Gloucester (13) 22
Tries: Morgan Con: Barkley Pens: Barkley 5

Saracens (16) 16
Tries: Haughton Con: Jackson Pens: Jackson 3

Barkley was in fine form with the boot for Gloucester

Gloucester centre Olly Barkley kicked 17 points as his side secured a hard-fought win over Saracens to move up to second in the Premiership table.

Barkley opened the scoring with the first of his five penalties, before Olly Morgan went over on 19 minutes for Gloucester's only try.

Glen Jackson's kicks and a try from Richard Haughton saw the visitors take a 16-13 lead at the break.

But three second-half penalties from Barkley won the game for his side.

With London Irish returning to the top of the table with a crushing victory over Newcastle, this was a vital game for Gloucester to win and they will be grateful for Barkley's contribution against a Saracens side missing England captain Steve Borthwick.

After Barkley and Jackson had swapped early penalties, the first try went to Gloucester with centre Mike Tindall racing down the touchline before linking with Lesley Vainikolo.

The winger got the ball away to Morgan who managed to get over for his sixth try of the season despite the attentions of Kameli Ratuvou.

606: DEBATE Credit to Gloucester who stayed firm and got the win in the end KingsholmLad4Eva

Saracens responded with a second Jackson penalty and a piece of quick-thinking from the fly-half quickly led to Saracens' try.

Jackson looked to be preparing for another kick at goal, but instead hoisted a cross-kick to the wing for Haughton to collect and go in unopposed under the posts.

Another penalty apiece saw the sides go into the break with three points between them, but Barkley levelled soon after half-time with another kick.

Barkley's 63rd-minute penalty from 40m out put Gloucester ahead, and he followed it up with a similar effort five minutes later.

Saracens had replacement Andy Saull sin-binned after 69 minutes, and Gloucester made sure they kept their noses in front for a valuable win.

Gloucester director of rugby Dean Ryan on Mike Tindall:

"Mike's been strong in the last couple of weeks around the gain-line and his defence was outstanding.

"He is growing in confidence but whether he returns (to the England squad) is someone else's decision."

Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones on the impact of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs):

"I'm not blaming the referee but it is too difficult to referee and there is so much contest at the breakdown that other things are being missed.

"The best side won but there was no rugby played and everyone wants to see rugby.

"We have to have officials out there who want to referee but the IRB have made the laws so difficult for referees to referee and the game is immeasurably worse than it was 12 months ago.

"The referees have not got worse and neither have the players. They (the ELVs) have stuffed the game up and it is very hard to play rugby."

Jones on the ruling which forced him to rest Steve Borthwick. (England players are restricted to 32 games a season under a deal between the clubs and the Rugby Football Union):

"It's ridiculous that you don't have your best English players playing in the Premiership.

"It almost a contradiction. The best players should play. His line-out presence would have made a difference."

Gloucester: Morgan, Watkins, Tindall, Barkley, Vainikolo, Lamb, Lewis, Wood, Azam, Nieto, Eustace, Brown, Strokosch, Satala, Narraway.
Replacements: Foster for Vainikolo (30), R. Lawson for Lewis (56).

Not Used: Titterrell, Dickinson, Bortolami, Williams, Walker.

Saracens: Goode, Ratuvou, Sorrell, A. Farrell, Haughton, Jackson, de Kock, Aguero, Ongaro, Mercey, Vyvyan, Jack, Skirving, van Heerden, Owen.
Replacements: Cato for Ratuvou (46), Powell for A. Farrell (15), Rauluni for de Kock (56), Lloyd for Aguero (62), Kyriacou for Ongaro (74), Visagie for Mercey (58), Saull for Owen (47).

Sin Bin: Saull (69).

Att: 16,500

Ref: Andrew Small (RFU).

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