Adendorff scores twice as Saints start 2021 in flying fashion at Gloucester

Chris Boyd's side bagged a bonus-point ... win against the Gallagher Premiership's basement side, Gloucester.

The impressive Adendorff doubled up in the second half, with Rory Hutchinson, who pulled the strings brilliantly, also notching after the break.

Saints had gone in 12-11 down at the interval despite Taqele Naiyaravoro's try and an abundance of possession.

But they made their dominance count in the second 40 minutes, bouncing back superbly after Willi Heinz had put Gloucester 19-11 up with a scything score.

It means Saints have now claimed back-to-back wins in the Premiership ahead of next Saturday's trip to Wasps.

Boyd's men had been forced to endure a five-week break from action before their trip to Kingsholm, but they started strongly against Gloucester.

It was all Saints in the first few minutes as Gloucester conceded a penalty inside their own half, but the Cherry and Whites held out and won a scrum penalty to relieve the pressure.

However, after Alex Waller and Piers Francis helped to win back-to-back penalties, Dan Biggar did the business from the tee to slot Saints' first points of 2021.

But Gloucester quickly levelled it up through the boot of Billy Twelvetrees after prop Fraser Balmain won a penalty with a big carry.

Saints then turned defence into attack in seconds as Lewis Ludlow intercepted a pass inside the Gloucester 22 and released Ollie Thorley, who was stopped by a superb saving tackle

from Matt Proctor.

Gloucester won a penalty though, allowing Twelvetrees to put them in front for the first time.

And the centre was at it again soon after as Gloucester counter-rucked well to secure another penalty close to the points.

But Saints responded well and they finally made some possession and territory pay, staying patient before showing good hands to release Naiyaravoro for a score.

Biggar missed the conversion but the try was a big boost for Saints and Naiyaravoro, who had not dotted down in his previous 19 appearances, since scoring at Wasps on January 5,

2020.

Saints were doing all the running on this occasion, with Adendorff and Francis catching the eye with their carries.

And after David Ribbans was held up, Biggar notched a penalty to put Saints 11-9 ahead.

Both teams were then hit by injury blows in the backs, with George Furbank and Santiago Carreras involved in a horrible aerial collision that left both players prone.

It led to a long delay as the medical teams tended to the players, who were thankfully both able to walk from the field to be replaced.

It gave Tommy Freeman a chance to come into the action for Saints, and he was quickly worked as Lloyd Evans charged towards the line before losing the ball.

But Adendorff was punished for a high tackle and Twelvetrees landed the kick to put his team back in front.

That was how it stayed at half-time, with Saints having failed to turn their possession into sufficient points during the first period.

Twelvetrees had yet another chance to add to his team's lead from the tee just two minutes into the second half, but this time he fluffed his lines to let Saints off the hook.

However, the hosts opened up a big gap on 49 minutes as Thorley sprinted between Rory Hutchinson and Api Ratuniyarawa before releasing Heinz for a crucial try.

Twelvetrees easily added the extras to make it 19-11, with Gloucester having landed their first real blow of the match.

But Hutchinson and Ratuniyarawa immediately made amends as the Fiji lock timed his pass perfectly and Hutchinson saw clear space ahead for a rapid response.

Biggar added the extras to bring Saints back to one point down and he was soon involved in a third Saints score, helping to release Proctor down the right before the play went left, with

Hutchinson planting a perfect kick for Adendorff to get hold of and score.

Biggar missed the kick this time, but Saints were looking much sharper and Gloucester had to scramble after another break saw Proctor threaten the hosts just outside their 22.

Saints were suddenly rampant and after a fantastic run from Freeman, Hutchinson motored towards the home line before being chopped down. But Saints kept hold of the ball and Sam Matavesi and Francois van Wyk helped to tee up Adendorff, who finished superbly in the corner.

Biggar missed the kick in tricky conditions once more, but Saints had the bonus point and they were well on top with 20 minutes to go.

Saints won a scrum penalty that allowed Biggar to add another three points to the tally, and there were smiles aplenty in the away camp.

Gloucester did grab a losing bonus point in the final minute of the match as a good maul allowed Matias Alemanno to rumble over.

Twelvetrees managed to sneak the conversion between the posts to cut the gap to five points.

But the hosts couldn't mastermind a recovery from inside their own half with the clock in the red as Saints saw the game out and celebrated a fine away-day success.

Gloucester: Woodward; Carreras (Seabrook 32), Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Thorley; Evans, Heinz; Rapava-Ruskin (Ford-Robinson 61), Walker, Balmain (Knight 52); Garvey (Craig 58), Alemanno; Reid (Gibson 61), Ludlow (c), Ackermann.

Saints: Furbank (Freeman 32); Proctor (Dingwall 69), Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Mitchell (James 74); Waller (cc) (van Wyk 52), Matavesi (Haywood 65), Hill (Painter 52); Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa (Moon 63); Isiekwe, Ludlam (cc), Adendorff (Coles 72).

Referee: Karl Dickson