![LV= Cup [Anglo-Welsh]](images/LV Cup 2011 SB.jpg)
FINAL
LEICESTER TIGERS 18 - 22 SARACENS
Saturday 28th May 2011 KO: 3pm BST
HT: 9-16 Att: 80,016
AN exciting edge of seat final was delivered by Leicester Tigers but Saracens was always in control and deserved the title of Aviva Premiership Champions 2011.
SARACENS were crowned champions of England for the first time after teenager Owen Farrell kicked them to a 22-18 victory over Leicester at Twickenham.
The 19-year-old fly-half, son of Saracens head coach and former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell, delivered an immaculate display.
Farrell junior landed five penalties and a conversion from six kicks at goal, adding the extras to wing James Short's 29th-minute try. But he also made a telling tackle on his oppsite number Toby Flood when Leicester exhaustively went through more than 25 phases of play during the closing seconds.
Leicester saw their Aviva Premiership Rugby title bid flounder on two missed second-half penalties from Flood - kicks he would normally have expected to convert. Flood still landed six penalties, yet his failures in quick succession midway through the third quarter undermined Leicester's bid to remain in a game when they only briefly threatened territorially.
Saracens' last major trophy was the Tetley's Bitter Cup when they beat Wasps 48-18 in 1998 thanks to the efforts of world superstars like Michael Lynagh and Philippe Sella. But an English league title was 135 years in the making from their formation, made all the sweeter against the revered kings of Aviva Premiership Rugby.
Leicester, despite finishing top after the 22-game regular league season, never threatened to hit top gear during a match they began seeking a title hat-trick for the second time. And Saracens now become England's fifth Aviva Premiership Rugby champions since the competition's induction in the 1997/98 season. They follow seven-time winners Leicester, four-time champions Wasps, plus Sale and Newcastle, but Saracens now look set to march on and become, possibly, English rugby's next major force.
Leicester made one enforced change from the side that eclipsed play-off opponents Northampton two weeks ago, with suspended centre Manu Tuilagi replaced by Matt Smith and Horacio Agulla taking Smith's familiar wing slot. Saracens, meanwhile, saw Neil de Kock start at scrum-half after winning a coin-toss for the role with England international Richard Wigglesworth, who was on bench duty.
But it was de Kock's opposite number Ben Youngs who made the first contribution, receiving a yellow card for illegally halting a Saracens attack that had de Kock at its forefront. Farrell kicked the resulting penalty, and a tense opening quarter saw Saracens continue to look the more inventive team, piling pressure on a Tigers outfit that temporarily switched centre Anthony Allen to scrum-half duties.
A Flood penalty tied the scores with Youngs still off, and another strike apiece made it 6-6 before Saracens took control and enforced their territorial supremacy by claiming the opening try. Quick lineout ball allowed Saracens freedom to attack, and hooker Schalk Brits roamed free before delivering a scoring pass to Short, who cut inside his opposite number Agulla.
Barnes required confirmation from video official Graham Hughes before awarding the try, but Farrell's touchline conversion confirmed Saracens' degree of control. Leicester could not break free, and another Farrell penalty made it 16-6 before Flood completed his hat-trick, cutting the deficit to seven points after a half Saracens dominated.
Both goalkickers were at it again early in the second period, adding a further penalty apiece, before the first substitutions materialised with Wigglesworth replacing de Kock and Rhys Gill taking over from Matt Stevens. Leicester also made two key switches, sending on players' player of the year Thomas Waldrom for number eight Jordan Crane and then England prop Dan Cole instead of Martin Castrogiovanni.
Saracens though, were in no mood to relinquish their chance of silverware, despite a frenzied finale when Leicester pushed and pushed for another league crown, but Saracens were not to be denied.15 Scott Hamilton 14 Horacio Agulla 13 Matt Smith 12 Anthony Allen 11 Alesana Tuilagi 10 Toby Flood 9 Ben Youngs 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 George Chuter 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 4 Steve Mafi 5 George Skivington 6 Tom Croft 7 Craig Newby [C] 8 Jordan Crane BENCH: 16 Rob Hawkins 17 Boris Stankovich 18 Dan Cole 19 Ed Slater 20 Thomas Waldrom 21 James Grindal 22 Jeremy Staunton 23 Billy Twelvetrees
SCORERS P: Flood (6) 
Ben Youngs
15 Alex Goode 14 David Strettle 13 Chris Wyles 12 Brad Barritt 11 James Short 10 Owen Farrell 9 Neil de Kock 1 Matt Stevens 2 Schalk Brits 3 Carlos Nieto 4 Steve Borthwick [C] 5 Mouritz Botha 6 Kelly Brown 7 Jacques Burger 8 Ernst Joubert BENCH: 16 Jamie George 17 Rhys Gill 18 Petrus du Plessis 19 Hugh Vyvyan 20 Andy Saull 21 Richard Wigglesworth 22 Nils Mordt 23 Noah Cato
SCORERS T: Short C: Farrell P: Farrell (5) 
SEMI FINALS
LEICESTER 11-3 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
WELFORD ROAD - Saturday 14th May 2011
HT: 3-0 Att: 20,137
AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY champions Leicester ended Northampton's hopes of achieving their first domestic and European double - but their punishing 11-3 play-off victory is likely to come at a price.
Tigers muscled their way into a seventh successive Aviva Premiership Rugby final after wing Alesana Tuilagi's late try and two Toby Flood penalties destroyed Saints' title dream.
Leicester though, could be without England World Cup candidate Manu Tuilagi - Alesana's younger brother - for a Twickenham showdown on May 28th, who was somewhat fortunate to have seen out the end of the game after only being yellow carded for punching Northampton wing Chris Ashton eight minutes before half-time.
Saints are now left to focus on next Saturday's Heineken Cup final against Irish heavyweights Leinster in Cardiff as their solitary remaining hope of silverware this season. And despite them throwing everything at Leicester in an attempt to nullify Tigers' revered physical power, it was not their day against opponents who deserved their triumph.
Leicester are one win away from completing the second title hat-trick in Aviva Premiership Rugby history - Tigers achieved the previous one from 1999 to 2001 - and they will inevitably take some stopping.
Leicester showed two changes from the side that secured regular season top spot by beating London Irish last Saturday, with number eight Jordan Crane replacing Thomas Waldrom and lock Steve Mafi preferred to Ed Slater. Northampton, meanwhile, fielded 14 of the players that accounted for Heineken semi-final opponents Perpignan two weeks ago, as their solitary switch saw Bruce Reihana in for Paul Diggin.
The early exchanges were all about establishing close-quarter supremacy, although Northampton enjoyed territorial control as both packs got to grips with each other. But it only took 12 minutes for the game's first flashpoint - and it involved England team-mates Flood and Dylan Hartley.
Saints skipper Hartley launched himself at the Tigers fly-half, hitting him late, before Flood responded by throwing a punch after both players hit the ground.
Leicester grew into the game, but Alesana Tuilagi - Aviva Premiership Rugby's top try-scorer this season - was guilty of spilling two passes before Saints nullified a Tigers scrum deep inside their own 22 by snaffling possession.
The game did not lack for aggression, and it continued to simmer approaching the end of a scoreless opening 30 minutes, with Hartley continuing to wage war on any Tigers player who got in his way. And tempers finally boiled over eight minutes before the break when Ashton and Tigers' England midfield hopeful Tuilagi got to grips.
Ashton appeared to push Tuilagi in the back of the head, then England Saxons midfielder Tuilagi punched Ashton and left him needing treatment. Both players were sin-binned - Ashton trooping off with his head bandaged - yet Tuilagi, given an initial high-tackle and then three repeated punches, the last of which floored Ashton, unquestionably deserved a red card. Following the RFU disciplinary panel hearing, sadly a mockery was made of the disciplinaries and Tuilagi was suspended for only 5 weeks, a sentence which had bee “reduced by 50% to reflect Manu's youth and inexperience, his admission of guilt and his genuine remorse.”
It proved a dreadful call by assistant referee Robin Goodliffe, who was barely 20 metres from the incident, but did not recommend a sending-off to Barnes.
Flood then opened Leicester's account with a 37th-minute penalty, giving Tigers a 3-0 interval lead, with the promise of a second X-rated 40 minutes to follow.
Saints struck first in the second period when Stephen Myler landed an equalising penalty, and with Tigers continuing to make scrummaging infringements - Italy international prop Martin Castrogiovanni was the chief miscreant - Northampton sensed set-piece dominance.
15 Scott Hamilton 14 Matt Smith 13 Manu Tuilagi 12 Anthony Allen 11 Alesana Tuilagi 10 Toby Flood 9 Ben Youngs 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 George Chuter 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 4 Steve Mafi 5 George Skivington 6 Tom Croft 7 Craig Newby [C] 8 Jordan Crane BENCH: 16 Rob Hawkins 17 Boris Stankovich 18 Dan Cole 19 Ed Slater 20 Thomas Waldrom 21 James Grindal 22 Jeremy Staunton 23 Horacio Agulla
SCORERS T: A Tuilagi P: Flood (2) M Tuilagi
15 Ben Foden 14 Chris Ashton 13 Jon Clarke 12 James Downey 11 Bruce Reihana 10 Stephen Myler 9 Lee Dickson 1 Soane Tonga’uiha 2 Dylan Hartley [C] 3 Brian Mujati 4 Courtney Lawes 5 Christian Day 6 Calum Clark 7 Phil Dowson 8 Roger Wilson BENCH: 16 Brett Sharman 17 Alex Waller 18 Tom Mercey 19 Mark Sorenson 20 Mark Easter 21 Stuart Commins 22 Shane Geraghty 23 Joe Ansbro
SCORERS P: Myler C Ashton
Man of the Match: Tom Croft
Referee: Wayne Barnes
SARACENS 12 - 10 GLOUCESTER RUGBY 
VICARAGE ROAD - Sunday 15th May 2011
HT: 6-3 Att: 12,032
OWEN FARRELL kept his nerve to kick Saracens to victory over Gloucester and into the Aviva Premiership Rugby final, where they will meet Leicester in a repeat of last year's showdown.
The teenage fly-half, already being tipped for senior England honours after less than a season in Aviva Premiership Rugby, proved his big-match temperament by landing four penalties in blustery conditions.
Gloucester came close to snatching the win with a breakaway try from fly-half Nicky Robinson when Saracens were down to 14 men. But Farrell, whose charged down drop-goal attempt led to Gloucester's try, stepped up to land the decisive kick three minutes from time.
Saracens will be bent on revenge when they return to Twickenham on May 28th, having been beaten by a last-minute Dan Hipkiss try in the final 12 months ago.
Mark McCall's men booked their title shot by grinding out a 12th consecutive victory in a scrappy encounter but the scoreline was far closer than it should have been. Saracens were in control for the majority of the game but missed five of their seven first-half kicks at goal, which could have put them out of Gloucester's reach.
Three different kickers each missed a penalty attempt and James Short had a try disallowed all inside the opening nine minutes of the game. Richard Wigglesworth took the first shot at goal from halfway and pulled it wide before Alex Goode carved through the Gloucester midfield to send Short away.
The Saracens wing appeared to have dived over in the corner but television replays showed Freddie Burns's last-ditch cover tackle had just forced his foot into touch. Referee Andrew Small brought play back for a Saracens penalty but Goode fluffed it embarrassingly, prompting cries of "eeyore" from the sizeable travelling Gloucester contingent.
