Barkley inspires Gloucester

Barkley: Influential off the bench for hosts

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Teams

• Gloucester
• Northampton

Players

• Olly Barkley

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Gloucester have gone top of the Guinness Premiership following a 33-10 bonus-point victory over Northampton.

The Cherry and Whites moved two points above their west country rivals Bath as a result, while the Saints continue to blow hot and cold in the league.

Northampton had not won since their September 20 victory over Wasps, but claimed a 28-28 draw at home to Bath last time out.

There was to be no repeat of those heroics though at Kingsholm as the hosts made the faster start despite the early loss of centre Anthony Allen to injury.

Immediate impact

Olly Barkley came on in his place and made an immediate impact with an excellent pass to send Mike Tindall through the Northampton defence.

The skipper then found Lesley Vainikolo on the wing who passed inside for full-back Iain Balshaw to go over the line to make it 8-0 following Ryan Lamb's earlier penalty.

Barkley was again involved as Gloucester pressed home their advantage 20 minutes in when he found Alasdair Strokosch before the Scot fed number eight Luke Narraway for the game's second try.

Lamb converted and it seemed Gloucester's wealth of international experience was beginning to tell, but it was the Saints who scored next when full-back Stephen Myler booted a 25-metre penalty.

Squandered chances

The visitors squandered the chance to improve on that score though as they conceded penalties and free-kicks, and it was that man Barkley who went over on the stroke of half-time.

Flanker Scott Gray crept in at the corner for Saints after the restart and with Myler's conversion, Northampton were back in with a chance of the victory.

However, Barkley again provided the inspiration as his kick on the left allowed a chasing Vainikolo to score in the corner and Gloucester sealed a bonus point with two Lamb penalties late on.

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