Ludovic Mercier kept Gloucester on top of the Zurich Premiership by producing a goalkicking master-class to thwart Northampton at rain-soaked Kingsholm.

The French fly-half booted five penalties as Gloucester bounced back from their defeat against Wasps last weekend.

Scrum-half Andy Gomarsall administered the final three points with a 50 metre drop goal which defied the conditions and underlined his claims for England honours against New Zealand next weekend.

But it was a close shave for the league leaders, who where matched in most departments by an impressively committed Northampton outfit.

Saints' forwards relish a fierce physical battle - torrential rain dictated that the backs on both sides were often reduced to bystanders - and they pushed Gloucester all the way.

But Mercier thrilled a capacity 11,000 crowd, landing five penalties from six attempts in appalling weather to keep Northampton at bay.

Gloucester were desperate to recover quickly and their international contingent once again came up trumps when it really mattered.

Skipper Phil Vickery was a dominant figure, although he will have his fair share of bumps and bruises tonight, while Gomersall was an effective link and hooker Olivier Azam also gave it everything.

In the end, there was little to choose between Gomersall and his opposite number Matt Dawson, who are fighting it out to win the scrum-half role against New Zealand.

That choice must be made by England boss Clive Woodward, but on today's evidence, neither player will let him down.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to the late arrival of South African referee Jonathan Kaplan - he will also be in charge at Twickenham next weekend - and it was Gloucester who struck first through an early Mercier penalty.

Paul Grayson quickly cancelled out Gloucester's lead, before he and Mercier kicked another penalty apiece as there was little to separate the teams.

Gomersall required some strapping to his left thigh, a potentially worrying sight for Woodward, but he was able to run off whatever the problem was.

Grayson was not so lucky, having to depart injured six minutes before the break, and Dawson immediately found his range with a penalty goal when he took over kicking duties.

An intense forward contest took an inevitable toll and as the first half drew to a close, Gloucester lost their influential number eight Junior Paramore, who was replaced by Peter Buxton.

Gloucester, three points adrift at the break, drew level on 44 minutes when Mercier completed his penalty hat-trick and another Mercier penalty 10 minutes later gave Gloucester the lead they were never to lose.

Northampton's admirable forwards, orchestrated by the lively Dawson, kept plugging away but Gloucester had more juice left in the tank and they finished strongly.

Mercier's fifth penalty was followed by Gomersall's astonishing drop goal, and Gloucester could relax, knowing they remained clear at the Premiership summit.

Occasional flashes of attacking brilliance were provided by Gloucester but this was a day for heavyweight forwards and Gloucester had just enough power to win the battle.

Teams:

Gloucester: Delport, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Simpson-Daniel, Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Azam, Vickery, Eustace, Cornwell, Boer, Forrester, Paramore.

Not Used: Stuart-Smith, Beim, Catling, Deacon, Fortey, Buxton, Pearce.

Pens: Mercier 5.

Drop Goals: Gomarsall.

Northampton: Beal, Sleightholme, Tucker, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Phillips, Connors, Blowers, Pountney, Seely.

Not Used: Budgen, Stewart, Hunter, Soden, Howard, Brooks, Hyndman.

Pens: Grayson 2, Dawson.

Att: 11,000

Ref: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).