Farrell was the third Saracens player to miss inside nine minutes, striking the post with another long-range effort before eventually kicking his team on to the board at the fourth time of asking.
Gloucester's possession had been limited but, as ever, they looked dangerous with the ball in hand. James Simpson-Daniel's quick thinking sparked a promising first Cherry and Whites attack, which stumbled when Robinson spilled the ball.
Although advantage was being played it was a strong attacking platform wasted and, to make matters worse, Robinson then missed his first shot at goal.
But Saracens were in control, with Schalk Brits jinking his way deep into the Gloucester half where the Men In Black won a penalty at the breakdown. Farrell made no mistake from in front of the posts but missed his second, and Saracens' fourth, penalty attempt of the afternoon earned by a strong scrum.
That prompted Farrell to go for touch with his next effort and Saracens drove their lineout forward dangerously, with Ernst Joubert darting for the posts.
Gloucester held him up and Scott Lawson pinched possession to relieve the pressure, though they survived again before the interval when Farrell hit the post for a second time.
The visitors finished the half strongly with a Robinson penalty but it could have been better still had the fly-half not butchered a golden chance.
Robinson's midfield break had Saracens stretched but his long pass intended for Charlie Sharples flew over the wing's head and into touch.
Farrell edged Saracens into a 9-3 lead almost straight from the kick-off. Both he and Robinson then missed further attempts as the wind continued to play havoc.
There was a great deal of huff and puff, plenty of heavy tackles but it was pedestrian. There was very little creativity on show, a situation that suited Saracens down to the ground.
Now and again, Gloucester threatened to open the game up. Robinson's break and offload set the Cherry and Whites in motion but the move was brought to a thundering halt by Hugh Vyvyan's tackle on Rory Lawson, which put the scrum-half out of the game.
Saracens were reduced to 14 men in the 63rd minute after captain Steve Borthwick was judged to have taken Alex Brown out in the air and sent to the sin-bin.
The controversial touch-judge call revved up Saracens, who suddenly injected some urgency into proceedings - before being stung.
Farrell's drop-goal attempt was charged down by Brown and Akapusi Qera before Gloucester broke away, with Burns and Simpson-Daniel sending Robinson away under the posts.
Robinson's conversion edged Gloucester into the lead but Saracens responded almost immediately, with Vyvyan winning a breakdown penalty and Farrell landing his fourth penalty to seal the victory.
15 Alex Goode 14 David Strettle 13 Chris Wyles 12 Brad Barritt 11 James Short 10 Owen Farrell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Matt Stevens 2 Schalk Brits 3 Carlos Nieto 4 Steve Borthwick [C] 5 Mouritz Botha 6 Kelly Brown 7 Jacques Burger 8 Ernst Joubert BENCH: 16 Jamie George 17 Rhys Gill 18 Petrus du Plessis 19 Hugh Vyvyan 20 Andy Saull 21 Neil de Kock 22 Nils Mordt 23 Noah Cato
SCORERS P: Farrell (4) S Borthwick
15 Freddie Burns 14 Charlie Sharples 13 Tim Molenaar 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu 11 James Simpson-Daniel 10 Nicky Robinson 9 Rory Lawson 1 Nick Wood 2 Scott Lawson 3 Paul Doran-Jones 4 Jim Hamilton 5 Alex Brown 6 Alasdair Strokosch 7 Akapusi Qera 8 Luke Narraway [C] BENCH: 16 Darren Dawidiuk 17 Alasdair Dickinson 18 Rupert Harden 19 Dave Attwood 20 Brett Deacon 21 Dave Lewis 22 Jonny May 23 Tom Voyce
SCORERS T: Robinson C: Robinson P: Robinson
Man of the Match: Jacques Burger
Referee: Andrew Small
WEEK 22
ON Saturday, Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints powered through to the Aviva Premiership Rugby Semi Final finishing in places one to four respectively after an exciting, memorable and hard-fought Aviva Premiership Rugby season at the top of professional club rugby in England.
Leicester Tigers will now face local rivals Northampton Saints in what promises to be an electric Midlands derby on Saturday 14th May at 15.15 at Welford Road. This will be followed the next day by the equally thrilling pairing of Saracens against Gloucester Rugby at 14.30 on Sunday 15th May at Vicarage Road. The winning club from each match will go through to the prestigious Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on Saturday 28th May at Twickenham Stadium where the Aviva Premiership Rugby Champions will be crowned.
This weekend saw all Round 22 matches kick off at the same time on Saturday in a dramatic climax to the regular season.
At The Recreation Ground Bath Rugby couldn’t be faulted on effort by scoring four tries before halftime in an improbable chase for an Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final spot. Following the four tries by Sam Vesty, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Matt Carraro and Matt Banahan, Jacques Boussuge added another in the 76th minute. Newcastle Falcons replied with tries from Alex Tait and Luke Fielden. Bath settled for fifth place and Heineken Cup qualification while Newcastle Falcons narrowly escaped the relegation zone by finishing in 11th place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table. Final score: Bath Rugby 42, Newcastle Falcons 12.
At Sandy Park Exeter Chiefs finished their season with a flourish as two second-half tries earned them a tenth Aviva Premiership Rugby win of the season to leapfrog London Wasps and finish a very respectable eighth with Wasps in ninth position. Christian Wade scored for Wasps in the first half but Exeter fought back in the second half with tries from Tom Johnson and Matt Jess. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 21, London Wasps 8.
Over at Kingsholm Gloucester Rugby claimed their place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final in style with a crushing win over Sale Sharks. The power of the home pack and some brilliant attacking play from Charlie Sharples and Henry Trinder who scored five of Gloucester’s 10 tries, ensured there was no fairytale ending to the distinguished Sale careers of Charlie Hodgson and Chris Jones. Final score: Gloucester Rugby 68, Sale Sharks 17.
Saracens will head into their Aviva Premiership Rugby semi-final against Gloucester on the crest of a wave after rounding off the regular season with an 11th consecutive victory over Harlequins who finished in seventh position. Owen Farrell’s second-half contribution of a try, conversion and penalty ultimately proved the difference after the two sides had been locked 6-6 at a packed Twickenham Stoop Stadium. Final score: Harlequins 13, Saracens 16.
Leeds Carnegie blew a 21-point lead at Franklin’s Gardens and finished bottom of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table to face the relegation drop. The West Yorkshire club’s fate will not be decided for another 11 days when the Championship play-offs are decided. Neil Back’s men gave Heineken Cup finalists Northampton Saints an early shock with tries from England flanker Hendre Fourie, his back-row colleague Rhys Oakley and wing Pete Wackett. Saints, needing two points to secure a title play-off place, were at sixes and sevens at 24-3 adrift before normal service was eventually resumed through scores by skipper Phil Dowson and England wing Chris Ashton either side of a penalty try. Final score: Northampton Saints 31, Leeds Carnegie 24.
At Welford Road, Leicester Tigers produced an astonishing final 10 minutes to steal a dramatic victory over London Irish, who finished in sixth position. London Irish were leading 23-13 with just 10 minutes to go before Tigers scored three tries courtesy of Anthony Allen, Tom Croft and Alesana Tuilagi, to record a stunning victory and leave London Irish devastated. Final score: Leicester Tigers 32, London Irish 23
RESULTS
BATH RUGBY 42 - 12 NEWCASTLE FALCON 
Recreation Ground - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 29-0 Attendance: 12,200
BATH T: Vesty, Fernandez Lobbe, Carraro, Banahan, Boussuge C: James (3), Vesty P: James (3)
NEWCASTLE T: Tait, Fielden C: Manning
EXETER CHIEFS 21 - 8 LONDON WASPS 
Sandy Park - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 9-5 Attendance: 10,522
EXETER T: Johnson, Jess C: Mieres P: Mieres (3)
WASPS T: Wade DG: Walder
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 68 - 17 SALE SHARKS 
Kingsholm - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 19-3 Attendance: 14,151
GLOUCESTER T: RGM Lawson, S Lawson, Trinder (2), Sharples (3), Robinson, Simpson-Daniel, Lewis C: Robinson (7), Taylor (2)
SALE T: Briggs, McMillan C: Hodgson (52, 70)
HARLEQUINS 13 - 16 SARACENS
Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 6-6 Attendance: 14,282
HARLEQUINS T: Robshaw C: Urdapilleta P: Clegg (2)
SARACENS T: Farrell C: Farrell P: Goode (2), Farrell YC Jacques Burger
LEICESTER TIGERS 32 - 23 LONDON IRISH 
Welford Road - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 8-13 Attendance: 24,000
LEICESTER T: Smith, Agulla, Allen, Croft, AT Tuilagi C: Flood (2) P: Flood
LONDON IRISH T: Ojo (2) C: Homer (2) P: Homer (3)
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 31 - 24 LEEDS CARNEGIE 
Franklin's Gardens - Saturday 7th May 2011
HT: 15-24 Attendance: 13,209
NORTHAMPTON T: Dowson, Penalty try, Ashton C: Geraghty (2) P: Geraghty, Myler (3) Paul Diggin
LEEDS T: Fourie, Oakley, Wackett C: Jarvis (3) P: Jarvis Lee Blackett Juan Gomez
WEEK 21
DESPITE a full weekend of Aviva Premiership rugby, the table remains exactly as it stood at the end of Round 20. Leicester Tigers are clinging to the top spot by just a one point lead, and have booked their spot in the play offs alongside Saracens. The two clubs have already secured home semi finals, so the final week of Premiership Rugby on 7th May will decide who of Gloucester and Northampton will travel to Welford Road on Saturday 14th May KO 3.15pm or Vicarage Road on Sunday 15th May KO 2.30pm.
Leeds Carnegie are languishing under the threat of relegation, and though they have the same 22 points as Newcastle, the Falcons still have one game in hand which is to be played next Saturday afternoon in a home fixture against Bath Rugby, before the fixture is reversed in week 22.
Exeter Chiefs put to bed recent away-day woes as they returned to winning ways with a memorable victory over Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Good Friday.
Defeats on the road to London Irish, Leeds Carnegie and Bath, as well as a home reverse to Saracens, had somewhat deflated the rise of Rob Baxter's Aviva Premiership newcomers in the past month.
However, the Chiefs - who this week will await their fate over an RFU charge of fielding three overseas players in the match-day squad against Irish and Leeds - responded in fine style as they ran in three converted tries through Nic Sestaret, Matt Jess and Tom Hayes, plus three further penalties to complete the league double over the Sharks.
The sun shone, the pitch was fine, and Edgeley Park had farewells to say to several Sharks players, notably Charlie Hodgson and Chris Jones. But it was the Chiefs who played more as a team against an error-ridden home side. Despite being on a level playing field going into the break at 10-all, time and time again, Sale couldn't hold on to the ball at a vital moment, with the exceptions of Hodgson and 18-year old winger Will Addison, who scored the 'saving' try after setting up the first for the departing Chris Bell.
Sale’s only saving grace was a final minute try from Will Addison which Hodgson converted to give them a losing bonus point.
Newcastle Falcons pushed a star-studded Leicester Tigers outfit all the way, as Alan Tait's men missed out on a losing bonus point in the Aviva Premiership, on Good Friday.
The Falcons gave the Kingston Park faithful reason for encouragement on a balmy evening in the north-east, with Tane Tu'ipulotu's touchdown a match highlight in the 57th minute. But the visotrs outscored the home side three tries to one.
