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Last Updated: Sunday, 8 January 2006, 15:14 GMT

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Saracens 9-19 Gloucester

MATCH SUMMARY

Mike Tindall tries to break through the Saracens defence

Saracens: (0) 9
Pens: Jackson 3

Gloucester: (7) 19
Try: Richards
Con: Mercier
Pens: Mercier 4

Saracens slumped to their fourth straight league defeat as Gloucester edged a scrappy game at Vicarage Road.

The two sides battled out a dismal first half before Gloucester scrum-half Peter Richards was bundled over from a line-out drive just before the break.

The visitors dominated the tight exchanges and Ludovic Mercier took advantage of Saracens' ill-discipline with four second-half penalties.

The home side offered little, although Glen Jackson did kick nine points.

And they could not take advantage even when Gloucester were reduced to 14 men when Phil Vickery was sin-binned for a late tackle with seven minutes to go.

Earlier, Gloucester showed their ruthless streak by scoring the game's only try when Saracens lock Kris Chesney was off the field after being yellow-carded for an infringement at a line-out.

Both sides showed little invention in appalling weather and it was only the occasional spark from full-back Dan Scarbrough that set home pulses racing.

The result was Gloucester's first league victory away from Kingsholm since September and boosts their charge for a play-off place.

Saracens boss Steve Diamond:
"We have been turned over by a better side. We couldn't control field position or possession.

"We have to take a few steps back and have a look at ourselves, and see where we can take the club forward from here.

"Giving penalties away ultimately killed us. We need to look after our discipline and silly errors - and realise the basics are what we need."

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan:
"It's as complete as we have been all season. We didn't get the points our superiority would have probably got on another day.

"We showed an element of superiority up front. But what pleases me is we showed great shape and great ambition.

"Peter Buxton was outstanding - it was his sort of close-quarter game - backed up by Alex Brown, Jake Boer, Adam Eustace and Adam Balding."

Saracens: Scarbrough; Johnston, Castaignede, Sorrell, Vaikona; Jackson, Dickens; Yates, Cairns, Mitchell; Raiwalui, Chesney; Randell, B Russell, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Rauluni for Dickens (55), Byrne for Cairns (55), Broster for Mitchell (72), Skirving for Raiwalui (30), Seymour for B. Russell (55).
Not Used: Little, Powell.

Sin Bin: Chesney (34).

Gloucester: Morgan; Foster, Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Bailey; Mercier, Richards; Collazo, B Davies, Vickery; Brown, Buxton; Boer, Balding, Garvey.
Replacements: Fanolua for Foster (62), M Davies for Simpson-Daniel (79), Sigley for Collazo (62).
Not Used: Cornwell, Merriman, Narraway, Thomas.

Sin Bin: Vickery (74).

Att: 6,493

Ref: Tony Spreadbry (RFU).

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