By The Archivist
September 21 2005

In the buildup to the Saints versus Gloucester game on Saturday we again look back on the encounters between to the two clubs in the past. Our first offering takes you back to March 1992 at Kingsholm. Saints end 30 year drought.
By Rich Lindsley
Gloucester 10 - Saints 17
13th March 1992

I've delved back into the archives again and dusted down my 1991-92-season video to revisit one of my favourite games against Gloucester. Watching the video also showed me how far we have all come. Remember this was only 1992, eight years before Saints would win the European Cup but at that time clubs like Saracens were still playing on public parks with fences around the pitch only on match days.

The Gardens was still only a 6,000 capacity ground and the players were supposedly all amateurs still, although Wayne Shelford had an interesting contract. There was no Sky televised matches and no Internet to spend our time following the team on all this and only ten years ago! How did we manage?

Saints visited Kingsholm for their only league match against Gloucester that season (home and away league matches had not yet begun,) in the knowledge that they hadn't won down there in front of the shed for 30 years. This was the season that Saints all but won the league on a Tuesday night at Wellford Road only to travel to lowly Nottingham and give it away again! However on the way there were some glorious moments and this match was one of them.

Players that day for Saints included some of the recent legends and in his debut match playing at outside centre was a future England captain! The Saints that day were Ian Hunter, Frank Packman, Matt Dawson, Rob MacNaughton, Harvey Thorneycroft, John Steele, David Elkington, Wayne Shelford, Tim Rodber, Rob Tebbut, Martin Bayfield, John Etheridge, Gary Pearce, John Olver and Gavin Baldwin.

Saints were still looking to avenge the 1990-cup semi final where they lost narrowly to the West Country outfit and made a good start. After making all the running in the first half they had only an Ian Hunter try and John Steele penalty to show for it all but led 4-7 at half time.

In the second half Gloucester took more of a grip of proceedings and penalties saw them take the lead 10-7. This sparked saints into life and 'Bucks' no nonsense approach dragged his fellow forwards onwards as Saints swept from one flank to the other in a multi-phase attack. The result was that Gloucester ran out of tacklers and Harvey enjoyed a rare 'run in' as opposed to a 'run over'!

Steele missed the conversion but that scarcely mattered. Gloucester, who also had title aspirations, chased the game and a knock on landed at the industrious Rob Tebbut's feet. He hacked on and Packman won the race to touch the ball down under the Gloucester posts. Tinman was too reliable with the boot to miss this one. Final score Gloucester 10, Northampton 17.

This was a great win for Saints and significant in their recent history. They were still seen by many as the new kids on the block and this laid down another marker for the other big clubs to respect. Since then there has always been something special about a Saints v Gloucester game, it's not the same as the East Midlands derby but there's always a spark or two!
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Christmas comes again for Saints with a Cherry on top.

By Chris Gleadell
Date: 28/12/2000

The Saints won their seventh Zurich Premiership game in a row to keep up the pressure on the leaders with a well fought win at an arctic Kingsholm tonight in front of almost 10,000 fans. Gloucester will rue missed chances that ultimately cost them the game as Paul Grayson kicked his side home.

As the pre-match fireworks died down the Saints, who gave John Leslie a debut, started on the backfoot.

Gloucester sent their men forward in numbers and after five minutes of virtually constant pressure Glos lock Rob Fidler was upended at a lineout and the first penalty of the match was given.
Up steps Simon Mannix who skews the first kick of the night under the bar.

For Mannix it was the start of a comedy of errors but neither the home support nor Phillipe Saint-Andre were laughing!

Glos still applied the pressure though and despite winning the first scrum convincingly the Saints pack were overrun at the second and only stout defence out wide kept the home side out.

It took ten full minutes before the Saints took the game on. Steve Thompson, who was outstanding in the loose all night, broke free of Glos shackles and found John Leslie.

The debutant made inroads deep into home territory before linking with Budge Pountney and Matt Dawson.
Matt, as always seems to happen against Gloucester, was taken out high and Larry strolls forward for penalty number one. 0-3.

The home side hit back straightaway and left the Saints defence clutching at shirttails as they built up a two-man overlap. However as they did all night, the Gloucester midfield made the first of many crucial errors. With the line at his mercy Tom Beim fumbled a simple pass from Terry Fanolua.

To compound the home side's woes the Saints drove upfield and once the home line was threatened Trevor Woodman had no option but to bring down the maul. Again Larry obliges. 0-6.

Gloucester hit back yet again, this time causing the Saints to infringe right in front of their posts.
You've guessed it! Mannix fires it wide from all of fifteen metres.

As if to rub salt into the wounds, virtually from the next phase, Glos are penalised on the halfway line and Larry slots it over with ease. 0-9

By now the Shed were getting déjà vu (if you don't know look it up) as Mr. Mannix and Mr. Grayson continued to play the 'you miss, I hit' game. But to put the crowds troubled mind at rest they did it one more time for luck, or bad luck on the home side. Mannix miss, Grayson hit. 0-12

The Saints were now cruising. Despite being down in percentages on both possession and territory they were virtually picking up points every time they sniffed the home line while their defence held against an attack that were helping them out with their own ineptitude.

In the final minute of the half though the Glos attack finally got its game back on the rails.
Tim Rodber had the ball wrenched from him in midfield and the Glos threequarters strung together a series of passes which carved open the Saints defence and put Fanolua in by the posts.
Taking over for the hapless Mannix he converted his own score to put his side back in touch. 7-12.

