Line-outs and maul defence concern Skivington

ENGLAND hooker Theo Dan scored two tries as a dominant second-half display from Saracens saw them beat Gloucester 36-14 and move up to fourth in the Gallagher Premiership.

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Sarries had to come back from a 14-12 half-time deficit at the StoneX Stadium and barely gave their fellow play-off chasers a sniff after the break as they leapfrogged them in the table.

The six-time champions are now three points clear of the Cherry and Whites.

Gloucester broke through after seven minutes when Jake Morris's grubber kick infield evaded Saracens' number eight Tom Willis, allowing Chris Harris to gather and score, with Santi Carreras converting the try.

It took Saracens just three minutes to hit back, though, as Rotimi Segun picked up a loose ball and broke down the left, stepping past Carreras to go clear, although Fergus Burke's missed conversion meant the visitors remained 7-5 ahead.

Defences then tightened up after this quick exchange of scores, with one big hit from Nick Tompkins in repelling a Gloucester attack gaining the loud approval of the home fans.