Gloucester 22 Saracens 16: Mike Tindall neither had a run in the England side nor collected any silverware with Gloucester last year – but he aims to put both those things right in 2009.

The Gloucester captain has certainly made a purposeful start to the new year, leading by example with another sharp and energetic performance as his side won for a ninth straight time at Kingsholm in all competitions.

In fact, the 30-year-old believes he is in the best form of his club career since his pre-2003 World Cup days at Bath – and is desperate for success in the colours of both Gloucester and England over the coming 12 months.

The impressive Olly Morgan may have scored the try – and the accurate Olly Barkley may have kicked the 17 points that gave Gloucester victory.

But the fulcrum of their performance was Tindall, who worked tirelessly for the Gloucester cause as his team ground out an ugly victory in the bitter cold.

"I'm enjoying playing at the moment," said Tindall. "We've played 18 games this season and I've started 16 of them and come off the bench in the other two.

"In terms of getting games together and not really having any niggles, this season has certainly been up there. The first year here I didn't have many injuries, but I didn't play as well because I was trying to settle.

"So it would probably be my time at Bath, before the World Cup, since I have played this well and played this amount of games."

Given a host of experienced first-team players have been missing for Gloucester in recent weeks, Tindall's leadership has been all the more impressive.

He appears to have an extra zip about his game at the moment – and despite winning the World Cup more than five years ago, his hunger and desire remain as strong as ever.

"I have always said that I still want to play for England and I want to be involved in an England team that turns things around and gets us back playing how we should be," he said.

"If I am involved in that, then great, but for now I am enjoying playing for Gloucester and I'm dead set on trying to win some silverware here.

"We've been so close and got no cigar and that is something I am determined to do. I have never won a domestic trophy and that is something I really want to achieve."

Gloucester, having recovered from their 42-12 drubbing at London Irish, are certainly making the right noises when it comes to pursuing domestic glory.

They emerged from a largely uninspiring contest against Saracens on a rock-solid pitch with four points despite playing nowhere near their best.

Both Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan and Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones felt the officiating of the contact area was a key reason why the spectacle was so poor, with the scoring dominated by kicks at goal.

The sides were level midway through the first half following a successful penalty kick each from Barkley and Glen Jackson – but Gloucester conjured the opening try.

Tindall was heavily involved, bursting into Saracens territory and finding Lesley Vainikolo, whose inside pass sent Morgan to the line for his sixth try in nine Premiership appearances so far this season.

A second successful Jackson penalty made it 10-6, before Gloucester lost Vainikolo with an Achilles injury.

Saracens were dominating the first-half penalty count – and it was Jackson's quick thinking and pinpoint execution following a Gloucester infringement that led to the visitors' try.

Jackson sent a perfect cross-field kick to Richard Haughton, who kept his balance on the Kingsholm ice rink and raced in to score, giving his fly-half a routine conversion for a 13-10 lead.

Barkley looked to have levelled matters heading into the break, only for Jackson to give Saracens a half-time lead with the final kick of the half after Olivier Azam was penalised for kicking the ball out at a ruck.

The second period did not produce much in the way of entertainment, but three successful Barkley penalties were enough to deliver victory as the home side denied Saracens a single second-half point.

Gloucester: O Morgan; M Watkins, M Tindall (capt), O Barkley, L Vainikolo (M Foster 32); R Lamb, D Lewis (R Lawson 60); N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, A Eustace, A Brown, A Strokosch, A Satala, L Narraway. Reps not used: A Titterrell, A Dickinson, M Bortolami, D Williams, W Walker.

Scorers: Try – Morgan. Con – Barkley. Pens – Barkley (5).

Saracens: A Goode; K Ratuvou (N Cato 48), K Sorrell, A Farrell (capt; A Powell 15), R Haughton; G Jackson, N de Kock (M Rauluni 60-67); M Aguero (N Lloyd 67), F Ongaro (A Kyriacou 80), T Mercey (C Visagie 63), H Vyvyan, C Jack, B Skirving, W van Heerden, M Owen (A Saull 48).

Scorers: Try – Haughton. Con – Jackson. Pens – Jackson (3).

Sin-binned: Saull (75-80, dissent).

Referee: A Small.

Att: 16,500.