Belleau penalty helps Northampton repel Gloucester's thrilling fightback

• Gloucester 35-37 Northampton

• Hosts fall short after leading from 31-7 behind

For the second game in a row, Northampton Saints tore their opponents to shreds in the first half only to capitulate in the second. Last week they blew a 33-7 lead to draw with Exeter. This time they held on, claiming a nervy 37-35 win over a resurgent Gloucester, narrowly avoiding what would have been the largest ever comeback in English domestic rugby.

The idea of a contest felt like a fantasy midway through a game that would have required binoculars to be viewed from the southern end of the ground where only 13 of the 72 points were scored. If Gloucester were poor in the opening exchanges, conceding four tries in 35 minutes, they were magnificent thereafter, dotting down five times.