Sarries scrape into final
Owen Farrell kicked four penalties as Saracens booked a place in the Aviva Premiership final with a 12-10 win over Gloucester.
By Alex Williams
Last Updated: 15/05/11 8:01pm
Owen Farrell kicked four penalties as Saracens booked a showdown with Leicester in the Aviva Premiership final with a scrappy 12-10 victory over Gloucester.
The hosts built a narrow lead at Vicarage Road through the boot of Farrell as both sides struggled to find any real attacking impetus for the majority of the match.
But Nick Robinson sparked the contest into life with a breakaway try in the second half to give the visitors a one-point lead heading into the last 10 minutes.
There was still time for Saracens to rescue victory, however, as Farrell held his nerve to knock over his fourth penalty and set up a chance to avenge last season's narrow defeat to the Tigers at Twickenham
Pressure
Richard Wigglesworth scuffed an early penalty from the halfway line well wide as the hosts enjoyed most of the early possession.
The pressure looked to have been rewarded in the fifth minute when James Short raced clear and crossed in the left corner, but consultation with the video referee showed Rory Lawson had managed to push the wing into touch.
Alex Goode then fared even worse than Wigglesworth when attempting a penalty before a third kicker, Farrell, watched his ninth-minute effort hit the upright, leaving the contest still scoreless.
Robinson was off target for the visitors before young fly-half Farrell finally put the first points on the board after Gloucester were penalised for offside.
Farrell knocked over three more points when Gloucester did not roll away after a fine ankle tap from Jim Hamilton had stopped a dangerous break from Sarries hooker Schalk Brits.
Handling errors were putting the Cherry and Whites under further pressure but Farrell missed another penalty attempt and Gloucester then held firm on their own try-line.
After Farrell had hit the post for a second time, Robinson slotted through the posts at the other end to make it 6-3 at half-time after setting up the attack himself with an explosive break.
Penalty
Farell restored the six-point gap immediately after the restart before Robinson missed an opportunity to reduce the arrears when he hooked a penalty wide.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were otherwise mainly played out in the centre of the pitch as neither side managed to secure the upper hand in a contest that was lacking in any real quality.
Saracens could not increase the gap when Farrell missed another penalty in the 58th minute after Gloucester entered a ruck from the side.
And their hopes were then dealt a blow when skipper Steve Borthwick was sent to the sin bin for taking out Alex Brown in the line-out, although replays suggested the contact may have been accidental.
The hosts surged forward despite their one-man disadvantage but were stung on the break as James Simpson-Daniel released Robinson to touch down under the posts for a 10-9 lead.
But the tables turned again in the 73rd minute as Gloucester were penalised for not rolling away and Farrell this time made no mistake with his penalty from the left.
