Aviva Premiership: Charlie Hodgson's boot gives Saracens win over Gloucester
Charlie Hodgson kicked 23 points as Saracens beat Gloucester 28-23 to move up to second in the Aviva Premiership.
Last Updated: 02/12/12 6:01pm
Fly-half Hodgson, on his return to action after a month out with a fractured cheekbone, landed seven of eight penalty attempts and converted Richard Wigglesworth's 61st-minute try to give the home side victory at Vicarage Road on skipper Steve Borthwick's 100th appearance.
Gloucester scored a try in each half through prop Dan Murphy and flanker Akapusi Qera - and Billy Twelvetrees kicked 13 points - but they ultimately paid the price for regular indiscipline.
Murphy was shown a yellow card shortly after his 28th-minute score and No.8 Sione Kalamafoni also spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin from the 50th minute.
Three of Hodgson's seven penalties came during the 20 minutes Gloucester were down to 14 men.
The killer blow was landed by replacement scrum-half Wigglesworth, who crossed in the corner after being released by full-back Chris Wyles. Hodgson's conversion put Saracens 25-20 ahead.
Twelvetrees and Hodgson exchanged penalties to leave the margin at five points entering the closing stages.
The match ended with Gloucester hammering away close to the line but Saracens, down to 14 men for the last two minutes with Wigglesworth in the sin-bin, held firm for a win that leaves them one point behind league leaders Harlequins.