Alesana Tuilagi, the Aviva Premiership's leading try scorer, set the ball rolling in the first half with his 11th try of the league season, and his fourth in two games.
Matt Smith went over from close-range early in the second-half before scrum-half James Grindal, against his former club, secured the points with six minutes of the game remaining with his first try of the campaign.
Ireland international Jeremy Staunton kicked the rest of the Tigers points as Leicester claimed the four points that guarantee a top two Aviva Premiership finish.
Northampton Saints strengthened their hold on fourth place with a 20-26 win over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium and ended the Exiles semi-final hopes in the process.
The glorious spring sunshine created soaring temperatures at ground level, but the dryness also lent itself to running rugby, and two of Aviva Premiership Rugby's more renowned teams for that style of play created plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the first half.
From Chris Ashton’s first try in 5th minute, London Irish were playing catch-up right from the outset. Tom Homer did boot over a couple of penalties in the first half, but Stephen Myler reciprocated with his own, and the visitors went into the break 13-6 up.
Despite London Irish fighting their way back into the game with a dive over the line from a 5m scrum by replacement Richard Thorpe, and Dan Bowen showing a piece of individual brilliance in offloading out of the tackle to the departing Seilala Mapusua who dived in under the posts, another Ashton try and two more Myler penalties were the difference between the two sides.
Bath Rugby rained all over London Wasps’ St George’s Day Parade with a confident 43-10 victory, and you can read the full match report here:
Saracens secured a home Aviva Premiership Rugby play-off semi-final with an emphatic victory over Gloucester Rugby, the team most likely to be their opponents on the second weekend in May.
Three games in eight days proved to be a step too far for Gloucester on Easter Sunday as in form Saracens produced a clinical and impressive display of a 35-12 win.
The last thing Gloucester needed after such a tough week was perhaps to have to turn out in hot conditions against a team bang in form.
Saracens sought to win the physical encounters, kick tactically for position and take any points on offer. And they duly ticked all the boxes.
There was plenty of endeavour on show but Gloucester couldn't impose any sort of control against an opponent who approached the game in typically pragmatic fashion. Mainly on the back foot, Gloucester defended stoutly but tired minds and bodies were eventually ground down. It wasn't always pretty but it was mightily effective.
South African duo Schalk Brits and Ernst Joubert ran in first-half tries for Sarries with prop Matt Stevens and winger David Strettle crossing after the break. Gloucester's tries came from James Simpson-Daniel and Henry Trinder. The victory was Saracens' ninth on the trot and moved them within a point of Leicester at the top of the table.
The final match of the weekend was a happy Easter for Harlequins at Headingley; five tries and a cheeky drop goal from Danny Care saw Quins triumph against Leeds Carnegie 38 points to 3.
Leeds kicked off into the sunshine on a glorious Easter Sunday at Headingley with both sides knowing a win was a must for their various causes.
Quins dominated the early possession and a series of lineout wins put the London side in commanding positions. On a couple of occasions Leeds did open up Quins defence to set up scoring opportunities, but could not back these up with any support or conviction. Converted tries from Danny Care and Joe Gray saw the visitors go into half time with a 14-0 lead.
The second half saw the visitors return with even more determination and the tries came raining in from Jordan Turner-Hall, Nick Easter and Mike Brown; Nick Evans’ boot was on fine form for the conversions, and Rory Clegg took over in the final quarter.
Christian Lewis-Pratt kicked a penalty after 51 minutes for the home side, but Carnegie's luck seemed to be summed up when Lachlan MacKay made a break before offloading to Lewis-Pratt but the fullback knocked on just as the line opened up for him.
Leeds now have the fight of their lives to prevent relegation on May 7th with an away match to prospective semi-finalists Northampton Saints.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS 24 - 30 EXETER CHIEFS
Edgeley Park - Friday 22nd April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 7,462
SALE SHARKS T: Bell, Lewaravu, Addison C: Hodgson (3) P: Hodgson
EXETER CHIEFS T: Sestaret, Jess, Hayes C: Mieres (2), Steenson P: Mieres (2), Steenson
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 13 - 24 LEICESTER TIGERS
Kingston Park - Friday 22nd April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 6,470
NEWCASTLE FALCONS T: Tu'ipulotu C: Gopperth P: Gopperth (2)
LEICESTER TIGERS T: AT Tuilagi, Smith, Grindal C: Staunton (3) P: Staunton
LONDON IRISH 20 - 26 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Madejski Stadium - Saturday 23rd April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 11,860
LONDON IRISH T: Thorpe, Mapusua C: Homer (2) P: Homer (2)
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS T: Ashton (2) C: Myler (2) P: Myler (4)
LONDON WASPS 10 - 43 BATH RUGBY
Twickenham - Saturday 23rd April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 38,074
LONDON WASPS T: Simpson C: Simpson P: Walder
BATH RUGBY T: Biggs (3), Banahan (2), Carraro C: Vesty (5) P: Vesty
SARACENS 35 - 12 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Vicarage Road - Sunday 24th April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 10,439
SARACENS T: Brits, Joubert, Stevens, Strettle C: Goode (3) P: Goode (3)
GLOUCESTER RUGBY T: Simpson-Daniel (33), Trinder C: Mills Luke Narraway
LEEDS CARNEGIE 3 - 38 HARLEQUINS
Headingley Carnegie - Sunday 24th April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 5,424
LEEDS CARNEGIE P: Lewis-Pratt
HARLEQUINS T: Care, Gray, Turner-Hall, Easter, Brown C: Evans (4), Clegg DG: Care
ROUND 11
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 11 - 14 BATH RUGBY
Kingston Park - Saturday 30th April 2011
HT: 6-8 Attendance: 5,213
NEWCASTLE FALCONS T: Fielden P: Gopperth
BATH RUGBY T: Claassens P: James (2), Vesty
WEEK 20
THE fight for a top four finish and a place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Semi-final intensified this weekend with some epic encounters around the country. The highest-scoring draw in Aviva Premiership Rugby history as well as the most points Leicester have ever conceded on home soil in a league game took place against Gloucester on Saturday. There were also wins for Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Saracens and London Wasps, who inflicted a seven-try hammering on relegation-threatened Leeds Carnegie. Sale Sharks hosted London Irish at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton in front of a record home crowd with the visitors coming away with a win. Leicester, Saracens, Gloucester and Northampton currently hold the top four positions but that could all change over the final two rounds.
On Friday night, Northampton Saints came away with a comfortable win at Kingston Park although hosts Newcastle Falcons managed to snatch a crucial losing bonus point to move off the bottom of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table. Jimmy Gopperth’s boot was on form for Falcons slotting over five penalties, however tries from Ben Foden and Bruce Reihana for Saints, as well as a late try by Chris Ashton, ensured Northampton went home with a victory.
At the Recreation Ground on Saturday, Springbok half-back duo Michael Claassens and Butch James scored all the points as Bath Rugby held on for a narrow win against Harlequins and leapfrogged them into sixth place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table, boosting their hopes of Heineken Cup rugby next season. The only try of the match came after just 11 minutes as scrum-half Claassens finished one of the few fluent moves of a tense game with James converting as well as kicking four penalties, missing just one kick. All Harlequins’ points came from the boot fly-half Nick Evans.
Over at Sandy Park Saracens gained revenge for their defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Vicarage Road back in October with a decisive victory and the Chiefs’ heaviest league defeat this season. Chris Wyles, Noah Cato and Rhys Gill touched down for Saracens with Andy Goode adding a further 15 points with the boot. Jason Shoemark scored the Chiefs’ opening try and Sireli Naqelevuki added a consolation effort late on for the Devon side.
At Welford Road, Aviva Premiership Rugby table topper Leicester Tigers were denied victory in the final seconds of an epic Aviva Premiership Rugby contest as play-off rivals Gloucester Rugby snatched a well-earned draw. Centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu’s interception try, converted by Freddie Burns, ensured the highest-scoring draw in Aviva Premiership Rugby history and the most points Leicester have ever conceded on home soil in a league game. Tries for Tigers came from Scott Hamilton, Billy Twelvetrees and a hat-trick from Alesana Tuilagi, with five conversions and two penalties via the boot of Toby Flood. Gloucester’s tries were courtesy of Olly Morgan, Andy Hazell, Tim Molenaar and two from Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, with five conversions and two penalties from Freddie Burns.
Sale Sharks highly anticipated showdown at the Reebok Stadium in front of a record home attendance of 16,428 saw London Irish cruising to a bonus-point victory despite a second half fightback from Sale Sharks. Topsy Ojo, David Paice, Dan Bowden and Steffon Armitage ran in tries accompanied by the impressive Tom Homer who booted 14 points to keep Irish in with a chance of a top four finish. Sale showed plenty of resilience with scores from locks Sean Cox and Wame Lewaravu, and Charlie Hodgson kicked two penalties and two conversions, but flanker Armitage scored a last-minute try to confirm Irish’s win.
On Sunday, Leeds Carnegie remained at the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table after a crushing seven-try defeat by London Wasps at Adams Park. The West Yorkshire club now have only two games in which to escape relegation, in the form of a home game against Harlequins and a final fixture away to Northampton Saints. Leeds competed well in the early stages of the match but as the game wore on they had no answer to the pace and skills of Richard Haughton and Joe Simpson both of whom scored a brace with Dave Walder, on his last appearance at Adams Park, kicking 14 points. Further tries for Wasps came from Joe Ward, Billy Vunipola and Zak Taulafo. Rhys Oakley and Chris Lewis-Pratt scored for Leeds, with two penalties and a conversion by Adrian Jarvis.
ON Tuesday night, Gloucester Rugby took on Northampton Saints at Kingsholm to play the penultimate catch-up match hungover from the miserable English winter. And on this balmy summer-like evening, the teams came out with such ferocity and pace that one could have been forgiven for assuming it was a Super Rugby match.
Alex Waller took an early lead for the visitors with a try, but Tim Molenaar hit back within the first quarter to give the homeside the advantage with a conversion from Freddie Burns, and that was the only opportunity the Saints had to be infront. A second try from Charlie Sharples, and with Burns' boot on target, the cherry & whies went into the break 17-8 up, Geraghty only managing one penalty for Northampton.
The second half saw more of the same with an early penalty from Burns followed quickly by a conversion of Olivier Azam's try ten minutes in. Both sides saw many changes but there was nochange to the score until eight mintutes from time when Lee Dickson picked up a loose ball to dive over from close range. Geraghty converted but it was too little too late; the Saints walked away point-less while Gloucester notched up another 4 taking them that much closer to a play-off spot.
