Gloucester 26-31 Northampton Saints: Shaun Adendorff double helps seal bonus-point win
Man-of-the-match Shaun Adendorff scored two tries for Northampton as they secured victory in their first Gallagher Premiership game since Boxing Day; Gloucester claimed a losing bonus point, but stay bottom of the table
Last Updated: 30/01/21 5:45pm
Shaun Adendorff's double helped Northampton Saints roar back into Gallagher Premiership action with a 31-26 bonus-point win which heaped more misery on bottom-side Gloucester.
The Cherry and Whites held a slender 12-11 lead at half-time at Kingsholm thanks to four penalties from the boot of Billy Twelvetrees and pushed further ahead within 10 minutes of the restart thanks to a try from Willi Heinz.
But three tries in quick succession saw the Saints turn the game on its head, with Rory Hutchinson finishing and then having a hand in both of Adendorff's tries to go with Taqele Naiyaravoro's first-half score.
Gloucester made a hash of collecting the kick-off to gift Saints an early platform which enabled Biggar to kick them into an eighth-minute lead with a simple penalty.
Two minutes later the hosts were level when Twelvetrees knocked over a straightforward kick but - playing with the wind - Northampton had the better of the opening 15 minutes.
It was therefore against the run of play when the home side scored next as from a line-out on the Gloucester 22, opposition locks Api Ratuniyarawa and David Ribbans made strong bursts to threaten the try-line. A score looked likely but home captain Lewis Ludlow intercepted a telegraphed pass to run 70 metres and when Saints were penalised, Twelvetrees kicked his second goal.
Minutes later, Twelvetrees added a third before Northampton crossed for the first try of the game. The visitors battered the line for a continuous period of three minutes and eventually Naiyaravoro was presented with a walk-in.
Biggar missed the conversion but succeeded with a penalty before Northampton full-back George Furbank and Gloucester wing Santiago Carreras had to leave the field after a sickening mid-air collision resulted in them both receiving lengthy treatment on the floor. However, they recovered to walk from the field.
When play resumed a strong run from Lloyd Evans ended with a high tackle and from the resulting penalty Twelvetrees was on-target to give Gloucester an undeserved 12-11 interval lead.
After the restart a knock-on from Ratuniyarawa gave Gloucester early field position and they should have capitalised - but Twelvetrees missed with an angled 22-metre kick.
A couple of well-judged kicks from Heinz kept Saints penned in their own half before the scrum-half scored Gloucester's first try though. Receiving a kick on half-way, Ollie Thorley burst past a couple of defenders before running 40 metres to send Heinz in under the posts.
Northampton responded with a well-created try when skilful handling gave Hutchinson the opportunity to penetrate the home defence for an excellent solo effort.
Biggar converted before Gloucester conceded a third try. Matt Proctor made ground down the right and when the ball was recycled, a well-judged cross-field kick from Hutchinson was collected by Adendorff to score.
A flowing move, in which Hutchinson and replacement Tommy Freeman were heavily involved, saw Adendorff score his second and the best try of the game before a Biggar penalty sealed the success.
With a minute remaining, Matias Alemanno, forced his way over from close range to give his side a losing bonus point.
