Cotgreave hat tricks Gloucester win Northampton, but no playoff berth

Gloucester does his best. On the final day, George Skivington's top four and position in the playoffs remain tempting, but they need not only victory: they also need one above Bristol, sales and one above Leicester to falter. no.

Seven attempts to delight their ruthless fans in an exciting show, including a hat trick for 19-year-old Jack Cotgreave, against the giant Northampton. Ultimately, this means ranking fifth. It will be Bass, plus the three mentioned above, to compete for the Premier League title.

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The Saints are still champions at the moment, and Phil Dowson's 14 changes feel like a reasonable low-key way to sign a disappointing champion defense. Players who often set out for international duties were injured and had little help. They still eliminated Leinster in the Champions League semifinal four weeks ago, one of the more memorable performances in recent years.

They all four of their British and Irish Lions representatives - Finn Smith, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman - were all absent from the finale of the season in Cardiff's match against Bordeaux seven days ago. Playoff spots for playoff spots may be played in Gloucester's ear: Official statistics give them a 34% chance of the top four, mathematically, even a shot in the home semifinals.

Perhaps in a perfect world, the last day of the Premier League will have a tight scrap to avoid relegation and pulsating playoff games: not to mention a well-funded, healthy second layer, packed with elite heels.

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In British rugby, it feels like an impossible dream (blame league, not a club), and Dawson recently expressed concerns that competition would "sleepwalk" the competition to another bankruptcy situation, which is correct if that's the right phrase. With a crowded playoff game hype, the club's financial situation remains in a remote state with no signs of change.

However, with a positive attitude, there is nothing wrong with the on-site product. The 6-foot-4 Cotgreave, who was last out, scored in his Premier League debut against Newcastle, crossed three times in the first half alone, despite one of them being banned from footsteps. His first score came three minutes after Santiago Carreras converted, just a attempt by Northampton's Tom Pearson and Tom Litchfield to prove visitors' fantasy of making a game.

Second row Ed Prowse was captain of Northampton for the first time, and was forced to quit 17 minutes after an accidental head contact until Cotgreave's flight efforts around the corner were forbidden. There is no doubt that the same player is on the same wing, and within 25 minutes another impressive Pacy on the same wing was completed.

Then, when Christian Wade cleverly intercepted the pass midway to Gloucester's right, his massive speed made the disconnected ending simple. The excellent work of locking Freddie Clarke, cleverly scooting a loose ball and unloading it, quickly jogging Quicksilver Scrum-Half Tomos Williams Williams. Half is 22-14: The only problem? Bristol led Harlequins 26-12 with four attempts, with Leicester and Sale also staying fair.

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Northampton came out and fired. Eight minutes after the break, then Jonny Weimann forced his way to force himself, and when Hutchinson confidently stroked a sweet conversion, his third afternoon, it was just a point of view. Literally, Gloucester's reaction was straightforward: From the silky performance and shooting of Carreras, he sets up cotgreave for his hat trick. Seb Atkinson scored six attempts and got one of the biggest cheers of the day. Recover orders for faithful sheds. The Saints of Iakopo Mapu tried to narrow the lead to Wade's first second, the final scene of the game, which drove fans crazy. But for Gloucester, the playoffs will have to wait.

“I just hope we can follow up this season, and that’s what it’s about,” a fan said when the London train pulled into Gloucester station about an hour before the kickoff. There is no doubt that all those who followed the once gentle cherry and white people shared a point of view.