4 September 2011
Errors cost Gloucester on opening weekend
It could be down to Gloucester's inexperienced fly half's or down to not capitalising on opportunities. Saints certainly didn't have a perfect performance either. They led by ten points at one point, 23-13, and only made 3 points after that. Whereas Gloucester made 11 points, through penalties, a try and a drop goal.
The first half really showed us how good the rest of the game was going to be but midway through the second half it died down and Saints looked the likely winners. It was only in the closing quarter when Charlie Sharples scored that Gloucester looked back in it. When Burns missed the following conversion they looked out. And then he scored a drop goal! But a silly move by Will James meant Lamb could score a penalty. Then Gloucester were back in with a penalty which they kicked to touch. But then Saints turned over and won. That's how close it was.
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| Phil Dowson |
At the end of the day from any point of view, either side could have come out victorious. It was the same with the man of the match decision, it was Phil Dowson but about four players from each side could of been in with a shout.
If the rest of the season is at that standard then I'm certainly looking forward to it. We want your thoughts on the opening weekend.
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Match Facts:
Tries (Gloucester): May, Sharples.
Conversions (Gloucester): Taylor
Penalties (Gloucester): Taylor, Burns
Drop Goals (Gloucester): Burns
Tries (Northampton): Dowson, Roberts
Conversions (Northampton): Myler (2)
Penalties (Northampton): Myler (3), Lamb
Drop Goals (Northampton): None
Location: Franklins Gardens, Northampton, England
HT Score: 17-13 to Saints. View HT report here.
FT Score: 26-24 to Saints.
