Gloucester hit by smash-and-grab raid

Paul Grayson kept Northampton's slender title hopes alive last night as the Saints staged their second smash-and-grab raid against Gloucester inside a fortnight.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the game - just as they were on home turf in the first leg of their festive head- to -head - Northampton had Grayson's deadly right boot to thank for steering them back into second place in the Zurich Premiership.

Gloucester scored two tries through Terry Fanolua and Simon Mannix but Grayson punished their indiscipline with five penalties in a perfect place-kicking display.

The game was preceded by an impressive firework dis-play and after the bruising encounter between the two sides 11 days ago there was bound to be a few more on the pitch.

However, it failed to live up to the intensity of their contest at Franklin's Gardens, which the Saints won 34-15, and referee Robin Goodliffe had little trouble.

Gloucester lost England prop Phil Vickery, who pulled out after doing the pre-match warm-up because of a stomach upset, but they still dominated Northampton in the scrum.

They should have been out of sight by half-time but wasted their massive possession to leave volatile French coach Philippe Saint-Andre racing up and down the steps from the grandstand in disgust.