Aviva Premiership

Saracens 24

Gloucester 20

GLOUCESTER fell to Alex Lozowski’s boot as Aviva Premiership champions Saracens picked up their 12th consecutive home win in all competitions on Sunday.

Ben Morgan’s try after 60 seconds got the Cherry and Whites up and running and they led 17-15 at half time after a Billy Burns try and a James Hook penalty.

But Saracens, who also dotted down twice in the first half hour through Brad Barritt and Mike Ellery, hit back and ground out the win thanks to three second-half penalties from Lozowski, who finished the game with 14 points.

Gloucester went ahead with Morgan powering over with Hook converting for a 7-0 lead.

Saracens responded when Barritt charged down Mark Atkinson’s kick before racing under the posts to score on 11 minutes, Lozowski converting.

Gloucester regained the lead when Alex Goode failed to collect Will Heinz’s kick and Burns seized on the ball to run in, with Hook adding the extras for 14-7.

The game’s fourth try came from Sarries hooker Ellery. Lozowski missed the conversion but put the hosts ahead with a penalty.

Goode’s defensive prowess then came to the fore as his last-ditch tackle forced Henry Purdy into touch to deny a Gloucester try.

But with play being brought back for an earlier penalty, Hook dissected the posts to put Gloucester two points ahead at the break.

Gloucester nearly got a breakthrough nine minutes into the second half when the ball was turned over in midfield and Burns broke through the middle, but got caught in two minds and his kick through went out of touch.

Charlie Sharples then found space near the corner but Barritt made a vital tackle as Gloucester looked to turn the screw.

Sarries then turned defence into attack with their forwards earning a penalty and Lozowski putting the hosts in front.

The visitors’ challenge was made harder just past the hour when John Afoa was sin-binned for an infringement at the scrum and Lozowski made no mistake to open the lead up to four.

Gloucester, who ended a four-game winless streak in the Premiership with victory over Wasps last Saturday, refused to lay down and Hook’s 69th-minute penalty reduced the deficit to one.

But, after strong work by the forwards on the Gloucester line, won a penalty which Lozowski converted to see Saracens home.