Gloucester grab comeback win

Gloucester fought back from a 10-point deficit to claim a 19-13 victory over Saracens at Kingsholm on Saturday.

It was the Cherry and Whites' second win against Sarries in November after an LV= Cup victory two weeks ago, but the visitors were more competitive this time around and secured a losing bonus point.

The result also moves Gloucester above Saracens and into fourth place in the Aviva Premiership table.

But it was the visitors who made the brighter start as they dominated territory early on and fly-half Owen Farrell opened the scoring with a penalty from 30 metres out.

Saracens then enjoyed a prolonged spell of pressure inside the hosts' 22 but a stern defensive effort prevented them from scoring a try.

But the Londoners took their chance to move further ahead when lock Alex Brown was sent to the sin-bin after 20 minutes for a late tackle on fly-half Owen Farrell in midfield.

Pressure

Saracens capitalised, pressuring Gloucester inside the home 22 and, when the ball was sent out to the left, winger James Short showed a great turn of pace to cross the line for his second score in a week.

Farrell added the extras to put Saracens 10-0 ahead and well worth their lead.

But Gloucester were then finally shook into action and the home side got on the board when stand-off Nicky Robinson slotted a 25-metre penalty through the posts.

Saracens kept coming though and were one pass away from a second try after a fine move saw wing Dave Strettle feed scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, who in turn put second-rower Hugh Vyvyan clear.

However, Vyvyan's could not connect with his return pass to the number nine when the try-line was at Wigglesworth's mercy.

Farrell kicked a second penalty to restore the 10-point advantage but Gloucester then began to turn the tables during a spell of pressure as the half-time interval neared.

Robinson hit the upright with a penalty before Vyvyan was shown a yellow card for not clearing away from a ruck.

Danger

Gloucester opted to go for the line twice with attempted driving line-outs from penalties in the visitors' danger zone but were pushed back and eventually had only a Robinson penalty to show for the numerical advantage.

After the break, Robinson continued to chip away at the advantage by scoring another three points in the 50th minute.

Both sides then fought it out between the 22-metre lines before Gloucester took the lead for the first time with 16 minutes of the game remaining.

Charlie Sharples raced away down the right wing to score but, as he was running towards the posts, he and Saracens centre Kameli Ratuvou went flying into the advertising boards behind the dead-ball line.

A scuffle then followed before referee Sean Davey restored order. Davey was to take no action, however, as Ratuvou was stretchered off and Sharples left the pitch dazed.

Robinson converted and then increased Gloucester's lead to six points with a fourth penalty but Saracens mounted one last challenge to win the game in an exciting finish.

James Simpson-Daniel produced a try-saving tackle on Strettle, prop Nick Wood was sent to the sin bin for dragging a ruck down metres from his line and replacement scrum-half Nick de Kock ran into the referee with time up as Gloucester narrowly held onto the win.