Tomos Williams' best efforts to defeat future club are foiled

Saracens ended a run of three-successive Gallagher PREM defeats by beating Gloucester 30-21 in bonus-point fashion at Kingsholm.

Flanker Theo McFarland inspired a first Prem win since mid-October by scoring two of his team’s four tries.

Hooker Theo Dan and scrum-half Ivan van Zyl also crossed, while fly-half Owen Farrell kicked two penalties and two conversions to keep Saracens in the play-off picture.

Gloucester had their moments – notably through first-half touchdowns for locks Freddie Thomas and Arthur Clark, plus a late Will Knight try – with Ross Byrne converting all three scores, but they ultimately slipped to a seventh loss from eight league starts this term.

The visitors started brightly, with a powerful burst from wing Rotimi Segun asking questions of Gloucester’s defence, and although they withstood an initial onslaught, the home side fell behind after eight minutes.

The Saracens forwards patiently went through phase-play and Dan bulldozed his way over from close range for a try that Farrell converted to underline an immediate statement of intent.

Gloucester huffed and puffed, but their cause was not helped by losing injured wing Ben Loader in a fresh fitness blow for him in his comeback game following a hamstring problem.

But Gloucester responded impressively and they drew level when Saracens-bound Gloucester captain Tomos Williams’ quickly-taken penalty created a try for his fellow Wales international Thomas, with Byrne converting.

Back came Saracens, though, and clinical work in sight of Gloucester’s line saw McFarland touch down and Farrell convert. It was simple rugby, but impressively effective.

Farrell then nudged Saracens further ahead by landing a short-range penalty and the visitors looked like taking a 10-point lead into half-time until Williams had other ideas.

Gloucester established an attacking lineout position deep inside Saracens’ 22, and Williams’ footwork and offloading skill enabled him to set up a score for Clark, with Byrne’s conversion making it 17-14 at the interval.

Saracens needed just six minutes of the second period to re-establish a healthy advantage, with McFarland again the scorer after he leapt above Williams to catch Farrell’s perfectly-judged kick.

Williams landed awkwardly in the challenge and he required treatment before gingerly rejoining the action, before Saracens struck with a second try in six minutes when replacement hooker Jamie George’s one-handed pass sent Van Zyl over.

Saracens comfortably controlled matters as the clock ticked down, with Gloucester’s attacking opportunities proving few and far between.

And Farrell’s second-successful penalty – 11 minutes from time – left Gloucester more than two converted tries behind, which predictably proved insurmountable and Saracens could reflect on a job well done.