Talented youngsters James Forrester, James Simpson-Daniel and Marcel Garvey, already marked out by coach Clive Woodward as England stars-of-the-future, provided the cutting edge as Gloucester won a Powergen Cup final thriller at Twickenham on Saturday.

Simpson-Daniel, the 20-year-old winger, scored the first and last of Gloucester's four tries with Forrester the 22-year-old number eight slicing through the Northampton defence to lay-on 19-year-old Garvey's try, before scoring his own in the second half.

Although the Zurich League champions eventually secured victory by an 18-point margin they had to survive a spirited assault by Northampton in a pulsating clash in which the lead changed hands eight times.

Fly-half Ludovic Mercier's trusty boot also provided 21 points as Northampton finally succumbed to their third final defeat in four years.

Gloucester, despite starting favourites, never had it easy, in arguably the best national knockout final since they overcame Moseley 16-6 to win in the first one back in 1972.

The West Country side may be plagued by redundancies and talk of pay-cuts off the pitch as financial difficulties bite but they rarely turn in a poor performance on it.

To win this match they had to overcome a virtuoso first-half display by Paul Grayson, a bit part player in England's Grand Slam victory in Ireland six days earlier, who threatened to dominate centre-stage here.

Grayson's considerable contribution consisted of five penalties, a conversion and a break which provided full-back Nick Beal with Northampton's only try as they led during the first half.

The 31-year-old fly-half demonstrated just why Woodward resurrected his international career and installed him as Jonny Wilkinson's deputy in the run up to this year's World Cup after the knee injury which struck down Sale youngster Charlie Hodgson.

Grayson kept his head to clinically kick his goals as all around him contributed to a hectic, thrill-a-minute first half in which the glorious rugby matched the sunny weather.

After Grayson kicked Northampton into the lead with a third minute penalty it took England scrum-half Matt Dawson less than a minute to literally throw away the advantage.

His pass, apparently aimed for England team-mate Steve Thompson, floated into no-man's-land and Simpson-Daniel gratefully scooped the gift try which Mercier converted before landing an 11th minute drop-goal to put his side 10-3 ahead.

Northampton, humbled 38-7 by outsiders London Irish 12 months ago, after losing to Wasps two years earlier, looked to be sliding to a third defeat but they refused to go down without a fight.

Saints, containing four of England's Dublin glory boys in left-wing Ben Cohen, who was denied the chance to make much impression, cut the deficient to 10-9 courtesy of two penalties from Grayson before the fly-half made the break through the Gloucester defence to send Beal arrowing on a straight line for the post for his try.

Grayson added the conversion to make it 16-10 with Northampton capitalising as Gloucester played a 10-minute spell with 14 men after second row Rob Fidler, only called up a short notice when Mark Cornwell reported sick, was shown the yellow card.

Gloucester fired straight back with Garvey's try, converted by Mercier, to restore their one-point lead before Grayson made it 19-17 to Northampton.

Mercier edged Gloucester 20-19 in front and Grayson established Northampton's 22-20 half-time lead as the sides swapped penalties.

The sheer thrills and spills could not continue like that and Northampton failed to score again as Gloucester imposed a grip on the game which has seen them emerge, under Nigel Melville, as England's team of the season.

Simpson-Daniel sparked the 42nd minute attack, which saw them move the ball the full width of the pitch for Forrester's try, converted by Mercier, and, after Grayson was dispatched to the sin-bin in the 65th minute for tackling Henry Paul without the ball, there was no way back for Northampton.

Mercier added two more penalties and then had the final say, grabbing an interception and running half the length of the pitch before sending Simpson-Daniel in for his second try to which he added the inevitable easy conversion.

Teams

Gloucester: Delport, Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Simpson-Daniel, Mercier, Gomarsall, Woodman, Azam, Deacon, Eustace, Fidler, Boer, Hazell, Forrester, Paramore.

Replacements: Todd for Paul (75), Paramore for Hazell (62), Pearce for Paramore (75).

Replacements: Fortey, Roncero, Stuart-Smith, Amor.

Sin Bin: Fidler (22).

Tries: Simpson-Daniel 2, Garvey, Forrester.

Cons: Mercier 4.

Pens: Mercier 3.

Drop Goals: Mercier.

Northampton: Beal, Reihana, Jorgensen, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Dawson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Lord, Williams, Connors, Pountney, Blowers.

Replacements: Hyndman for Jorgensen (64), Stewart for Morris (55), Fox for Williams (77).

Not Used: Richmond, Seely, Howard, Brooks.

Sin Bin: Grayson (65).

Tries: Beal.

Cons: Grayson.

Pens: Grayson 5.

Att: 75,000

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (RFU).