Saints edge final thriller

Northampton claimed the first silverware of the domestic season as they beat Gloucester 30-24 to claim the LV= Cup at Worcester's Sixways Stadium on Sunday.

It means that the Saints' dreams of treble success remain alive with the club also still going for glory in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup.

A thrilling, nip-and-tick encounter went first one way then the other, but it was Northampton who ultimately emerged victorious in the Anglo-Welsh competition as they outscored their opponents three tries to two with Soane Tonga'uiha, James Downey and Lee Dickson all touching down.

Stephen Myler finished with a 100 percent record with the boot as he landed six kicks from six attempts and the triumph also secures Jim Mallinder's outfit guaranteed entry into next season's Heineken Cup.

Gloucester - cheered on by England's Mike Tindall who made a dash to be at the match following last night's defeat to France - more than played their part in a pulsating clash, scoring through a second-half penalty try and Akapusi Qera in the first.

Cherry and Whites fly-half Nicky Robinson, who kicked 14 points, shrugged off an earlier miss to boot his side ahead on ten minutes as Northampton were caught off their feet at a ruck.

Northampton were level within a matter of seconds as Gloucester were pinged for going in at the side of a ruck, Myler perfectly bisecting the posts, and he made it two penalties in two minutes after another Gloucester infringement following a scrum to edge his side ahead.

Gloucester rapidly reassumed the lead with two more Robinson penalties after first Brian Mujati and then Courtney Lawes were penalised at the breakdown and the Cherry and Whites scored the first try of the afternoon on 28 minutes.

Opening try

With referee Alan Lewis already playing an advantage following a Northampton infraction, Gloucester managed to recycle the ball through a couple of phases before spinning it out left to the blind side where flanker Qera crashed over from close range - Robinson missing the conversion.

Once again Northampton produced an instant response with Shane Geraghty initiating a counter-attack that would lead to their opening try. Myler built on Geraghty's ambition with a strong break and Brett Sharman and Neil Best provided excellent support with the latter offloading to Tonga'uiha who powered over next to the posts.

Myler added the extras to draw his side within a point and they were in front by the break as Saints scored the third try of a breathless first period on 35 minutes. It followed a scintillating passage of attacking end-to-end play with both sides attempting to run at every opportunity.

Eventually, after James Simpson-Daniel had been stopped and turned over, Northampton launched a counter down the left flank through Lawes and, with the ball having been fizzed through several pairs of hands from one side of the pitch to the other, Myler fed Downey who produced a couple of clever steps inside to finish well. Myler kicked a simple conversion to establish a 20-14 half-time lead.

It was Gloucester who were quicker out of the traps on the restart and they got their reward on 51 minutes as referee Lewis showed the Northampton forwards no mercy, awarding Gloucester a penalty try after the Saints pack had collapsed a five-metre scrum with the Cherry and Whites getting a shove on - Robinson converted from under the posts to edge his side back ahead.

Unrelenting pace

The unrelenting drama continued apace, though, as Northampton went back up the other end to restore their lead, scrum-half Dickson accepting a Tonga'uiha offload and stretching over with Myler's conversion making the scoreline 27-21.

Robinson came within a whisker of another Gloucester try moments later only for the video referee to adjudge he was fractionally short of the line. But it sparked a period of prolonged pressure with the Cherry and Whites camped on their opponents' line until Tonga'uiha intercepted a Robinson pass and set off up the field.

The loosehead prop rumbled three-quarters of the length of the field before passing, but some desperate cover defence from Gloucester just kept first Geraghty and then Mujati out wide.

Myler and Robinson then traded penalties as the lead stayed a six points and that was to be the way it stayed as Northampton protected possession in the closing stages to cling on for a memorable victory.