Half Time

The second half started with John Leslie adjudged, by the ever-erratic Robin Goodliffe, to have deliberately knocked on. Luckily for the Saints Mannix and Fanolua had swapped boots during the interval and the ball sailed wide.

The home side exerted further pressure and Jake Boer was held up in the corner only for his fellow forwards to let him down in the resulting scrum and give away a penalty which allowed Ali Hepher to clear the Saints line. The home side would not be away for long though!

From the penalty lineout Saints, in Mr. Goodliffes eyes, acted illegally and further backchat brought the penalty further upfield. Glos took the initiative, tapped and went for it. The visitors defence was found wanting and Mannix went over to partly make up for earlier misdemeanors.
Surprise, surprise, the conversion was missed to leave the teams tied. 12-12.

Gloucester were now in the ascendancy and looked good for the win but the Saints gradually fought their way back both in possession and territory. But a strong defence and some bizarre refereeing decisions kept them at bay until finally another rolling maul is brought down in the Glos twenty-two.
Penalty number five. 12-15.

In the remaining minutes both sides come close to either stealing or sealing the win. Firstly a last gasp tackle denies Tom Beim in one corner before seconds later Joe Shaw is denied in the other.
A drop goal attempt by Ali Hepher goes awol as Glos set up their final attack.
But just to put the icing on the cake, yes you've guessed it, Simon Mannix knocked on and Mr Goodliffe blows up (unfortunately not literally)!

Final score: Gloucester 12 Saints 15

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And finally its back to Smurfs report of that crucial win last season.

Cherries picked in early raid by Saints
By Simon Robinson - March 13 2005

Saints ran out 26 - 18 winners at Kingsholm today, giving them two league wins on the bounce for the first time since New Year's Day. A day of debuts - first tries for centres Stcherbina and Starling, as well as the first glimpse of second row Alex Codling, added to the hopes for Premiership safety.

The match started in similar vein to the Leicester match a fortnight ago, with Saints on the attack from the first. A worrying injury to Gloucester lock Adam Eustace meant an early entrance for replacement Mark Cornwell. Saints went on an attack through John Rudd, who sent Neil Starling through for his first score in only his third match. Drahm added the conversion and the lead was 7 - 0 after the quarter hour.

Three minutes later, Marc Stcherbina barged through a stubborn Gloucester defence to add five more to the tally, with Drahm's extras this left the Saints 14 - 0 up, with both sets of supporters in shock. Consolation came for Gloucester minutes later when Henry Paul sneaked a penalty inside the left hand post, shaving off several layers of paint in the process. 14 - 3.

A more difficult kick on 26 minutes was dispatched with ease, 14 - 6 and the home team were on the way back. Saints went on the defensive for the rest of the half, holding their lines and 14 - 6 was the score at the break.

Changes for both teams in the front row just after half time - Olivier Azam and Brett Sturgess entering the fray for Noel Curnier and Simon Emms respectively. Gloucester made the best of early pressure and had a try attempt held up on 47 minutes.

Shane Drahm extended the Northampton lead on 55 minutes with another penalty: 17 - 6 to the visitors. Andy Blowers took ten minutes rest for pulling down a maul near the Saints line, with John Rudd filling in at 8 when needed. Alex Codling strengthened the pack during the sinbinning, replacing Damien Browne.

Another Drahm penalty on 65 minutes put the Saints 20 - 6 up, at which point it seemed like Saints were sure to win - how many games have been lost from similar points though, especially at Castle Grim? Andy Vilk replaced fellow Academy centre Starling on 68 minutes, and almost immediately took a knock on the head for his trouble.

70 minutes and it was Gloucester's turn to be a man down, Azam departing for the same offence as Blowers. Drahm converted a penalty chance minutes later to leave the home side needing three scores to draw, at 23 - 6. Ross Beattie replaced Grant Seely and Andy Blowers returned, on 73 minutes.

Saints performed their classic tactic - falling asleep at the end - and let in two late tries. 74 minutes and Marcel Garvey capitalised on some well worked Gloucester moves to score in the corner, substitute kicker Brad Davies missed the difficult conversion, to leave it 23 - 11.

Saints extended the lead with another Drahm penalty, and as full time approached, Glouceter's replacement full back Nathan Mauger came through for the second try, with Davies' conversion the gap was now 26 - 18, and Gloucester pushing hard for the bonus point. Sadly, a long touch finder went dead, Saints had a scrum back on the Gloucester 10 metre line, and the game was over.

The Jimmies played well, but Gloucester's extended Powergen semi final against Bath on Sunday showed. The Saints pack stood their ground against a weakened and exhausted Gloucester eight, but the backs at Kingsholm were still powerful. Saints' indiscipline at the breakdown was still giving the home side a lot of penalty opportunities however, and a stronger Glaws side may well have taken them.

Notable performances from Richmond, Krige, Blowers, Howard, Drahm, Stcherbina and Reihana - but this was a fifteen (plus four subs) man performance. If we can play like that for the rest of the season, we should be safe in the league and pushing for European honours. A try for England's solitary Saint, Steve "Wally the winger" Thompson at Twickenham capped the day. There was also big cheer for England's last try in the Teague pub, can't think why?