Thrilling Victory at Franklin's Gardens
Fin Smith sprinted away to level the scores with a try he converted, bringing the score to 19-19 at halftime.
Tries: Hendy, F Smith, Hutchinson, Freeman, Graham, Furbank Cons: F Smith (3)
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 Premiership semi-finals following a pulsating victory over Gloucester at a sweltering Franklin's Gardens.
Fresh from a record 94-33 win over Bristol in their previous match, league leaders Saints—who had already clinched a play-off spot—were pushed to the limit by an impressive Gloucester side in a game featuring seven lead changes and 11 tries.
Gloucester surged to an early 12-point lead, but Saints demonstrated their fluid attacking skills to level the scores at 19-19 before halftime, with Rory Hutchinson scoring on his 200th Saints appearance.
After the break, both teams exchanged scores, with Charlie Atkinson's penalty in the 77th minute seemingly securing victory for the visitors until Furbank crossed the line in the final seconds, igniting wild celebrations among the home supporters.
Saints currently sit eight points ahead of Bath, with Leicester two points further back and holding a game in hand. Gloucester moved above Harlequins into eighth place.
Team Line-Ups
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.
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.
