If nothing else, Gloucester's home win over Saracens keeps the mad scramble for the title alive. Not that anyone seemed too bothered afterwards. Nigel Melville didn't even mention the fact that, thanks to this 36-13 victory, his new charges at Kingsholm can still win the Premiership. It was almost as if he didn't care. All they need is for Leicester to stop winning....

For Saracens, however, the need to win becomes ever more desperate. They have never won at Kingsholm in their history, but for the sake of their future a win here would have been mighty useful.

As it is, they fell to the mighty boot of Ludovic Mercier, who kicked 19 points, having just signed a new three-year contract that will delight Melville. Allied to three tries from Robert Todd, Terry Fanolua and Andy Gomarsall, that put paid to Saracens ambitions, despite yellow cards for Fanolua and Mark Cornwell. Gerald Arasa scored a try for Saracens.

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