Lamb chops Sarries to bits

Ryan Lamb's magnificent solo score was the highlight of Gloucester's 39-15 victory over Saracens that increases their lead at the top of the Guinness Premiership.

The two sides came into the contest on the back of very different results in last week's Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Gloucester were outclassed at home by Munster while Saracens had shocked the well-fancied Ospreys, but it was the Cherry and Whites who responded better to a return to league action.

Dominated by the Mustermen last week, the Gloucester forwards were this week able to build the platform to unleash a thrillingly attacking backline.

Lamb will take most of the plaudits for his two-try display, but full-back Willie Walker was probably the pick of a very fine bunch.

Ironically, Lamb's first contribution was a bad error as he put the ball dead when trying to kick a penalty into the corner.

But Saracens were even more culpable two minutes later when Dan Scarborough broke up the centre and could have set up a simple score, only to hurl a wild pass out wide.

On 10 minutes Gloucester had the lineout five metres out that Lamb's earlier carelessness had denied them, after Mike Tindall slipped a neat grubber kick down the line.

Deadlock broken

That quickly became a scrum after a maul was stopped and although Sarries turned the ball over at the setpiece, they immediately lost it again and after the ball was spread wide, Walker's excellent pass put James Simpson-Daniel over in the corner.

Six minutes later Gloucester were in at the same corner and this time it was Iain Balshaw's looping pass after a superb team handling move that set up Akapusi Qura's score.

Saracens did get on the board when Gloucester were pinged for coming in at the side, Glen Jackson kicking the penalty, but Lamb replied on half-time after Sarries failed to roll away to give the hosts a 15-3 interval lead.

The outcome of the game was settled within five minutes of the re-start thanks to a quickfire double from Lamb.

The first was a masterpiece after Walker's clever kick forced Neil de Kock into a loose clearance. Lamb collected the ball 40 metres out and jinked through the Saracens defence, his step to beat Richard Haughton in front of the posts a thing of beauty.

Three minutes later he intercepted de Kock's pass on his own 22 and raced 80 metres for the bonus-point score.

Reeling

Saracens were reeling and following more neat handling from Lamb and Simpson-Daniel, Lesley Vainikolo brushed aside Scarborough and charged down the left wing to score.

Tom Ryder was sin-binned for yet another Saracens ruck offence and Rory Lawson quickly took advantage of the extra space, burrowing over from close range for the sixth try.

Adam Powell and Ben Skirving did claim late scores for Sarries as inevitably Gloucester's intensity level dropped in the final quarter.

But by then Gloucester were cruising to a victory that confirms their domestic ambitions. With the play-offs rapidly disappearing over the horizon, Saracens will have to set their sights on Europe.