SAINTS RISE
New boss Gaffney sees his men end their nightmare losing streak NORTHAMPTON 22 GLOUCESTER 19
RUGBY UNION
NORTHAMPTON stand-in boss Alan Gaffney saw his side end their nightmare streak and insisted there are more wins where this one came from.
Saints had lost 11 games in Europe and the Premiership coming into this match – a horror run that stretched back to September.
Aussie Gaffney (right) arrived on Monday and saw a team who have spent most of the season collapsing come back from 19-8 down to snatch victory with a 79th-minute penalty try.
Gaffney said: “The boys showed a lot of courage. At 19-8 down it is really easy to let it slide. It may have happened previously and when you have been on a losing streak for some time it would have been easy to give in. But they have dug in very deep.
“Overall the boys are in a pretty positive place, even though the results in the last three months have not been what they would have wanted. The ability is there.” Northampton looked disjointed as they dropped passes and froze when they got near the try line, but they were giving it a crack even if they did go in at half-time trailing 14-8.
They had led through a score from Ken Pisi, but a Gloucester penalty try and a short-range effort from visiting hooker James Hanson gave the scoreline a familiar look for Saints fans.
And there was worse to come after 53 minutes when Gloucester fly-half Owen Williams produced a delayed pass to prop John Afoa who stormed over.
On recent form that would have been curtains for Saints but Gaffney must have spiked their pitch-side water bottles with some spirit because they refused to chuck in the towel and when Gloucester made a mess of a lineout to gift them possession, Nic Groom did the rest.
Saints remained in contention and a late penalty produced a big lineout drive with hooker Mikey Haywood looking as if he had crossed the line.
That was ruled out but referee Ian Tempest gave the penalty try and the losing run was over.
Gloucester boss Johan Ackermann said: “We probably lost it more than they won it. We let it slip.” NORTHAMPTON: Tries: Pisi, Groom, Mallinder. Con: Mallinder. Pen: Mallinder.
GLOUCESTER: Tries: Williams, Hanson, Afoa. Con: Williams.