Gloucester cements a top-three spot
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Gloucester cemented their place in the top three on the standings with a bonus-point 29-15 victory over local rivals Bath on Saturday.
Bath's recent Premiership resurgence came to a grinding halt as they were outscored 4-0 on tries.
Fullback Jason Woodward, flank Freddie Clarke, No.8 Ruan Ackermann and replacement lock Gerbrandt Grobler all scored, with Billy Twelvetrees kicking two conversions and Danny Cipriani one, while Twelvetrees added a late penalty.
Bath relied on five Rhys Priestland penalties for all their points but they lost a three-point advantage when Gloucester hit them with two converted touchdowns in rapid succession midway through the second half.
Gloucester leapfrogged Sale, who beat Harlequins 48-10 on Friday, to move back into third place.
Gloucester boss Johan Ackermann's stern words at half-time had the desired effect, when his side was trailing 7-9.
"We didn't play like we trained, and I challenged them to take the responsibility and play like a team that can play," he said.
"We owed it to the supporters. The players took on the challenge and that's the character of the group."
The scorers
For Saracens:
Tries: Woodward, Clarke, Grobler, Ackermann
Cons: Cipriani, Twelvetrees
Pen: Twelvetrees
For Bath:
Pens: Priestland 5
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (captain), 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Freddie Clarke, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Josh Hohneck.
Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Louis Rees-Zammit.
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Francois Louw (captain), 5 Elliott Stooke, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Mike Williams, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Aled Brew.
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Roy Maybank.
TMO: David Rose