Carreras class has Saints on the rack

GLOUCESTER'S first-half charge won this classy Premiership contest despite a Northampton fight-back led by fit-again No.9 Alex Mitchell.

- ROB WILDMAN

Mitchell, who has not played since the summer due to a neck injury, came on just after half-time and led a Saints comeback after Gloucester had led 22-7 at the break.

However, Gloucester hung on to end Northampton's unbeaten home run in the Premiership of 13 wins. And fittingly, Gloucester's only points of the second half came from man-of-the-match Santi Carreras.

His late penalty put the match beyond Saints after his first-half display had brought two tries, two conversions and a penalty.

Gloucester demonstrated their intent from the very start to make up for their wretched last trip here last season when a weakened team lost 90-0.

There was going to be no such scoreline this time and Carreras had 40 minutes to remember.

He might even have scored a hat-trick of tries but had to settle for two.

Only a knock-on in the lead up denied him a third try at the end of the half in which he scored two tries and kicked two conversions and a penalty.