Trinder’s box of tricks too much for Saints
HENRY Trinder put his horrendous run of injuries – including two knee reconstructions – behind him to light up this cut-andthrust encounter as Gloucester put five tries past the league leaders.
The Gloucester outsidecentre showed some brilliant touches, scoring two tries and setting up another, finished off by Billy Twelvetrees, as Gloucester restored not just their own self-belief but that of the fans who filled Kingsholm.
With Trinder providing the attacking spark the home side were always that bit more urgent and incisive than a Saints outfit which included Dylan Hartley for the first time in three weeks, and also saw first Premiership starts for new men Cobus Reinach and Piers Francis.
The opening try came straight from a scrum with Willi Heinz and Twelvetrees giving Trinder just enough room to beat Ahsee Tuala before bouncing back up from a collision to dive over. Owen Williams – who was making his first league start for Gloucester – could not add the extras, and his side were soon reminded that they were crucial as Reinach made a quicksilver break from the Saints 22 which almost brought a try.
Northampton made sure they finished off their next chance, which was created when a short pass by Francis sent Burrell clean through, and when he found Tuala the full-back sent Jamie Gibson galloping in.
With Mallinder converting the visitors led 7-5 and that’s how it stayed until a minute before the interval when Heinz, who was a constant threat, switched the ball from an attacking ruck a few metres out to give Trinder a tilt at George North. He slipped past the big Saints wing before holding off Chris Paterson to score again, giving Saints a 10-7 halftime lead with Williams unable to convert from the touchline.
It was short-lived with Northampton scoring three minutes into the secondhalf when Tuala fielded a Trinder chip, and then beat Henry Purdy and Twelvetrees before putting Mallinder in.
Gloucester struck back immediately as Heinz’s kick pass for the corner was taken bravely by a fulltilt Jason Woodward, who beat Tom Collins in the aerial duel before riding Reinach’s tackle to score.
That gave Gloucester a 1514 advantage, and that’s how it stayed – with Williams and Mallinder missing the target with kicks – until Mallinder made amends with a penalty.
From the re-start Williams struck the ball hard and fast into Trinder’s path, and he took it on the full to dart into the 22. With Saints caught on the hop two quick rucks saw Twelvetrees burst onto Heinz’s flat pass to score the bonus point try between the posts.
With Williams finally adding a conversion Gloucester led 22-17 – and then they delivered the killer blow. From a scrum just outside the 22, Heinz stepped out of Reinach’s tackle before bursting clear.
Williams’ conversion made it 29-17, and although Mike Haywood scored from a late line-out drive – which, with Stephen Myler converting, set Gloucester nerves on edge – the home side found just enough composure to claim the victory.