RESULTS
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 15 - 22 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Kingston Park - Friday 15th April 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: 5,167
NEWCASTLE P: Gopperth (5)
NORTHAMPTON T: Foden, Reihana, Ashton C: Myler (2) P: Myler Callum Clark
BATH RUGBY 19 - 15 HARLEQUINS
Recreation Ground - Saturday 16th April 2011
HT: 10-9 Attendance: 12,200
BATH RUGBY T: Claassens C: James P: James (4) Sam Vesty
HARLEQUINS P: Evans (5)
EXETER CHIEFS 12 - 33 SARACENS
Sandy Park - Saturday 16th April 2011
HT: 5-13 Attendance: 9,561
EXETER CHIEFS T: Shoemark (35), Naqelevuki C: Mieres
SARACENS T: Wyles, Cato, Gill C: Goode (3) P: Goode (3) DG: Farrell
LEICESTER TIGERS 41 - 41 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Welford Road - Saturday 16th April 2011
HT: 13-17 Attendance: 24,000
LEICESTER T: Hamilton, AT Tuilagi (3), Twelvetrees C: Flood (5) P: Flood (2)
GLOUCESTER T: Morgan, Fuimaono-Sapolu (2), Hazell, Molenaar C: Burns (5) P: Burns (2)
SALE SHARKS 20 - 34 LONDON IRISH
Reebok Stadium - Saturday 16th April 2011
HT: 3-24 Attendance: 16,428
SALE SHARKS T: Cox, Lewaravu C: Hodgson (2) P: Hodgson (2)
LONDON IRISH T: Ojo, Paice, Bowden, SE Armitage C: Homer (4) P: Homer, Bowden
LONDON WASPS 51 - 18 LEEDS CARNEGIE
Adams Park - Sunday 17th April 2011
HT: 16-6 Attendance: 7,186
WASPS T: Simpson (2), Haughton (2), Ward, Vunipola, Taulafo C: Walder (4) Atkinson P: Walder (2)
LEEDS T: Oakley, Lewis-Pratt C: Jarvis P: Jarvis (2) Michael Stephenson
ROUND 11
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 27 - 15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Kingsholm - Tuesday 19th April 2011
HT: 17-8 Attendance: tbc
GLOUCESTER T: Molenaar, Sharples, Azam C: Burns (3) P: Burns (2)
NORTHAMPTON T: Waller, Dickson C: Geraghty P: Geraghty
WEEK 10/11 Re-Arranged
WITH a weekend of European rugby as the focus, this was the perfect opportunity for the Aviva Premiership to play catch up on a group of matches -for those no longer involved in the knock out stages of the Heineken or Amlin Cups- that were postponed due to the bad weather in the UK over the winter months.
On Friday night, Sale Sharks took on Gloucester Rugby in a thrilling match from Round 10 at Edgeley Park. Though it resulted in no change in the Premiership table, the Sharks felled the giants from the west country, taking the lead at half time forcing Gloucester to play catch up until the nail-biting end.
Charlie Hodgson took his points tally at Edgeley Park past the 1,000 mark as Sale eased their Aviva Premiership Rugby relegation fears with a deserved bonus-point 36-31 victory over third-placed Gloucester.
Gloucester opened the scoring with a penalty followed by a try, but by half time, Sale had matched the visitors score for score, and with an extra penalty led 16-13.
The second half saw Sale outscore the cherry & whites three tries to two, and despite being awarded a converted penalty try in the last two minutes of the game, it was all Gloucester could do to secure a consolation losing bonus point.
ON a glorious sunny afternoon at The Rec on Saturday, Bath Rugby boosted their hopes of Heineken Cup qualification with a scratchy win over their west country rivals Exeter Chiefs, but did nothing to suggest they are serious contenders for the Aviva Premiership Rugby play-offs.
The first quarter saw the visitors take an 8 point unanswered lead, but within ten minutes they had conceded two vital penalties allowing Butch James to reduce the deficit to just 2 before England winger, Matt Banahan crossed for the try; James' conversion took the homeside to a neat 13-8 lead at the break.
The second half began with a try from Bath's Matt Carraro, and both sides conceded kickable penalties before the ref lost his patience with infringements and both James Scaysbrook and Hoani Tui were directed to the sin bin within five minutes of each other. The first yellow card almost saw Bath score a third try but it was held up; the second saw them secure a try from Claassens - 26-11 with less than ten minutes on the clock.
The visitors did manage a final hurrah of a try from Matt Jess converted by Ignacio Mieres with just two minutes to go but it was too little too late.
FINALLY, Newcastle Falcons took on Leeds Carnegie in an extremely close fought-battle at Kingston Park.
Leeds moved off the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table after coming out on top in a fraught relegation battle thanks to two late drop goals from fly-half Adrian Jarvis.
Defeat means Newcastle now occupy the basement hot-seat after squandering a winning position when they were 20-7 up half an hour into the game with tries from Micky Young and Jeremy Manning, plus 10 points from Jimmy Gopperth's boot.
But by half time, converted tries from Steve Thompson and Pete Wackett took the teams into the break at 20-14.
Leeds began their recovery soon after the break, and eleven minutes Gareth Hardy crossed for the visitors' converted third try, Jarvis having already popped over a penalty giving Leeds the lead for the first time in this match.
Jimmy Gopperth kept the battle going with three good penalties, and with just two minutes to go, the homeside had a slender 29-27 lead before Adrian Jarvis spoilt the party with his second drop goal of the afternoon.
RESULTS
ROUND 10
SALE SHARKS 36 - 31 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Edgeley Park - Friday 8th April 2011
HT: 16-13 Attendance: 6,888
ROUND 11
BATH RUGBY 26 - 18 EXETER CHIEFS
Recreation Ground - Saturday 9th April 2011
HT: 13-8 Attendance: 12,200
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 29 - 30 LEEDS CARNEGIE
Kingston Park - Saturday 9th April 2011
HT: 20-14 Attendance: 6,876
WEEK 19
ROUND 19 saw absolutely no change to the order of clubs in the Aviva Premiership table.
Northampton Saints boosted their Aviva Premiership Rugby play-off hopes with an eight-try victory over Sale Sharks, who had hooker Neil Briggs sent off in the second half.
A rampant pack produced two penalty tries for Saints, who secured their bonus point before half-time. Their other tries came from scrum-half Lee Dickson, England winger Chris Ashton, prop Brian Mujati, England flanker Tom Wood and replacements Bruce Reihana and Phil Dowson, with fly-half Stephen Myler kicking 13 points.
Sale replied with tries from replacement hooker Marc Jones and lock Wame Lewaravu, with former England fly-half Charlie Hodgson kicking 14 points.
Gloucester Rugby recovered from a Harlequins horror show seven days ago to put their Aviva Premiership Rugby play-off bid back on track at Kingsholm against Newcastle Falcons.
But Newcastle, 29 points and eight places below Gloucester in the league table before kick-off, gave them a fright until subsiding during the final quarter. The Falcons last won on Gloucester soil during their Aviva Premiership Rugby title-winning campaign 13 years ago, yet three Jimmy Gopperth penalties kept them in contention for much of a low-quality contest.
Full-back Freddie Burns, wing Jonny May, scrum-half Rory Lawson and substitute Henry Trinder scored tries for Gloucester, while Burns slotted two conversions and two penalties for a 15-point haul before Tim Taylor added the final two conversions.
Premiership Rugby leaders Leicester Tigers held off a ferocious fightback from Harlequins to clinch a hard-earned 17-13 victory as both sides ended the game with 14 men at The Stoop.
Referee Wayne Barnes showed two red cards, to Marcos Ayerza and Joe Marler, and two yellows in a white-hot thriller, but Quins will regret for some time their missed chances. Scrum-half Danny Care ensured they converted at least one of their opportunities, with fly-half Nick Evans adding eight points with the boot.
But Leicester responded through Alesana Tuilagi and a penalty try, England number 10 Toby Flood booting seven points.
Quins did spend the last seven minutes camped on the Tigers try line, bet despite their best efforts, the defence form the visitors was too much to overcome.
Matt Stevens helped bang a nail into Bath Rugby's Premiership Rugby play-off hopes with a man of the match display as Saracens tightened their grip on second place with a 20-9 victory.
Stevens faced his former club for the first time since leaving the Recreation Ground. The resurgent England prop is rebuilding his career at Saracens where he has impressed in his eight appearances to date, including a star turn on Sunday that can only improve his chances of going to the World Cup.
Bath viewed this match as a must-win if they were to reignite their ambition of reaching the play-offs after last weekend's thumping by Leicester.
Saracens, however, seem destined for home advantage in the play-offs after emerging convincing winners from an attritional encounter.
Winger David Strettle enjoyed a lively afternoon and scored the only try while Alex Goode kicked five penalties, but it was the forwards that did the real damage. Apart from collapsing in the first scrum of the match, the Saracens pack was in control throughout and dominated the final quarter.
Adrian Jarvis claimed 17 points with the boot as relegation-threatened Leeds Carnegie secured a tense 27-22 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Headingley Carnegie.
The former Bristol fly-half landed four penalties, a conversion and a drop goal and Hendre Fourie and Alfie To'oala touched down as Neil Back's bottom-placed side moved to within two points of Newcastle.
It was penalties all round until Hendre Fourie finally found the try line half an hour into the match, and following a 10 point lead going into the break for the homeside, the Chiefs Bryan Rennie narrowed the gap with a try; more penalties equalised the scoreboard until the final quarter.
Alfie To'oala Vaeluaga scored the third and final try of the afternoon which took Leeds ahead, and though Jarvis missed the conversion, a drop goal sealed the win despite a reciprocal attempt from Steenson.
Wing Tom Homer claimed 20 points and ensured London Wasps were made to pay for their ill-discipline as they suffered another defeat to continue their slide down the table - this time 25-12 at London Irish.
The visitors led 12-3 early on in the game with tries from Riki Flutey and Rob Webber, but then proceeded to gift five penalties to the Exiles in the first half, falling behind to a 15-12 deficit at the interval.
Wasps were unable to muster another point for the remainder of the match, so Irish ran away with a converted try from David Paice and yet another penalty from Homer. The hosts' full-back surprisingly missed with a further penalty chance, before Wasps had the better of the final minutes. However, despite London Irish lock Gary Johnson receiving a late yellow card, Wasps were unable to make any inroads and slumped to another disappointing loss.
And to add to their woes, London Wasps and England Saxons centre, Dominic Waldouck snapped his Achilles and will be out for the remainder of the season and likely the entire summer, putting pay to any involvement in this year’s Churchill Cup hopes.
RESULTS
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 53 - 24 SALE SHARKS
Franklins Gardens - Saturday 2nd April 2011
HT: 26-16 Attendance: 13,312
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 34 - 9 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Kingsholm - Saturday 2nd April 2011
HT: 10-9 Attendance: 12,931
HARLEQUINS 13 - 17 LEICESTER TIGERS
Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 2nd April 2011
HT: 10-0 Attendance: 14,282
SARACENS 20 - 9 BATH RUGBY
Vicarage Road - Sunday 3rd April 2011
HT: 11-3 Attendance: 9,653
LEEDS CARNEGIE 27 - 22 EXETER CHIEFS
Headingley Carnegie - Sunday 3rd April 2011
HT: 16-6 Attendance: 4,097
LONDON IRISH 25 - 12 LONDON WASPS
Madejski Stadium - Sunday 3rd April 2011
HT: 15-12 Attendance: 9,789
WEEK 18
ROUND 18 saw England's internationals return to Aviva Premiership Rugby action as the chase for a top four finish intensifies. There were comprehensive wins for Harlequins, London Irish, Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints in some entertaining and high scoring matches as well as valuable wins for Saracens and Sale Sharks with everyone's eyes on table positions.
On Friday night Charlie Hodgson kicked Sale Sharks to a valuable victory as a painful loss sent bottom side Leeds Carnegie closer to relegation. Fly-half Hodgson landed five penalties to settle a fraught encounter against a very determined Leeds side. Leeds claimed well-worked tries from Henry Fa’afili and Michael Stephenson and were largely dominant up front in the opening half. However Hodgson converted three penalties before the break and another two in the second period to ease his side’s own relegation fears.
