By Bonso
February 27 2011

Gloucster visited the Gardens on a cold, blustery February afternoon to take a bite out of the Saints.  This latest sport has seen the GBG lose 5 games on the bounce this year. Boonso - and it's a while since we heard from him, saw the match and bravely put the following report together. 

Aviva Premiership Round 15

Saints v Gloucester

Saturday 27th February, KO 3pm

Franklin's Gardens

Sainst 16 Gloucester 18

HOW DO YOU GET OUT FROM AN ALL TIME LOW?


Well I guess Gloucester wanted it more.

The pitch was probably the wettest I have seen at the Gardens for a long time and looking at it I thought it was not a day for running searing high octane Rugby. I was mostly right. What we got was a wholehearted contest that was really decided by whoever made the least mistakes.

Saints were quite bright in the early exchanges going ahead by a Myler penalty which really should have been a try if Powell had used his options out wide rather than going for glory himself.

Gloucester came right back at us nearly crossing the line twice, once being denied by some excellent defence by Sorenson and the second time by a good cover tackle by some bloke called Bruce Bruce.
It seemed we had weathered the storm when the lively and spritish May collected a rather loose ball around the halfway line. Off he went bobbing and weaving as the Saints parted like the Red Sea in front of him. A good try ensued and extras added it was 3 -7 Glos .

Back came the Saints with a good scrum resulting in a penalty and Myler adding the 3 against a very tricky wind.

Gloucester attacked again and after several false starts Mr Fox showed the franklins Faithful that he did know the crossing law. Penalty to the saints and the ball is cleared.

The wind was making it difficult for Saints in the 1st Half to clear to any useful distance , which kind of led to the 2nd Gloucester try. Saints keeping the ball in hand deeper in their own half than I would normally expect coughed the ball up. Gloucester used the turnover ball well moving it wide very quickly ( Take note please Mr Powell) for that man May to go over in the corner. Robinson attempted the extras but hit the post. Alan T remarked at that “It takes a lot of skill to do that”. So 6- 12 to Gloucester at half- time.

Saints started the second half with more intent with Tonks kicking us into good field position. However we do appear to have a problem at Scrum half with the speed and accuracy of distribution. That aside some great creative play from Myler led to Saints 1st try. Tonks beating the chase from Myler’s exquisite grubber through the Gloucester to dot the ball down. Myler added the extras 13-12 Saints.

A big roar greets the return of Courtney Lawes to action with 51 minutes gone for Calum Clark . However he couldn’t prevent Saints conceding a penalty just inside their own half which Robinson duly slots. This was without doubt the kick of the day into that wind.

The Cherry Reds forwards were now warming to their task and hurt Saints with a series of mauls deep into our half resulting in another easier penalty for collapsing the maul on the 60 minute mark. 13-18 to the Tractor boys.

4 minutes later Saints pulled 3 back after Gloucester infringed at a Scrum. 2 points the difference now.
Can Saints do it ? Well the answer was no. The Gloucester forwards decided that we were not going to have the ball and even when they did give us a go we were poor.

On the whole Saints were a Gazillion times better than at Bath with Downey adding stability to the defence and some go forward in attack. Jon Clarke still looks a little off the pace for me, but Mark Easter I thought had a good game. The game itself was even, the difference between the teams was the 2 pieces of magic from May.

News: Aviva Premiership Saints 16 v 18 Gloucester

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 27/02/2011 15:10

ComeOnYouSaints.com
27/02/2011 15:10

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Gwendoline
27/02/2011 16:51

Thank You for the prompt report. You are to be congratulated upon your courteous description of the game. A model of diplomacy.

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OldPete
27/02/2011 18:31

Well done Bonso -
quite an objective report for a C blocker

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Wee Jim
27/02/2011 19:52

Good report another difficult one to record.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
27/02/2011 23:01

Neat account Bonso, with due acknowledgement to Smyler for creating Tonks' try.

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Phil.
27/02/2011 23:32

Didn't have a chance earlier today - thanks, Bons!

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Howlin
01/03/2011 00:05

Nice one Bonso. Spot on about Scrum Half distribution and Clarkey imo. I guess the tractor boys are just a bit better in the mud.

Saint til I die

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ChrisG
01/03/2011 10:54

Yep good report Dave, only just got round to reading it.

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