By Cherrybomb
April 13 2002

Gloucester suffered their second cricket score loss in three days this time away to Northampton. Northampton controlled the match from beginning to end and nothing Gloucester could do could stop It. Eight tries in all came from the Saints and all from different players to win the match 58-21. I don't think anyone can work out what has happened to Gloucester in the last couple of weeks. A poor win against Saracens at home was only a win because it was at home, and then we concede 102 points in two games to change our very impressive defensive statistics to reasonably dire ones. Nigel Melville must have had the players cover their hands in Vaseline at the beginning of the match to increase knock ons. The forwards were for once outclassed, and the backs couldn't finish a happy meal. When you get a couple of games like this in a row you can only try and imagine what can be done about it, as only a few months ago the future was looking very bright with only minimal changes needed, but know the summer signing period will be very important if we are to challenge for honours next season.

I guess the best period for Gloucester was the first few minutes, when the Cherry-And-Whites were in the lead thanks to a Ludovic Mercier penalty. That lead was short lived, however, as Northampton fly half Paul Grayson levelled the scores when Junior Paramore was accused of a high tackle on Dawson, who once again spent most of the match whinging. The Saints kept burrowing at the Gloucester line, full of inventiveness, always looking to score. Tom Smith the Scotland prop was the first to do so going over in corner. Soon after Northampton beat Gloucester at their own game with a controlled driving maul, and as it split England hooker Steve Thompson went over to increase the score. There was then a bit more pressure from Gloucester, and two Ludovic Mercier penalty's, one extremely difficult, kept Gloucester in the game at 16-9. Gloucester would have been happy to go into the break like this, But Andy Rennick received a pass from Grayson in injury time and went over unchallenged to make the task look increasingly difficult for the away side.

Half time score: Northampton Saints 21-9 Gloucester

The man who impressed on an unimpressive day for Gloucester was Fijian Koli Sewabu, who has only made a few appearances but has always looked promising. Forrester made a typical beak three minutes into the second half, and Koli darted through to score and give Gloucester a glimmer of hope. You couldn't expect Northampton to fall apart after pressure though, and four tries came quickly for the home side to tread on Gloucester like a molehill. The first ry came fron Ben Cohen, who made a typical run and broke through three Gloucester tackles before going over. Three more Northampton tries came fron Peter Jorgenson, Scotland captain Budge Pountney and Nick Beal. The threes trys came from extensive pressure which repeatedly ripped the usually strong Gloucester defense apart. Gloucester then put together another attack, still wanting to avoid embarrasment, and Junior Paramore scored. Northamton were still eager for more and it was sealed right at the end when Jon Phillips scored fron another attacking Northampton Maul.

Final score: Northampton Saints 58-21 Gloucester

After the match Nigel Mellville said; "Playing against Wasps on Wednesday didn't help us out there."
"Our discipline and defense were also bad. We seemed to spend all week with less than 15 men on the field. You can't play like that. But Azam should never have been sin binned."