Sarries beat Gloucester and hostile crowd

Saracens had to rise above the Gloucester crowd’s hostility before running out 21-12 winners over the Cherry and Whites in the Gallagher Premiership. In Sarries’ first match since being docked 35 points and fined £5.36m for salary cap breaches, the Kingsholm crowd had a field day at the visitors’ expense. Boos ran out around the ground when the opposition took to the pitch, while fake £50 notes could be seen in the crowd as chants of “same old Sarries, always cheating” were heard in the stands. The Hendon-based club had the last laugh, however, as a side without England captain Owen Farrell and his World Cup team-mates Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly, George Kruis, and Mako and Billy Vunipola claimed the spoils. Nick Tompkins and Ben Earl touched down for the Londoners, while Tom Marshall and Lewis Ludlow scored for the hosts. Manu Vunipola, younger cousin of Mako and Billy, landed three penalties and a conversion which proved to be the difference on a tough day for all concerned.