Summary

  • FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

  • Mako Vunipola lasts 70 minutes on his Sarries return

  • Gloucester's Burns stretchered off injured

  • Saracens miss chance to go top of the table

  • Gloucester - Try: Marshall, Thrush, Hibbard; Cons: Burns 2: Pens: Burns 3, Twelvetrees

  • Saracens - Try: Brits, Fraser; Cons: Lozowski 2; Pens: Bosch, Lozowski 2

  1. Thank you and goodnightpublished at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    Thank you so much for joining us this evening, what a night for Gloucester!

    If you want to take another look at the action then we'll leave you with the match report to peruse at your leisure 

    Until tomorrow... 

    Gloucester celebrations at full-timeImage source, Get
  2. Room for more?published at 22:15 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    That's definitely how you start a Premiership weekend - huge intensity from both sides and an enthralling encounter. 

    Congratulations again to Gloucester on their victory and don't forget we've got so much more to come tomorrow.

    Saturday 17 February [15:00 GMT]

    Bath Rugby v Harlequins 

    Worcester v Exeter 

    Leicester v Bristol 

  3. Holm and drypublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    With the W Gloucester's strong record at Kingsholm continues - they've lost just once there since early October. This victory moves them up to 8th in the table, level on points with Northampton, who head to Kingston Park on Sunday afternoon. 

    Gloucester celebrationsImage source, Getty Images
  4. 'Different defeat'published at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall told BT Sport:

    Quote Message

    It was a very different defeat to last week's performance and I don't think that you can't fault the effort. I just don't think that we were as smart as we needed to be especially at the start of the second half.

  5. Postpublished at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Tom Garry
    BBC Sport at Kingsholm

    What a contest. Gloucester will be thrilled. Saracens had not lost two straight games since May 2015 and they go home disappointed for the second week running now.

    But Richard Hibbard's late score gave the hosts a win they arguably deserved. 

    It was a bruising battle and this crowd have been treated to a Friday night special.

  6. 'Complete 360'published at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Man of the matchTom Marshall told BT Sport:

    Quote Message

    It was a complete 360, last week we were absolutely awful to be fair and this week we came to Kingsholm and put our pride on the line. We knew that if we didn't amend last week's performance then our season would be hanging on a thread.

  7. Big nightpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    FT: Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Tom Marshall is named the Aviva Premiership man of the match with 17 carries and over 90 metres made. He was everywhere this evening alongside stellar outings from Ben Morgan, Willi Heinz and Ross Moriarty too. 

    All those with Cherry and White in their hearts will sleep easy tonight because that was the performance that they've been looking for. 

  8. Billy Burns injury updatepublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    Great to read the update from Freddie Burns on his brother's condition after Billy was stretched off the field during the second half. 

  9. Full-timepublished at 21:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2017

    Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    You have to go back to May 2015 to find the last time that Saracens lost two first team games back-to-back but there's no question that Gloucester deserved that victory.  

    Jeremy Thrush of Gloucester Rugby celebrates with Billy Twelvetrees of GloucesterImage source, Rex Features
  10. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Saracens are keeping the ball but the clock is fast approaching 80... 

    The crowd are roaring every second down and Kingsholm erupts as Wayne Barnes blows the full-time whistle. 

  11. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Gloucester know that they need to play out these final few minutes well yet it's Saracens with the line-out on the 22. Do they have what it takes with the clock very much against them?

  12. try

    Try (Hibbard)published at 75 mins

    Gloucester 31-23 Saracens

    Gloucester secure the line-out well and then their pack rumble into action. They surge forwards and as soon as he spots his opportunity Richard Hibbard dives to touch the ball down. 

    With five minutes to play it's a huge score but Billy Twelvetrees can't add the extras and we're heading into a tense finale. 

    Richard Hibbard tackleImage source, Getty Images

    * It's not a shot of the try, but this was a flying tackle by Hibbard earlier.

  13. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Gloucester 26-23 Saracens

    Gloucester secure the restart and they break up field. First, it's a line break from Ben Morgan and next David Halaifonua charges down the left wing. 

    Halaifonua gets the offload away, it bounces off Brad Barritt into touch. Big moments for Gloucester here!

  14. Penalty (Twelvetrees)published at 72 mins

    Gloucester 26-23 Saracens

    Saracens are penalised for playing the man in the air at the line-out and it's in a kick-able position. As you'd expect Gloucester immediately point towards the posts with Billy Twelvetrees calmly puts them ahead. 

  15. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    We're into the final ten minutes and yet still no closely to finding out which side will take the spoils tonight. 

    Saracens have finally decided that Mako Vunipola's first shift back is finished and he leaves the field alongside Richard Wigglesworth. 

  16. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    Saracens still have the ball in hand but aren't finding a way through a steely Cherry and White defensive wall. Instead Alex Lozowski attempts the drop-goal and it soars well wide.

  17. Postpublished at 67 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    Saracens are upping their intensity in every regard and James Hook is put under huge pressure trying to clear. He can't execute cleanly and the result of possession from the hosts in a key attacking position. 

    Sean Maitland of Saracens is challenged by Tom Savage of Gloucester RugbyImage source, Rex Features
  18. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    Saracens are looking to control this match through the kicking of Richard Wigglesworth and they're slowly maknig their way up the field. 

    It's a physical old contest and we're just pausing again after Wayne Barnes intercepts play due to his concern for Motu Matu'u. Outstanding from the referee putting player welfare at the forefront. 

  19. Postpublished at 63 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    Hands up if you love a bit of kick-tennis!!?

    Well I think it was 30-30 before Willi Heinz fluffed his next attempt and Saracens have the line-out on the half-way line. 

  20. try

    Try (Fraser, con Lozowski)published at 60 mins

    Gloucester 23-23 Saracens

    Saracens set up the driving maul and their forward pack take full advantage of Gloucester missing Paul Doran Jones' presence. Will Fraser finishes the move and Alex Lozowski nails the conversion. 

    We're back level with everything still to play for.