On Saturday at The Stoop a hat-trick from Ugo Monye and a superb kicking display from Rory Clegg helped Harlequins dismantle Gloucester Rugby. The London side had slipped to three defeats in their last four Aviva Premiership Rugby matches as well as a narrow home defeat to Newcastle Falcons in the LV= Cup semi-final so were suitably delighted to be back with a vengeance, beating a Gloucester side who arrived on the back of an 11-game winning streak and fresh from victory in the final of the LV= Cup last Sunday.
Over at the Madejski Stadium, Delon Armitage took only 40 seconds to score the opening try against Exeter Chiefs as London Irish boosted their hopes of a top four finish. Armitage has ground to make up before England go to the World Cup and he wasted no time in producing an Aviva Premiership Rugby Man of the Match performance. His younger brother, flanker Steffon, weighed in with two tries, replacement hooker David Paice also touched down and winger Tom Homer kicked 19 points for the Exiles, now unbeaten at home since New Year’s Day. The Chiefs, who had won three of their previous four Aviva Premiership Rugby matches, replied with a try from prop Chris Budgen and four penalties from fly-half Gareth Steenson.
At the Recreation Ground England fly-half Toby Flood masterminded Leicester Tigers’ first league win at Bath for five years as the Tigers tightened their grip on the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table. Flood’s 22-point contribution included two tries and his England colleague Tom Croft also touched down twice after Anthony Allen had opened the scoring. Bath looked outclassed and two Butch James penalties did little to dent the balance.
On Sunday Northampton Saints kept their top four hopes alive with an emphatic win over London Wasps at Franklin’s Gardens. The defeat for the visitors, who were also beaten by the Saints at Adams Park earlier in the season, severely dampened their play-off hopes. Northampton were strengthened by the return of their five England stars and they all impressed. Saints’ tries came from Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Brian Mujati and Stuart Commins backed up with four conversions and two penalties. Wasps only reply was a penalty from Dave Walder.
At Vicarage Road Saracens continued their pursuit of Aviva Premiership Rugby table-toppers Leicester Tigers with a win over Newcastle Falcons. Saracens made a sizzling start with an early try from James Short after five minutes but Newcastle remained within touching distance for most of the game, with the scoreline standing at 11-9 with 27 minutes left to play. However another Saracens try from Jared Saunders supported by the accurate kicking of Owen Farrell sealed the victory. Falcons’ Jimmy Gopperth put on a fine goal-kicking display but it was Saracens day.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS 15 - 12 LEEDS CARNEGIE
Edgeley Park - Friday 25th March 2011
HT: 9-7 Attendance: 6,972
HARLEQUINS 53 - 15 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 26th March 2011
HT: 24-3 Attendance: 14,282
LONDON IRISH 39 - 17 EXETER CHIEFS
Madejski Stadium - Saturday 26th March 2011
HT: 18-8 Attendance: 20,011
BATH RUGBY 6 - 37 LEICESTER TIGERS
Recreation Ground - Saturday 26th March 2011
HT: 3-22 Attendance: 12,200
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 39 - 3 LONDON WASPS
Franklin's Gardens - Sunday 27th March 2011
HT: 22-3 Attendance: 13,385
SARACENS 24 - 9 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Vicarage Road - Sunday 27th March 2011
HT: 11-3 Attendance: 7,135
WEEK 17
ROUND 17 threw up some unexpected results as Leicester Tigers were beaten at home for the first time in the league this season and Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie both won comfortably to keep their survival hopes alive.
Probably the most impressive result of the weekend was Exeter Chief’s win against Northampton Saints, as the pre- season favourites for relegation came from behind to beat the early season pace-setters. It’s been a tough few weeks for the Saints, while things couldn’t be looking better for the boys in Devon.
On Friday night at Kingston Park Newcastle Falcons ran in three second-half tries to defeat Harlequins and take a big step towards Aviva Premiership Rugby safety. Quins were in the lead after just three minutes with a try from Tom Williams in the corner but this was followed by tries in the second half by Alex Gray, Luke Fielden and Micky Young for Newcastle Falcons and along with some excellent kicking by Jimmy Gopperth, a second Harlequins try by Mike Brown couldn’t stop a welcome victory for the home side. Final score: Newcastle Falcons 33, Harlequins 18.
On Saturday Gloucester Rugby completed a season’s double over fierce local rivals Bath Rugby at Kingsholm to underline their credentials as genuine Aviva Premiership Rugby title challengers. A ninth successive win in all competitions – Gloucester’s longest unbeaten run since 2002 – was secured by tries from England prop Paul Doran-Jones, centre Henry Trinder and wing Tom Voyce’s double. Fly-half Nicky Robinson added four penalties and a conversion, while Matt Banahan, Tom Biggs and Ben Williams scored for Bath in only their second defeat from their last 10 starts. Final score: Gloucester Rugby 34, Bath Rugby 22.
Over at Welford Road, replacement Billy Twelvetrees missed a last-gasp penalty as Saracens moved within two points of Leicester Tigers at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with a nail-biting win. An impressive try from Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi separated the sides at the break as three penalties apiece from Jeremy Staunton and Alex Goode saw the hosts hold a 14-9 interval lead. But the Tigers remained scoreless after the break and two more Goode penalties, the second just five minutes from time, saw Saracens become the first side to win at “fortress” Welford Road in the league. Final score: Leicester Tigers 14, Saracens 15.
On Sunday at Sandy Park, visitors Northampton Saints dominated the first half against Exeter Chiefs and led 9-3 at the interval. However, in the second half the Chiefs turned on the style and scored 27 unanswered points in an amazing comeback with tries from Tom Hayes, Sireli Naqelevuki and Tom Johnson, inflicting Northampton’s sixth straight Aviva Premiership Rugby defeat. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 30, Northampton Saints 9.
Leeds Carnegie revived their hopes of Aviva Premiership Rugby survival after a rousing fightback saw them dent London Irish’s top four chances at Headingley Carnegie. Irish led 16-3 after 32 minutes courtesy of an outstanding try from centre Seilala Mapusua, a penalty from Chris Malone and eight further points from Ryan Lamb. But Leeds, for whom Hendre Fourie was outstanding, responded with tries from Luther Burrell, Daniel Browne and Mike MacDonald, along with some solid kicking from Adrian Jarvis, to turn the game on its head. Final score: Leeds Carnegie 27, London Irish 19.
Over at Adams Park, Dave Walder’s boot raised London Wasps’ top four hopes with a win over Sale Sharks. Fly-half Walder kicked 23 of their points landing six penalties, a conversion and a drop goal. Tries for Wasps came from Riki Flutey and Joe Simpson and for Sale Sharks from Ben Cohen and Wame Lewaravu supported by kicking duties from Charlie Hodgson. Final score: London Wasps 33, Sale Sharks 26.
RESULTS
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 33 - 18 HARLEQUINS
Kingston Park - Friday 4th March 2011
HT: 12-10 Attendance: 5,011
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 34 - 22 BATH RUGBY
Kingsholm - Saturday 5th March 2011
HT: 15-10 Attendance: 16,241
LEICESTER TIGERS 14 - 15 SARACENS
Welford Road - Saturday 5th March 2011
HT: 14-9 Attendance: 22,451
EXETER CHIEFS 30 - 9 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Sandy Park - Sunday 6th March 2011
HT: 3-9 Attendance: 8,977
LEEDS CARNEGIE 27 - 19 LONDON IRISH
Headingley Carnegie - Sunday 6th March 2011
HT: 10-16 Attendance: 4,242
LONDON WASPS 33 - 26 SALE SHARKS
Adams Park - Sunday 6th March 2011
HT: 15-0 Attendance: 8,077
WEEK 16
POOR weather conditions at the weekend meant that it was teams who could hold their nerve that generally came out on top in Round 16 of Aviva Premiership Rugby. A fourth straight league win for Gloucester Rugby means they retain their place in the top four behind leaders Leicester Tigers and second placed Saracens; fourth place is now taken by Bath Rugby thanks to a run of five successive league wins, while Northampton Saint's poor run of form means they slip out of the semi-final spots.
On Friday night at Edgeley Park, Jeremy Staunton kicked all of the away side's points as Aviva Premiership Rugby table toppers LEICESTER TIGERS secured their ninth successive Aviva Premiership Rugby victory and maintain their position at the top. Fly-half Staunton landed an impressive six penalties to Charlie Hodgson’s two, but it was SALE SHARKS that claimed the only try of the match in the 50th minute when Hodgson’s long pass sent centre Chris Bell over. Final score: Sale Sharks 16, Leicester Tigers 18.
On Saturday it was an early May day for GLOUCESTER RUGBY at Franklin’s Gardens. Winger Jonny May grabbed two tries to inspire Gloucester to their fourth straight Aviva Premiership Rugby victory. Nicky Robinson kicked two penalties and a conversion to help secure the tight win which consigned NORTHAMPTON SAINTS to their fifth league loss in succession and a slip from fourth to fifth place in the table. Final score: Northampton Saints 16, Gloucester Rugby 18.
At Sandy Park on Saturday BATH stretched their unbeaten run in Aviva Premiership Rugby to five matches with a narrow victory over EXETER CHIEFS. Gareth Steenson slotted over three crucial penalties for the Chiefs but it was the boot of Olly Barkley, kicking four penalties for Bath that sealed the win and a move up the table from sixth to fourth place. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 9, Bath Rugby 12.
Meanwhile another tense game was taking place over at the Madejski Stadium with LONDON IRISH coming out on top against London rivals HARLEQUINS in a battle of the boot. Chris Malone kicked four penalties and Tom Homer one for London Irish while Rory Clegg landed three for Harlequins, who have won 10 out of their 11 previous matches. The win means London Irish move up from seventh to sixth position in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table, and Harlequins drop from fifth to seventh. Final score: London Irish 15, Harlequins 9.
On Sunday, SARACENS secured their first ever victory at Adams Park against fellow London side LONDON WASPS who had three players sin-binned. Alex Goode kicked a total of seven penalties to Dave Walder’s four, and coupled with a try from Andy Saull after four minutes, meant a valuable away win for the North London side. Final score: London Wasps 15, Saracens 26.
At Headingley Carnegie on Sunday NEWCASTLE FALCONS took a giant step towards Aviva Premiership Rugby safety with a crucial away win over LEEDS CARNEGIE. Leeds are now seven points adrift of their northern rivals with eight games still to play, including a return match at Kingston Park in April, yet the Falcons delivered a heavy psychological blow with this comprehensive victory. Ally Hogg ran in an eighth-minute try, Jimmy Gopperth’s boot added 12 points before Jeremy Manning crossed to seal the win, after Scott Freer had given Leeds Carnegie a glimmer of hope with a try. Final score: Leeds Carnegie 5, Newcastle Falcons 22.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS 16 - 18 LEICESTER TIGERS
Edgeley Park - Friday 25th February 2011
HT: 9-12 Attendance: 8,115
LONDON IRISH 15 - 9 HARLEQUINS
Madejski Stadium - Saturday 26th February 2011
HT: 9-9 Attendance: 8,776
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 16 - 18 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Franklin's Gardens - Saturday 26th February 2011
HT: 6-12 Attendance: 13,259
EXETER CHIEFS 9 - 12 BATH RUGBY
Sandy Park - Saturday 26th February 2011
HT: 9-6 Attendance: 10,486
LONDON WASPS 15 - 26 SARACENS
Adams Park - Sunday 27th February 2011
HT: 12-11 Attendance: tbc
LEEDS CARNEGIE 5 - 22 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Headingley Carnegie - Sunday 27th February 2011
HT: 0-11 Attendance: tbc
WEEK 15
ROUND 15 went very much with form as Gloucester Rugby won their seventh consecutive match in all competitions at home to London Irish, while Northampton Saints lost their fourth straight league match away at Bath Rugby. Leaders Leicester Tigers and second placed Saracens both won, and there was no joy for bottom clubs Newcastle Falcons or Leeds Carnegie who both lost, but it will be Newcastle who're feel the loss more keenly having let another home match slip away.
