Two points to go as Glaws earn vital win

Worries over whether they will make the top-four play-offs appear to be almost over for Gloucester – now we can start worrying about whether we can clinch a home game when (if?) we get there. Beating Northampton at Kingsholm was a massive result and a reward for a massive performance by Glaws – the weekend trip to Saracens is fairly big, too.

Glaws are still third and the mathematicians have worked out that they need two points from two remaining games to be absolutely sure of a play-off place.

Sarries are second top, five points ahead of Glaws, and after the weekend showdown Glaws finish their regular season at home to Sale at the same time as Saracens face a trip to Harlequins.

It’s going to be touch and go to the end of the season, but for the time being it’s worth basking in the performance against fourth-top Northampton.

The 27-15 win was thoroughly deserved, but it was never easy – Glaws needed to be at their best as an attacking team and in defence in the last quarter to hold off Saints.

Coach Bryan Redpath told the BBC: "Northampton are a dangerous team, and if you looked at the strength of their bench tonight, then a 15-point lead could easily have been clawed back.

"But I am delighted for our players. They dug in and defended exceptionally well. We knew how important this game was.

"Seven points from tonight's game and at Leicester last Saturday, I would have taken that beforehand.

"We respect Northampton massively - you have got to match their physicality, and we are certainly getting to where we need to be. We've got the win, and I am delighted."

There were strong allegations of a head-butt by Olivier Azam on Adam Eustace early in the game, but otherwise there were few blots on this Glaws effort. It was Azam who scored the vital third home try to keep saints at bay after converted tries by Tim Molenaar and Charlie Sharples.

Freddie Burns converted all three and kicked two pens, but Northampton staged a scary last-quarter push after Alex Waller’s try had given them an early lead and another from Lee Dickson had kept them in it.

Glaws fans of a nervous disposition have had a rough ride most of the season, and the last two games have been no exception, this latest backs-to-the-wall win coming hot on the heels of that record-breaking draw at Leicester.

And there’s hardly time to draw breath before Sunday’s lunchtime game at Saracens.

The Glaws fans have nver more on their toes, the squad has never been more stretched, the physios never busier … great isn’t it?