Northampton: 12 (6) Pens: Drahm (4) Gloucester: 18 (13) Tries: Azam, Garvey Cons: Paul Pens: Paul Drop: McRae

The teams traded a penalty each before Gloucester took the lead when hooker Olivier Azam linked up with Terry Sigley to cross on 22 minutes.

Duncan McRae added a drop goal but Shane Drahm kicked three penalties to put Saints within one point.

Saints piled on the pressure in the closing stages but Gloucester sealed the win with a try from Marcel Garvey.

The game was dominated by the forwards and the pattern on the match was highlighted in the opening exchanges.

Gloucester's pack earned a penalty after an impressive drive and Henry Paul slotted over for three points.

Drahm replied for Northampton on 18 minutes but Gloucester took a decisive lead when Sigley stormed through the home defence to give Azam the opportunity to power over.

McRae added a drop goal to increase the lead to 13-3 but Northampton substitute fly-half Drahm, on for the injured Paul Grayson, slotted over three penalties to set up a thrilling finale.

The third kick came on 65 minutes after Gloucester number eight James Forrester was sin-binned for killing the ball.

The game, which had failed to live up to its pre-match billing, suddenly burst into life and full-back Bruce Reihana led the Saints charge with some impressive breaks.

Gloucester however were able to keep the home side out with some fine defence and with a minute to go, they sealed victory when Garvey pounced on McRae's deep kick.

Director of rugby Nigel Melville praised the Cherry and Whites' defensive performance.

"I thought our defence was excellent throughout," he said. "We moved off the line quickly and worked hard to get back into position when we had to.

"If one of our players missed a tackle there was always someone there to cover for him. We took the game to them.

"We can take a lot of confidence from this victory, especially up-front."

But Saints director of rugby Alan Solomons said their poor first-half display had cost them.

"In the second half we regained parity in the possession stakes but before that they were on top and we should give them credit for that," he said.

"We were very flat in the first half and they played with intelligence.

"We won our previous two games convincingly but you're not going to sustain a peak for every single match."

Northampton: Reihana, Rudd, Tucker, Stcherbina, Cohen, Grayson, Howard, Smith, Thompson, Kempson, Boome, Browne, Blowers, Krige, Seely.
Replacements: Richmond, Budgen, Lord, Fox, Jones, Drahm, Human.

Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, McRae, Gomarsall, Wood, Azam, Sigley, Buxton, Brown, Boer, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Fortey, Emms, Eustace, Balding, Page, Mauger, Bailey.

Referee: S Lander (England)