On Friday night at Kingsholm, Gloucester moved up to third in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table after their forwards pummelled London Irish into submission. It was Gloucester’s seventh successive win in all competitions thanks to an early try from skipper Luke Narraway, 13 points from fly-half Nicky Robinson and a second-half touchdown by Akapusi Qera. Irish could only register two Chris Malone penalties and a Tom Homer strike. Final score: Gloucester Rugby 23, London Irish 9.
Over at Kingston Park Newcastle Falcons were plunged deeper into relegation trouble as a late surge saw Exeter Chiefs claim an away victory. There was little to choose between the sides in the first half and it was 6-6 at the break as Jimmy Gopperth and Gareth Steenson kicked two penalties each. In the second half another Steenson penalty edged the visitors ahead, although the hosts hit back with a try from James Hudson. A Matt Jess try and three more penalties from Steenson sealed victory for the Chiefs. Final score: Newcastle Falcons 13, Exeter Chiefs 23.
On Saturday Bath Rugby condemned Northampton Saints to their fourth successive Aviva Premiership Rugby defeat with a comprehensive victory at The Recreation Ground. England wing Matt Banahan was the architect of Bath’s bonus point triumph, scoring three tries and brilliantly creating another for Australia centre Matt Carraro, while Olly Barkley added five conversions and a penalty, including the extra for Sam Vesty’s late touchdown. Saints could only manage a Greig Tonks try and a Stephen Myler penalty in reply as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season. Final score: Bath Rugby 38, Northampton Saints 8.
Harlequins made it 10 wins from their last 11 matches in all competitions with a comfortable victory over a limited Sale Sharks side at the Twickenham Stoop. The home team had the more creative runners with an impressive performance from Mike Brown at full-back and good contributions from Rory Clegg, who stood in for Nick Evans at fly-half, as well as Joe Gray and Chris Robshaw in the Quins pack. Harlequins tries came from Gray and Brown with a conversion and three penalty kicks slotted over by Clegg. Charlie Hodgson kicked three penalties in reply for Sale. Final score: Harlequins 21, Sale Sharks 9.
Former London Wasp Jeremy Staunton totted up an individual 16 point haul for Leicester Tigers over his old club in an intensely physical contest at Welford Road on Saturday. Tries from Steve Mafi and Staunton, who also kicked three penalties and converted his score, were enough to give the Aviva Premiership Rugby table toppers a comfortable win. Wasps, playing their first game since the departure of Director of Rugby Tony Hanks last week, could only reply with four penalties kicked by Dave Walder. Final score: Leicester Tigers 21, London Wasps 12.
On Sunday Saracens closed the gap on Aviva Premiership Rugby leaders Leicester Tigers with a crushing win over bottom club Leeds Carnegie. Saracens were 14 points clear in as many minutes and never looked back, collecting the maximum five-point haul early in the second half. Full-back Alex Goode kicked two penalties and converted four of the five tries scored by Michael Tagicakibau, Brad Barritt, James Short, Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Whyles. Final score: Saracens 39, Leeds Carnegie 0.
RESULTS
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 23 - 9 LONDON IRISH
Kingsholm - Friday 18th February 2011
HT: 16-6 Attendance: 12,333
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 13 - 23 EXETER CHIEFS
Kingston Park - Friday 18th February 2011
HT: 6-6 Attendance: 5,729
HARLEQUINS 21 - 9 SALE SHARKS
Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 19th February 2011
HT: 18-3 Attendance: 11,852
BATH RUGBY 38 - 8 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Recreation Ground - Saturday 19th February 2011
HT: 17-3 Attendance: 12,200
LEICESTER TIGERS 21 - 12 LONDON WASPS
Welford Road - Saturday 19th February 2011
HT: 18-9 Attendance: 21,215
SARACENS 39 - 0 LEEDS CARNEGIE
Vicarage Road - Sunday 20th February 2011
HT: 27-0 Attendance: tbc
WEEK 14
THE Aviva Premiership Rugby burst back into action this weekend after a four-week break. Some crucial games for clubs at the top saw Leicester Tigers extend their lead, plus another convincing home win for Exeter Chiefs saw them move comfortably above the bottom three clubs.
At Edgeley Park on Friday night, Nick Abendanon, one of 12 players released back from the England squad earlier this week, ran in a crucial first-half try that inspired Bath to a hard-fought away victory over Sale Sharks. Sale showed good spirit and ran in a well-worked score from former England wing Ben Cohen shortly before half-time, but with the boot of Olly Barkley weighing in with a conversion and four penalties it was to be Bath’s night. Final score: Sale Sharks 7, Bath Rugby 19.
On Saturday Saracens kept up the pressure on Aviva Premiership Rugby leaders Leicester Tigers as they fought back from behind to inflict a home defeat on Northampton Saints, which drops them to third in the table. An entertaining first half with both sides playing some open rugby saw Saints go in at half-time with a four-point lead. The second half was equally thrilling but after Saints’ Roger Wilson was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, Saracens accelerated with Matt Stevens going over for a try under the posts, converted by Alex Goode followed by a penalty in the final 10 minutes. A 25-metre drop goal by Brad Barritt in the last minute finished the game off to the delight of the Saracens fans. Final score: Northampton Saints 15, Saracens 29.
At the Madejski Stadium on Saturday Newcastle Falcons matched their hosts London Irish in the first half going in just 10-7 down at half time. Tries for Newcastle came from Jimmy Gopperth and Gcobani Bobo, however it was London Irish that dominated play in the second half and clinched a satisfying win, thanks to tries from Ryan Lamb, Clarke Dermody and Seilala Mapusua and points kicked by Ryan Lamb and Chris Malone. Final score: London Irish 23, Newcastle Falcons 14.
Also on Saturday, Exeter Chiefs ended Harlequins’ run of nine consecutive wins with a convincing victory at Sandy Park. The South-West outfit gained revenge for their 40-20 defeat at The Stoop in September and stretched their advantage over the bottom three in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table to seven points. Gareth Steenson kicked 15 points for Exeter Chiefs plus a second half try from Tom Johnson, to Harlequins two penalties from Nick Evans. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 20, Harlequins 6.
At Headingley Stadium on Sunday Leicester’s Tuilagi brothers made light of the Tigers’ international withdrawals with two tries against Leeds Carnegie that helped strengthen their position at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table. England Saxons new boy Manu Tuilagi scored a first-half try and his Samoa international elder brother Alesana sealed the win with a second-half score, alongside five points from the boot of Jeremy Staunton. Leeds showed a strong second-half pack effort and along with three penalties from new fly-half recruit Adrian Jarvis, earned themselves a losing bonus point. Final score: Leeds Carnegie 9, Leicester Tigers 15.
At Adams Park Gloucester Rugby climbed to fourth in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with a hard-earned away win over London Wasps. The Cherry and Whites had made a 10-0 lead by the break thanks to a try from wing James Simpson-Daniel and a conversion and penalty from fly-half Nicky Robinson. After the break Robinson’s kicking boots deserted him as he missed three further penalty attempts while Dave Walder’s trusted boots slotted in three successful kicks for the hosts. However it wasn’t enough to give the hosts any more than a losing bonus point. Final score: London Wasps 9, Gloucester Rugby 10.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS 7 - 19 BATH RUGBY
Edgeley Park - Friday 11th February 2011
HT: 7-13 Attendance: 7,065
LONDON IRISH 23 - 14 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Madejski Stadium - Saturday 12th February 2011
HT: 10-7 Attendance: 6,806
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 15 - 29 SARACENS
Franklin's Gardens - Saturday 12th February 2011
HT: 10-6 Attendance: 13,219
EXETER CHIEFS 20 - 6 HARLEQUINS
Sandy Park - Saturday 12th February 2011
HT: 12-3 Attendance: 8,733
LEEDS CARNEGIE 9 - 15 LEICESTER TIGERS
Headingley Carnegie - Sunday 13th February 2011
HT: 6-10 Attendance: tbc
LONDON WASPS 9 - 10 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Adams Park - Sunday 13th February 2011
HT: 0-10 Attendance:tbc
WEEK 13
ROUND 13 saw another fierce east-midlands derby produce one of the most entertaining games of the season so far. It was the first chance for revenge for all clubs as the opening day league fixtures were reversed.
On Friday night at Kingston Park, Sale Sharks seemed in control of the match when they were leading 19-9 against Newcastle Falcons halfway through the second half, and the boot of Charlie Hodgson looked to have done the job. However Jimmy Gopperth’s fourth penalty and a late try from Swinson and Gopperth’s subsequent conversion gave Newcastle a vital draw in the closing ten minutes.
On Saturday at The Recreation Ground a spectacular Nick Abendanon try straight after half-time helped earn Bath Rugby their second win on the bounce at the expense of Leeds Carnegie. It was a frustrating afternoon for Leeds, who had plenty of possession and territory. But the game turned when Abendanon latched onto a cleverly disguised inside pass from fly-half Butch James and outpaced the cover, rolling over to touch down as he was caught on the line. Olly Barkley converted and added three penalties.
At The Twickenham Stoop, Harlequins leapfrogged London Wasps to move into fourth position in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with victory in a fast-moving, fiercely-contested London derby watched by a sell-out 14,282 crowd. England attack coach Brian Smith watched Quins run in three first-half tries courtesy of an impressive Joe Marler, Mike Brown and Nick Easter just days before Martin Johnson names his squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship. London Wasps replied with a try from Richard Haughton converted by Mark van Gisbergen and a penalty slotted by Dave Walder.
Gloucester Rugby avenged their opening weekend defeat against relative newcomers Exeter Chiefs by claiming a bonus point victory at Kingsholm on Saturday. Tries came in abundance from Olly Morgan, Charlie Sharples, James Simpson–Daniel and Rory Lawson for Gloucester and from Tom Johnson and Sereli Naqelevuki, who ran in two tries for Exeter but it was most definitely Gloucester’s day this time.
At Welford Road, Leicester Tigers extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with a 27-16 win over Northampton Saints in a pulsating Midlands derby. Northampton made a dream start taking the lead after only 55 seconds. From a ruck 40 metres out they moved the ball wide to Ben Foden, who sold a dummy, to race away for a simple try converted by Stephen Myler. Leicester hit back with some sizzling attacking moves but it was in the final quarter that the Tigers pack motored and the Saints line-out fell apart. Leicester’s tries came from Marcos Ayerza and Craig Newby.
