Glos’ line. A penalty at the lineout is scrummed and Day scoops up to go over unopposed for his second of the evening. Icing on the cake for Saints and Alex Waller is also announced man of the match on his 100th senior outing.
SAINTS 33 GLOS 6
FT
Day ends the game with a fine cover tackle and when Gloucester are turned over at the next breakdown, the scrum-half also boots to touch. Nothing less than a thoroughly impressive display from the Saints, with a host of young faces standing up brilliantly against a Gloucester side smattered with experience.
SAINTS 33 GLOS 6
TIMELINE
5mins SAINTS Pen G Dickson 3-0
8mins GLOS Pen F Burns 3-3
13mins GLOS Pen F Burns 3-6
18mins SAINTS Pen G Dickson 6-6
22mins GLOS Yellow Cox
24mins SAINTS Try K Pisi 11-6
29mins SAINTS Try K Pisi Con G Dickson 18-6
HALF-TIME SAINTS 18 GLOS 6
54mins SAINTS Pen G Dickson 21-6
74mins SAINTS Try A Day Con Olver 28-6
78mins SAINTS Try A Day 33-6
FULL-TIME SAINTS 33 GLOS 6
SAINTS - Wilson; K Pisi, Stephenson, Waldouck (capt), Packman; G Dickson, Glynn; A Waller, Haywood, Mercey, Verbakel, Craig, Nutley, Harrison, van Velze
McMillan, E Waller, Denman, Woolford, Williams, A Day, Olver, Artemyev
GLOS - M Thomas; Sharples, Thorley, Tindall, Reynolds; F Burns (capt), Knoyle; Gibbons, George, Knight, James, Hicks, Cox, Kvesic, Evans
Reps - Britton, Y Thomas, Heard, Hill, Moriarty, Boughton, B Burns, Evans
TP Man of the Match: Alex Waller
Referee: Steve Lee
Att: 12,870
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