After a couple of weeks off for the Anglo-Welsh cup and with teams missing their front line international players, the Aviva Premiership returned this weekend.
Here is how the teams fared:
Gloucester 23-17 Saracens
Every time Gloucester got their hands on the ball, they contrived to find a way to give it back to Sarries, via a penalty or a turnover.
The only surprise was that the score at halftime was merely 9-3 to Saracens, courtesy of three Alex Lozowski penalties and one from Billy Twelvetrees.
Gloucester were much improved in the second half and ten minutes in, Twelvetrees pulled them within three with his second penalty, but Schalk Brits scored two minutes later and you could have been forgiven for thinking that Saracens would see the game out.
The hosts were having none of it though and dominated the game from then on. A superb chip from Billy Burns sent winger Ollie Thorley in for a try and then fullback Tom Hudson ran a hard line off a ruck to dot down at the base of the posts to complete the comeback.
Wasps 40-10 Newcastle
With more players returning from injury, Wasps’ classy backline are starting to really show signs of life, and the three tries in the opening 20 minutes paid testament to that.
Christian Wade was the beneficiary twice, firstly from a superb Jimmy Gopperth offload two minutes in, and then being put away by Willie Le Roux on ten minutes.
The returning Kyle Eastmond then sliced through a gap and sprinted in from 30 metres out and the writing was on the wall for the Falcons. To their credit, this seemed to spur them into life and they had the better of the next 20 minutes. Josh Matavesi went through a big hole and Sean Robinson collected the pass to score under the posts.
Wasps came out in the second half exactly how they had in the first and James Haskell scored 4 minutes in. Ashley Johnson then bombed a try by throwing a forward pass in an easy two-on-one situation but that didn’t deter Wasps.
Returning centre Gabby Lovobalavu scored his first Premiership try on the hour mark and Josh Bassett rounded a fine display with a fantastic long-range finish.
Worcester 30-15 Northampton
Worcester picked up a vital bonus point victory as Northampton’s Jekyll and Hyde season continues. Powerful winger Bryce Heem was the hero, scoring a hat trick, with Josh Adams getting the all-important fourth try.
Stephen Myler opened the scoring with a penalty in the fifth minute but that was all the Saints could muster, despite complete dominance of the opening 20 minutes.
Heem’s first try came in the 24th minute after Ryan Mills’ clean break. Ten minutes later, the New Zealander had his second try as Jono Lance added the conversion to his earlier penalty to give the Warriors a 15-3 lead at the break.
Adams looked to have put the game beyond Northampton nine minutes after the break, but Ben Foden replied four minutes later, only for Myler to miss the conversion.
Jamie Gibson scored a consolation try four minutes from time before Heem completed his hat-trick and gained the bonus point in the final minute.
Exeter 31-17 Harlequins
Exeter are once again on top before their blockbuster clash against Saracens next week.
In an entertaining game, Australian winger Lachie Turner scored in the fifth minute after a superb kick return by Phil Dolman. It only took Quins five more minutes to draw level, as James Chisholm was the beneficiary of powerful runs from Mat Luamanu and Marcus Smith to run in from 25 metres.
Despite being slightly the better team, Harlequins fell behind again after a swift move sent try-scoring machine Olly Woodburn over. Smith then underlined his quality, winning a race to his own chip over the top and putting Scotland winger Tim Visser away. His conversion and penalty meant Quins lead 17-14 at halftime.
Exeter then wrestled the match back into their favour with a try from Jonny Hill, but couldn’t shake off Quins, with a performance that was far from vintage.
Woodburn started the move that eventually put Exeter out of reach and Hill finished it off for the bonus point try before Steenson completed a perfect day with the boot, adding a penalty in the last minute.
Leicester 35-27 Sale Sharks
Leicester recorded their sixth straight win after defeating Sale at Welford Road in the game of the weekend.
An early Faf De Klerk penalty was cancelled out by Joe Ford. Ben Curry scored the first try of the game as he collected an inch-perfect Mike Haley chip.
Curry was then sent to the sin bin for collapsing a rolling maul, with the referee also awarding a penalty try to Leicester.
The see sawing continued before halftime, as recent recruit Marland Yarde scored, with De Klerk again adding the extras for a 22-20 lead.
The break allowed both players and fans to catch their breath, before Sale got the bonus point when Jono Ross powered over. Gareth Owen scored 15 minutes from time to regain the lead for Leicester and Nick Malouf guaranteed the points, diving over three minutes from time.
London Irish 18-22 Bath
Following Worcester’s win the day before, Irish needed a result and nearly got one. Freddie Burns kicked 17 points and stalwart Matt Banahan scored an early try that proved the difference between the two teams.
Tommy Bell opened the scoring with a penalty before Banahan scored eight minutes into the game, Burns converting and adding a penalty to give the visitors a seven-point lead.
James Marshall scored in the corner which Bell was unable to convert. Burns then added a drop goal and penalty in quick succession to lead 16-8, but Irish came back strongly.
Blair Cowan had a try ruled out and only a superb cover tackle from Kahn Fotuali’i prevented Marshall from getting his second try. They continued to batter the Bath line and Bell had the final say of the first 40, kicking a penalty on halftime.
Two further Burns penalties looked to have put the game beyond Irish but Scott Steele scored a converted try five minutes from time to bring them within four. They then laid siege to the Bath line but superb defence kept them out and the Irish faithful left disappointed.
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