On Sunday at Vicarage Road, Brenden Venter signed off from Saracens with a win over local rivals London Irish. The match was decided by the boot, with young fly-half Owen Farrell kicking four penalties for Saracens and Chris Malone responding with just two for London Irish. The win means Saracens move up to second place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table, six points behind leaders Leicester Tigers.
RESULTS
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 19-19 SALE SHARKS
KINGSTON PARK - Friday 7th January 2011
Attendance: 4,225
BATH RUGBY 16-13 LEEDS CARNEGIE
RECREATION GROUND - Saturday 8th January 2011
Attendance: 10,800
HARLEQUINS 17-10 LONDON WASPS
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Saturday 8th January 2011
Attendance: 14,282
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 37-23 EXETER CHIEFS
KINGSHOLM - Saturday 8th January 2011
Attendance: 13,401
LEICESTER TIGERS 27-16 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
WELFORD ROAD - Saturday 8th January 2011
Attendance: 24,000
SARACENS 12-6 LONDON IRISH
VICARAGE ROAD - Sunday 9th January 2011
Attendance: 7,013
WEEK 12
A first half try from Hendre Fourie and a second-half try from Michael Stephenson earned Leeds Carnegie their first win of a frustrating campaign and dented Gloucester Rugby's ambitions of strengthening their claims for a top four place.
Leeds remain three points adrift of Newcastle at the foot of the table but this narrow 15-13 victory, at the 10th time of asking in Aviva Premiership Rugby, gives them renewed hope.
It was earned by Stephenson's diving try short of the hour that finished off a move in which Leeds' desperation to cross the line and retake the lead was there for all to see. They had to hang on - Ceiron Thomas missed a conversion and a penalty - for the much-needed victory.
Gloucester had edged ahead courtesy of penalties from Freddie Burns either side of half-time after James Simpson-Daniel had cancelled out Fourie’s earlier try. But the defeat means Gloucester, who were second best for much of the game, stay sixth.
Battling Harlequins shocked Aviva Premiership Rugby leaders Northampton Saints with a tremendous 16-13 win at Franklin's Gardens that ended the Saints' unbeaten home record which stretched back to May last year.
Northampton looked sure-fire winners when they were 10-3 up at half time thanks to a penalty try converted by Steven Myler to add to his earlier penalty kick. The visitors faced the opening 10 minutes of the second half with John Andress and Nick Easter in the bin, but a try from England scrum-half Danny Care and a conversion and two penalties from Nick Evans saw Quins claim an unlikely win, despite the last-ditch penalty from Shane Geraghty in the 72nd minute.
Olly Barkley condemned London Irish to a demoralising ninth successive defeat in all competitions after a dramatic finale at the Madejski Stadium that saw Bath Rugby edge home 25-24.
The visitors, 17-9 down at half-time, claimed their first Aviva Premiership Rugby win since late September when Barkley struck gold with the game's final kick. The England international's sixth penalty - added to a conversion of scrum-half Michael Claassens' try - gave him 20 points and left Irish in shock.
Wing Topsy Ojo's seventh league try of the season in the 66th minute looked to have settled a nervy, fractious affair, his effort following earlier touchdowns by Sailosi Tagicakibau and Richard Thorpe, giving the homeside a 24-19 lead.
There followed a final, frenetic ten minutes of play where the visitors attacked and landed themselves with a penalty when Irish slowed down their attacking phases; the 71st minute brought the score to 24-22. Determination was a true description of Bath's performance, and never giving up Barkley again kept his nerve and in the 79th minute and answered Irish with another successful penalty to seal a hard-fought victory with a one point win.
Sale Sharks ended a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions to give new head coach Pete Anglesea his first win against Saracens who remain at No. 3 in the Premiership table.
Former club captain Anglesea succeeded Mike Brewer two days before Christmas, more than two months after their previous Aviva Premiership victory. His first game in charge was a 54-21 humbling at champions Leicester on Monday, but his side looked revitalised in front of their home crowd at Edgeley Park.
They dominated the first half, with new captain Mark Cueto and his predecessor James Gaskell going over in the first 10 minutes and Chris Bell adding a third try before the interval; Sale were unquestionably the stronger side going into the break leading 28-9.
Saracens looked more like a team third in the table after the interval, but could only manage a single try from James Short. Owen Farrell’s conversion and two penalties closed the gap enough to earn the visitors a losing bonus point.
Andy Powell produced an inspirational performance as London Wasps climbed into the top four of the Aviva Premiership, convincingly beating Newcastle Falcons 33-16.
Ben Jacobs and Serge Betsen scored the tries that put Wasps in control and the victory was sealed by 18 points from fly-half Dave Walder and a late penalty try.
Newcastle clung on until the final quarter of the match, with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth scoring all the Falcons points including a try just before the interval.
But Wasps were deserved winners and Powell, the dynamic Welsh number eight, was the heartbeat of their performance.
Shaun Edwards had described the game as a "revenge mission" for Wasps after their 29-17 defeat to the Falcons at Kingston Park in September...mission accomplished then!
Reigning champions Leicester Tigers hit the top of the table for the first time this season as they secured their fourth consecutive league victory in a hard-fought battle against a determined Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
A record attendance for Sandy Park - 10,495 - watched the game on a cold, clear Devon evening after the capacity of 10,700 had been reduced owing to the presence of the TV cameras.
Leicester had a dream start after less than three minutes after an error from wing Mark Foster as centre Manu Tuilagi collected the ball to set up a break before offloading to his brother Alesana to score.
Fly-half Jeremy Staunton was off target with his conversion attempt from out on the left but Exeter were quickly on the scoreboard with fly-half Ryan Davis landed a penalty to take him past 100 points for the season.
Jordan Crane ran in right under the posts with 8 minutes left of the first half, and with Staunton’s conversion, the visitors rushed ahead on the scoreboard; another Davis penalty took the teams into the interval 9-15.
In the second half, both Davis and replacement fly half Gareth Steenson kicked over another penalty each, but a second try from Crane converted by England No. 10 Toby Flood was enough to seal the victory for the visitors.RESULTS
LEEDS CARNEGIE 15 -13 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE - Saturday 1st Jan 2011
Attendance: 12,015
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 13 -16 HARLEQUINS
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS - Saturday 1st Jan 2011
Attendance: 13,459
LONDON IRISH 24 -25 BATH RUGBY
MADEJSKI STADIUM - Saturday 1st Jan 2011
Attendance: 11,811
SALE SHARKS 28 -22 SARACENS
EDGELEY PARK - Sunday 2nd Jan 2011
Attendance: 8,646
LONDON WASPS 33 -16 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
ADAMS PARK - Sunday 2nd Jan 2011
Attendance: 7,614
EXETER CHIEFS 15 -22 LEICESTER TIGERS
SANDY PARK - Sunday 2nd Jan 2011
Attendance: 10,495
WEEK 11
UNFORTUNATELY only three games made it through the seasonal weather this week, as Newcastle Falcons v Leeds Carnegie, Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs were all casualties of the snow.
Boxing Day saw a happy Saracens side get the better of London Wasps in another big fixture held at Wembley Stadium. A tense first 40 minutes saw just the one penalty from Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell. A try just after half-time widened the gap for Saracens before all attention turned to Gavin Henson, who made his much publicised debut for the club as a substitute for Michael Tagicakibau on 51 minutes. Henson almost scored immediately when he intercepted the ball inside the Wasps 22, but was held up on the line by Wasps’ Joe Simpson. Wasps landed a couple of penalties to bring the gap to just four points, but a second penalty from Owen Farrell on 62 minutes was enough to secure the win for Saracens, who remain third in the table. Wasps stay in 5th.
23 points from fly-half Nick Evans helped Harlequins to victory against local rivals London Irish at Twickenham Stadium on Tuesday. Over 74,000 turned out to see the entertainment on offer for Harlequins Big Game 3, which included the legendary Jason Leonard depositing the match ball via an Army hovercraft and X-Factor winner Matt Cardle in his first live performance since winning the ITV show. Unfortunately London Irish couldn’t produce any X-Factor of their own and left Twickenham empty-handed, with only six penalties to show for their efforts, despite dominating large parts of the game. The Exiles are without a win since October 31st, and may regret not taking one of several penalties near the end of the game, which would have at least secured them a losing bonus point. Harlequins move up to 7th.
Meanwhile Leicester Tigers made light work of Sale Sharks, scoring eight tries in their victory over the men from the North West. Tigers got off to a flying start, scoring 21 points in the opening 13 minutes and putting Sharks firmly on the back foot. It was a start from which they would never recover, as Leicester ran in five more tries to the delight of a packed Welford Road stadium. Sale scored three tries of their own, but it couldn't disguise the gulf between the two teams. It will be a busy New Year for the new coaching team at Sale, who will now have to pick themselves up from 10th in the table, while Leicester Tigers sit ominously in second place.
RESULTS
BATH RUGBY P-P EXETER CHIEFS
RECREATION GROUND - Sunday 26th December 2010
SARACENS 13-6 LONDON WASPS
WEMBLEY STADIUM - Sunday 26th December 2010
Attendance: 38,425
GLOUCESTER RUGBY P-P NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
KINGSHOLM - Sunday 26th December 2010
LEICESTER TIGERS 54-21 SALE SHARKS
WELFORD ROAD - Monday 27th December 2010
Attendance: 24,000
NEWCASTLE FALCONS P-P LEEDS CARNEGIE
KINGSTON PARK - Monday 27th December 2010
HARLEQUINS 28-18 LONDON IRISH
TWICKENHAM - Monday 27th December 2010
Attendance: 74,212
WEEK 10
DUE to the icy weather, three of the six Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 10 games were postponed this weekend: Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby, and Leeds Carnegie v Northampton Saints. However three “London” games went ahead delivering some highly entertaining rugby despite the cooler conditions.
In the rugby that was played, on Saturday a crowd of over 11,400 watched last season’s champions Leicester Tigers roar into second place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table by turning on a powerful performance against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.
The Tigers dominated the first half with fly-half Billy Twelvetrees in fine form kicking three penalties. Irish coach Toby Booth must have had some serious words with his side at the break as they came out with renewed vigour and venom and were soon just a point behind. Lamb was a different player in the second half for Irish with some inspired kicking including a cheeky chip over the visiting defence for Topsy Ojo to score a try. However, it was to be Leicester’s day - final score: 14 - 23.
Saracens climbed back into the top four of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with a hard-fought victory over Harlequins, built largely on the back of a splendid performance by their teenage fly-half Owen Farrell.
The 19-year-old son of coach and former Great Britain rugby league and England rugby union international Andy, the younger Farrell kicked four penalties and converted tries by David Strettle and Schalk Brits.
Postponements elsewhere meant Saracens could recapture their top four place at the expense of their old London rivals, even though Harlequins did open the scoring with George Lowe try in the 4th minute, and the steadfast Nick Evans kicked over three penalties.
In the final match of the weekend which actually went ahead, London Wasps ran out comfortable winners over a battling Exeter Chiefs amid freezing fog at Adams Park.
The hosts were always the more creative side scoring the only two tries of the game through Ben Broster and David Lemi. Exeter, despite all their possession, was one dimensional in attack and had to rely on four penalties from Ryan Davis for their points.
The visitors were dealt a blow just before kick-off when wing Andrew Higgins picked up an injury in the warm up which ruled him out. But the Chiefs still began brightly, taking a third-minute lead when Ryan Davis kicked a penalty after Andy Powell was penalised for killing the ball at the ruck.
