Saints survive Gloucester scare as George Furbank lands final blow

Northampton’s George Furbank scored a 79th-minute try to prevent one of the shocks of the season against Gloucester and guarantee his side a home semi-final in the play-offs in a 36-32 win.

His error-ridden Saints were fortunate winners over a spirited Gloucester, who earned two valuable bonus points but it could have easily been more.

Northampton’s tries came from George Hendy, Rory Hutchinson, Tommy Freeman, Sam Graham, Furbank and Fin Smith, with Smith adding three conversions.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Northampton

36 - 32

Full-time

Gloucester

All Stats and Data

Deian Gwynne, Ollie Thorley, Seb Atkinson, Max Llewellyn and Ben Loader scored Gloucester’s tries, with Charlie Atkinson converting two and adding a penalty.

Hutchinson led out Northampton for his 200th appearance for the club but his side made a poor start, conceding five penalties in the opening five minutes with prop Emmanuel Iyogun yellow-carded for persistent team infringements.

Gloucester immediately capitalised when Gwynne was driven over from a close-range line out and before Iyogun could return, they conjured up a slick handling move which resulted in an easy run-in for Thorley.

Atkinson converted and Gloucester had a 12-0 lead at the end of a one-sided first quarter during which Saints were turned over regularly and frequently lost line outs.

However with their first real threat, Saints reduced the arrears when Hendy stole possession at a ruck to race 30 metres and score.

That try was the precursor for the hosts to rise from their slumbers to produce a stunning try when they broke from inside their 22 with Furbank making substantial ground before Smith was on hand for an unopposed run-in.

Gloucester could count themselves unlucky to be behind but they were not for long as a clean break from Caolan Englefield set up a try for his captain Seb Atkinson.

The sixth try of the half duly arrived when Hutchinson was first to the touchdown following a chip through from Smith to celebrate his feat of being the 82nd Saint to reach a double century of appearances.

Smith’s conversion rebounded back off a post so the scores were level at 19-19 at the interval.

Eleven minutes after the restart, Gloucester collected their bonus point when neat play saw Loader cross in the corner but the response was swift, with Freeman scoring his 16th league try of the season.

Freeman then carelessly knocked on in his own 22 and from the resulting scrum, the home defence was all at sea for Llewellyn to sail through a huge gap.

The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued with a Saints try from replacement Graham before Atkinson kicked a simple penalty to put Gloucester in front but Furbank had the final say.