 | MATCH DETAILS Gloucester 13 (3)
Tries: Morgan
Con: McRae
Pens: McRae 2 Saracens 14 (7)
Tries: Johnston, Penalty
Cons: Little, Jackson Att: 13,000 |
Saracens' pack earned them a narrow win at Gloucester but it was not enough to achieve a play-off place. Sustained pressure on the Gloucester line saw referee David Rose award a the crucial penalty try in the 72nd minute.
The hosts had started well with a penalty from Duncan McRae inside three minutes, and James Forrester set up Olly Morgan with 13 minutes left.
But Sarries, who had taken the lead when Rafa Ibanez to set up Ben Johnston to score, snatched it back late on.
Saracens coach Steve Diamond was critical of "a good win but not a good performance".
Sarries face Worcester in a wildcard semi-final on Friday and the former hooker is looking for a better display.
"We were taken to the cleaners at the lineouts. We had an off-day, no doubt due to Alex Brown," said Diamond.
"We will certainly need to improve against Worcester. When we last played them we should not have won."
Gloucester coach Nigel Melville praised the spirit of his injury-hit side, saying: "It was a poor game but the stop-start style did not surprise us.
"With forwards playing as backs and having to use a scrum-half on the wing we had problems.
"But there was a great spirit in the side - and this showed when we got our first try."
Gloucester: Goodridge; Morgan, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Bailey; McRae, Gomarsall; Wood, M Davies, Powell; Eustace, Brown; Boer, Hazell, Balding.
Replacements: Forrester for Goodridge (30), Page for Fanolua (49), Sigley for Wood (76), Azam for M. Davies (55), Buxton for Boer (62), Narraway for Hazell (32). Not Used: Lamb.
Sin bin: Forrester (71).
Saracens: Castaignede; Johnston, Sorrell, Harris, Vaikona; Little, Bracken; Yates, Ibanez, Visagie; Chesney, Raiwalui; Randell, Hill, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Jackson for Little (66), Raulini for Bracken (55), Lloyd for Yates (46), Cairns for Ibanez (46), Fullarton for Chesney (46). Not Used: Skirving, Haughton.
Referee: David Rose (RFU).
MMIX
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It was a poor game but the stop-start style did not surprise us
