Aviva Premiership

Gloucester 12

Northampton Saints 13

GLOUCESTER lost their opening Aviva Premiership clash of 2017 as Northampton grabbed a controversial late penalty try to take victory at Kingsholm.

Two penalties and a conversion from Northampton's fly-half Stephen Myler against four Billy Burns penalties for Gloucester gave the Saints a narrow one-point victory.

British Lions wing George North was back in the Saints team after a month out due to a head injury suffered against Leicester, but the side looked devoid of confidence on occasions.

Gloucester, in front of a sell-out 16,115 home crowd, were 9-0 up at the break due to three Burns penalties as the Cherry and Whites looked to avenge a 23-20 defeat at Franklin's Gardens on October 28.

The home side put Saints under pressure on their own try-line but Northampton were able to stem the danger.

Burns put Gloucester ahead with a 35-metre kick, but Northampton's shaky game was typified when Myler, normally deadly accurate in front of the posts, missed a straight-forward penalty from 26 metres on 22 minutes.

The Saints drove to Gloucester's line but another error gave the home side a penalty to clear their lines.

Burns and former England centre Billy Twelvetrees kept up the pressure on Saints with dangerous corner kicks, and Northampton finally succumbed when conceding a second penalty for Burns to boot.

And, when the visitors were caught offside four minutes before the interval, the Cherry and Whites fly-half made it a hat-trick from 27 metres.

Myler got Northampton on the board with an unmissable penalty in front of the posts as the second half resumed, but Gloucester almost grabbed a try when ex-England number eight Ben Morgan drove over only to be stopped by Saints duo Ben Foden and Christian Day.

Northampton finally picked up the pace just before the hour mark, with replacement Harry Mallinder putting a dangerous grubber kick to the home line which had to be defended well.

And just before the hour, Gloucester were offside, again in front of their posts. Myler's kick was simple and Saints were back within a score of levelling.

But Gloucester restored a six-point lead when Northampton were penalised on the right and Burns' 30-metre goal just crept in past the upright.

However, Gloucester's faithful roared their disapproval when Northampton were awarded a penalty try with four minutes to go when wing David Halifonua deliberately knocked the ball on when Saints were within striking distance.

It earned the wing a yellow card and, with Myler converting, Northampton went ahead by a point.

And the Saints held on to gain a sixth win of the Premiership season and push back towards the right end of the table, while Gloucester lie in ninth of the 12 Premiership teams.