Saracens 28 Gloucester 21 An early Rob Cook try was not enough for Gloucester as Saracens' relentless pressure told at Allianz Park. The Cherry and Whites raced into a 13-3 lead thanks to the full-back's score and the boot of Greig Laidlaw. But the shell-shocked hosts came storming back.
Chris Wyles cut the deficit after charging down a Billy Twelvetrees dink straight after Cook's try and Alastair Hargreaves crashed over for their second. Gloucester matched Saracens' physicality, intensity and sheer bloody-mindedness for large periods as Laidlaw kept them in touch but cracks eventually appeared. Saracens bludgeoned their way through the Cherry and Whites and Chris Ashton dived over. But Gloucester refused to throw in the towel and Tom Savage crossed at the death to snatch a well-earned losing bonus-point. Gloucester kept faith with the same starting line-up that overcame Leicester Tigers as they aimed to finish the first block of Premiership matches three wins on the bounce. From day one at Kingsholm David Humphreys has maintained Gloucester could only be clearly judged following their first six games and the performance was worlds away from their 53-6 opening day defeat to Northampton Saints. While the performance was not enough to secure victory it was full of heart, endeavour and determination. Gloucester made an encouraging start at Allianz Park with Matt Kvesic welcoming Shalk Brits back to the Premiership with a thunderous hit. The hosts barely touched the ball as Gloucester stretched their defence to earn a pair of penalties, which Laidlaw converted to open up a 6-0 lead after five minutes. Saracens worked their way into the encounter and Gloucester indiscipline allowed them to kick to the corner as they turned the screw. But Gloucester matched their physicality with some bone-crunching tackles in defence. Following a sustained period of pressure Ashton was released on the right but he was clattered into touch by fellow England wing Jonny May. Saracens kept coming and Hodgson kicked to the corner but the Cherry and Whites kept them at bay. They instead settled for a penalty which Hodgson slotted. But Gloucester continued to dominate and Billy Twelvetrees fired a sublime miss-pass to release Cook, who stepped Ben Ransom for the opening try. Laidlaw was once again on target but Gloucester instantly shot themselves in the foot with Wyles charging down a Twelvetrees chip to score. Hodgson was off-target with the conversion but the try handed the hosts a 15-13 lead at the break. The former England fly-half booted the scoreboard back into action with another penalty on 48 minutes and they piled the pressure upon the Cherry and Whites. Wave after wave of attacks crashed down on Gloucester and although they held firm, unforced errors and the refereeing of Dean Richards proved costly. The sustained pressure eventually told and Alastair Hargreaves smashed through the mid-field before releasing Ashton, unopposed on the inside. Hodgson slotted the conversion and quickly added a penalty to stretch their lead to 25-16. The veteran fly-half added yet another penalty in the closing stages but Gloucester refused to leave Barnet empty handed and after a succession of phases Savage touched down for the crucial try. B Ransom (A Goode 53); C Ashton, C Wyles, B Barritt (M Bosch 68), D Strettle, C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth (N de Kock 52); R Barrington (R Gill 52), S Brits (J George 7), K Longbottom (J Johnston 52), J Hamilton (G Kruise 59), A Hargreaves, E Joubert, K Brown (W Fraser 50), B Vunipola. R Cook; C Sharples, H Purdy (M Atkinson 68), B Twelvetrees, J May; J Hook, G Laidlaw (D Robson 71); N Wood (Y Thomas 67), R Hibbard (D Dawidiuk 57), J Afoa (S Puafisi 71), T Savage, T Palmer (E Stooke 64), S Kalamafoni (R Moriarty 66), M Kvesic (Y Thomas 66-67), B Morgan
Referee: D Richards Attendance: 9,084
