The Prem
Northampton (19) 36
Tries: Hendy, F Smith, Hutchinson, Freeman, Graham, Furbank Cons: F Smith (3)
Gloucester (19) 32
Tries: Gwynne, Thorley, S Atkinson, Loader, Llewellyn Cons: C Atkinson (2) Pens: C Atkinson
A last-minute try from George Furbank secured Northampton Saints home advantage in the Prem semi-finals after a pulsating win over Gloucester at a sweltering Franklin’s Gardens.
Fresh off a record 94-33 win over Bristol last time out, league leaders Saints – who had already secured a play-off spot – were made to sweat until the final seconds by a brilliant Gloucester performance in a game which had seven lead changes and 11 tries.
Gloucester raced into an early 12-point lead, but Saints showcased some of their fluid attacking prowess to level the scores at 19-19 before the break with Rory Hutchinson scoring on his 200th Saints appearance.
The sides exchanged scores after the turnaround but it looked like Charlie Atkinson’s penalty in the 77th minute would win it for the visitors until Furbank plunged over in the dying seconds to spark wild celebrations.
Saints are eight points clear of Bath, while Leicester are another two points back, with a game in hand. Gloucester jumped above Harlequins into eighth.
More to follow.
Northampton: Furbank; Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; F Smith, McParland; Iyogun, R Smith, Green, Coles, Prowse, Pearson, Pollock, Chick.
Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Millar Mills, Lockett, Graham, Weimann, Dingwall, Ramm.
Sin-bin: Iyogun (5).
Gloucester: Redshaw; Thorley, Llewellyn, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Englefield; Knight, Blake, Fasogbon, Clark, Thomas, Gwynne, Venter, Trenholm.
Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Laulala, Alemanno, Clement, Austin, W. Knight, Edwards-Giraud.
Referee: Matt Carley