Northampton qualified for next season's Heineken Cup after their success at Sixways.

Saints' pulsating LV Cup final triumph was secured through tries by prop Soane Tonga'uiha, centre James Downey and scrum-half Lee Dickson in a game when the lead changed hands five times.

Fly-half Stephen Myler's 100% goalkicking return harvested 15 points, and that proved the difference against a Gloucester side that underlined its post-Christmas resurgence.

Myler's opposite number Nicky Robinson kicked 14 points, including the conversion of a penalty try, while flanker Akapusi Qera also touched down, but Saints deservedly shaded an epic tussle.

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder was savouring the "special" feeling of cup final success.

"Cup finals are all about winning," he said.

"You would take 3-0 in a final, but it is more encouraging when you can go out and play like that.

"There were two teams who wanted to play rugby, and I thought it was a good advert for the game.

"It shows how far the side has progressed, and it was great for our fantastic set of fans who have supported us through thick and thin. It was special."

Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath could not mask his disappointment after the west country club finished as beaten Anglo-Welsh finalists for a second successive season.

Last year, they shipped 50 points in losing to Cardiff Blues at Twickenham, and although there was never any danger of Saints inflicting similar damage, Gloucester still came up short.

"It is never easy, losing finals," said Redpath.

"It was a game that could have gone either way - Nicky Robinson said he'd scored in the second-half (the television match official ruled otherwise) - but that's life.

"I can't change it now. Nicky said he had scored, but it didn't happen and you get on with it.

"We didn't control possession well enough and there were one or two little errors."