Robinson sees red but Saints survive

The dismissal of their New Zealand scrum-half, Mark Robinson, for his part in a mass brawl just before the interval at Franklin's Gardens did not prevent Northampton from beating Gloucester 30-17 in the Zurich Premiership yesterday.

Saints, who led 27-0 at the time, were forced to play the rest of the match with 14 men and even though they conceded second-half tries to Andy Hazell and James Forrester (2), one of which was converted by Henry Paul, they held firm to move up to second place in the table.

Earlier, Chris Budgen and John Sleightholme went over for Saints while Bruce Reihana chipped in with two penalties and Australian fly-half Shane Drahm booted 14 points.

The bottom club, Rotherham, slumped to their eighth successive defeat when they went down 25-12 to visitors Saracens. Former All Blacks No 8 Taine Randell scored the game's only try and Andy Goode kicked the rest of Saracens points. Phil Jones landed four penalties for Rotherham.

Scrum-half Hall Charlton, knocked unconscious but not concussed against Bath last weekend, will play for Newcastle against the champions Wasps at High Wycombe this afternoon. The former Wales captain and scrum-half Rob Howley has recovered from a shoulder injury and is one of Wasps' replacements.

Wakefield sprang a surprise in the fifth round of the Powergen Cup with an 18-17 home win over Worcester. National League One leaders Pertemps Bees prevailed 40-27 at Waterloo and Penzance-Newlyn edged Bedford 21-19.

Llanelli Scarlets withstood a spirited second-half comeback to see off Borders 36-20 in the Celtic League at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. Richard Rees, Tai Selley, Aled Grevelle and Scott Quinnell supplied the Scarlets tries.