Within minutes Wasps were level when Dave Walder responded with a 30-metre penalty, and then continued the pressure on the visitors, scoring both tries on either side of half time.
The game seemed up for Exeter, but the Chiefs continued to battle. Despite a plentiful supply of possession, though, they could not break down the Wasps defence and it was left to Davis to kick another penalty to make it 21-9 going into the final quarter. A final penalty apiece ended the game at 24-12 for the homeside.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS P-P GLOUCESTER RUGBY
EDGELEY PARK - Friday 3rd December 10
NEWCASTLE FALCONS P-P BATH RUGBY
KINGSTON PARK - Friday 3rd December 10
LONDON IRISH 14-23 LEICESTER TIGERS
MADEJSKI STADIUM - Saturday 4th December 10
Attendance: 11,405
SARACENS 26-14 HARLEQUINS
VICARAGE ROAD - Sunday 5th December 10
Attendance: 6,035
LEEDS CARNEGIE P-P NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE - Sunday 5th December 10
LONDON WASPS 24-12 EXETER CHIEFS
ADAMS PARK - Sunday 5th December 10
Attendance: 7,931
WEEK 9
IN a round up of the weekend's rugby, Northampton Saints opened up an eight point margin at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table as the season edges towards the half way mark.
Saints beat second placed London Irish 35-23 at a packed Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night, with tries from James Elliott, Jon Clarke and two from Paul Diggin. The Exiles tries came from Topsy Ojo and Chris Hala’ufia, but defeat leaves them closer to Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Rugby in third and fourth respectively.
Exeter Chiefs secured their third successive Aviva Premiership Rugby victory in their first season in the top flight as they sank Sale Sharks 24-19 at Sandy Park. Though the Chiefs outscored the visitors three tries to one, it was a close fought battle to start with and by half time there was only a single point between the two sides as Chris Budgen scored the only try of the half. Tom Johnson and Andrew Higgins ran in another couple of tries for the homeside in the second half, but Nick Macleod kept the visitors in close contention with four penalties and converting Rhys Crane’s try which meant the Sharks left Devon with a losing bonus point.
Leicester Tigers overcame a sluggish start to earn a convincing 44-19 win over a poor Newcastle Falcons side at freezing cold Welford Road.
Thirty-five tonnes of snow was cleared from the pitch and terraces by 100 people comprising staff, stewards and volunteers to enable the game to take place and their efforts were certainly rewarded with a superb second-half performance which saw the Tigers rack up five tries.
Newcastle almost took the lead at the end of the first 40 minutes with Gopperth’s drop goal attempt, but it went awry and as they ran in for the break, there was just a single point between the sides at 13-12. Immediately from the restart a renewed Tigers side came out roaring and scored four tries from Crane, Tuilagi, Allen and Smith to add to their penalty try in the first half. The Falcons could only muster a single try from Luke Fielden as the homeside took a try-scoring bonus point to add to the win.
Gloucester fought back from 10-0 down to claim a 19-13 victory for the second time this month over Saracens at Kingsholm in a tremendous Aviva Premiership Rugby clash.
The Cherry and Whites beat a lacklustre Sarries a fortnight ago in the LV= Cup, but the Londoners put on a much-improved display this time only to come away with a losing bonus point. The win moved Gloucester above Saracens into fourth place in the table.
However, it was Saracens that started the stronger as they dominated territory in the opening quarter and gained their reward. An early Owen Farrell penalty was followed by a converted try from James Short and a second penalty from young Farrell taking Saracens to 13 points – Nicky Robinson provided the only two penalties the homeside could manage in the first half.
Unfortunately, that was it for the visitors in the scoring stakes, and Charlie Sharples converted try and two more Robinson penalties secured the win for Gloucester.
Meanwhile over at an almost full house at The Rec, Bath Rugby’s head coach Steve Meehan gave Academy flanker Guy Mercer his first Aviva Premiership Rugby start in the continued absence of England captain Lewis Moody and injured club skipper Luke Watson. Aaron Jarvis also came in at tighthead while Jack Cuthbert returned from Scotland A duty at outside centre.
London Wasps, buoyed by their win over London Irish last weekend, were without lock Simon Shaw, restored to the England squad for the final autumn international against South Africa. Serge Betsen stepped up into the back row with Tom Rees on the bench and surrendering the captaincy to Ben Jacobs.
The Rec pitch was in perfect condition after being covered since Wednesday afternoon but snow still decorated the hills around Bath. But none of the above could prevent the homeside from suffering its fifth consecutive home loss.
The first 40 minutes saw the Londoners score a try from speedster Tom Varndell to add to the earlier Dave Walder penalty; that was matched by precisely nothing from Bath. The half time score of 0-8 shuffled ahead a little with Olly Barkley kicking two penalties but a final penalty from Walder widened Wasps’ lead just enough to take four points for the 6-11 win.
Harlequins shunted Leeds Carnegie closer to relegation with an emphatic seven-try 51-18 victory that leaves the Yorkshire club increasingly adrift at the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby.
The home side earned a bonus point by scoring four tries long before the end, a haul that moves them up the table and a step closer to the pre-season ambition of rugby director Conor O'Shea, who insisted they were potentially a title-chasing team.
For Leeds, though, the winter will be long and hard as they battle for survival.
Harlequins began the day ninth in the table having managed only a draw from their three previous Aviva Premiership Rugby games.
Leeds came to the Twickenham Stoop still seeking their first league win of a difficult season which has seen them harvest only three losing bonus points from eight defeats.
And it was the visitors who reacted the sharper in freezing weather, punishing a sloppy start by their hosts who presented Leeds possession from the kick-off, and two minutes in Cieron Thomas had notched up the first 3 points; he did manage another penalty 25 minutes later but that was your lot for the first half.
Quins meanwhile clocked up three tries from Chris Robshaw, Karl Dickson and Nick Evans, and the latter converted all three adding to the two penalties. Half time score: 27-6. Tom Guest, Mike Brown, Ross Chisholm and Chris Brooke heaped a whole load more misery on the visitors after half time, and despite Evans being subbed off in the third quarter so not that many conversions were good, Quins pretty much annihilated Leeds in their 12th loss in 13 matches.
RESULTS
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 35-23 LONDON IRISH
FRANKLINS GARDENS – Friday 26th November 2010
Attendance: 13,456
EXETER CHIEFS 24-19 SALE SHARKS
SANDY PARK – Saturday 27th November 2010
Attendance: 7,171
LEICESTER TIGERS 44-19 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
WELFORD ROAD – Saturday 27th November 2010
Attendance: 18,738
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 19-13 SARACENS
KINGSHOLM – Saturday 27th November 2010
Attendance: 11,453
BATH RUGBY 6-11 LONDON WASPS
THE REC – Saturday 27th November 2010
Attendance: 11,911
HARLEQUINS 51-18 LEEDS CARNEGIE
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Sunday 28th November 2010
Attendance: 10,676
WEEK 8
ROUND 8 of Aviva Premiership Rugby proved the closest to date, with an average of just over six points separating the winners and the losers in each of the six matches.
On Friday Northampton Saints hit the top as they beat Sale Sharks 10-19 at Edgeley Park, with wing James Elliott scoring on his debut for the Saints. Sale’s try came from a more experienced wing, World Cup winner Ben Cohen.
Saints stayed top due to London Irish’s defeat at London Wasps in the weekend’s highest scoring match. Both sides scored three tries, but an extra conversion and two extra penalties from Dave Walder helped Wasps to a 33-25 win.
Saracens climbed to third after their 13-17 win over Bath at the Recreation Ground. James Short was another wing to claim a try on debut as the Men in Black were well marshalled by 19 year old Owen Farrell at fly half.
Gloucester dropped to fourth after a 12-6 defeat to Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park and Leicester Tigers stay fifth with an 18-13 win over Harlequins at Welford Road.
Exeter Chiefs sit in seventh and a possible European Cup slot after their 15-9 win over Leeds Carnegie at Sandy Park and Leeds are now seven points behind Newcastle Falcons at the foot of the table.
The top two meet at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night in round nine of Aviva Premiership Rugby.
RESULTS
LEICESTER TIGERS 18-13 HARLEQUINS
WELFORD ROAD - Friday 19th November 2010
Attendance: 17,441
SALE SHARKS 10-19 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
EDGELEY PARK - Saturday 20st November 2010
Attendance: 8,091
EXETER CHIEFS 15-9 LEEDS CARNEGIE
SANDY PARK - Sunday 21st November 2010
Attendance: 7,743
LONDON WASPS 33-25 LONDON IRISH
ADAMS PARK - Sunday 21st November 2010
Attendance: 7,929
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 12-6 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
KINGSTON PARK - Sunday 21st November 2010
Attendance: 4,249
BATH RUGBY 13-17 SARACENS
RECREATION GROUND - Sunday 21st November 2010
Attendance: 11,848
WEEK 7
EXETER Chiefs shocked last season’s Premiership Rugby Finalists in the stand-out result of round seven of Aviva Premiership Rugby. The Chiefs recorded their best win of the season by beating last season’s Premiership Finalists Saracens 9-23 at Vicarage Road. Ryan Davis, in for points machine Gareth Steenson, scored the first try to set Rob Baxter’s team on their way to a result that moves them up to eighth in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table.
The season takes a break from league action for two rounds of LV= Cup competition, but Aviva Premiership Rugby returns for round eight, with Bath Rugby versus Saracens on Sunday 21st November the pick of the ties.
In other results from this weekend, Gloucester Rugby moved up to third after Lesley Vainikolo’s late try snatched a late 19-12 win against Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.
In Saturday’s other match Northampton Saints beat Newcastle Falcons 34-13 at Franklin’s Gardens, with James Downey’s late try secured them a bonus-point win.
London Irish stay top after their 39-26 win at the Madejski Stadium over Sale Sharks, with young Exiles wing Jonathan Joseph bagging a try double. London Irish had to withstand a second-half comeback from the Sharks who dragged themselves back from 26-6 to 26-all. The game hinged on a last minute interception, with the score at 32-26, which saw Irish run out 39-26 winners when a try at the other end could have seen a remarkable Sale victory.
Elsewhere Bath Rugby and Harlequins played out an entertaining 6-6 draw at the Twickenham Stoop and London Wasps returned to form with a valuable 8-17 win over Leeds Carnegie at Headingley. The defeat leaves Leeds four points adrift at the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table.
RESULTS
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 34-13 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS - Saturday 30th October 2010
Attendance: 13,356
SARACENS 9-23 EXETER CHIEFS
VICARAGE ROAD - Saturday 30th October 2010
Attendance: 6,512
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 19-12 LEICESTER TIGERS
KINGSHOLM - Saturday 30th October 2010
Attendance: 13,970
HARLEQUINS 6-6 BATH RUGBY
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Sunday 31st October 2010
Attendance: 14,047
LEEDS CARNEGIE 8-17 LONDON WASPS
HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE - Sunday 31st October 2010
Attendance: 5,495
LONDON IRISH 39-26 SALE SHARKS
MADEJSKI STADIUM - Sunday 31st October 2010
Attendance: 7,741
WEEK 6
ROUND 6 of Aviva Premiership Rugby saw some wet weather in places, meaning teams had to work harder for their points and to close out matches. Indeed, three of the six matches were decided by 3 points or less. However a handsome five-point victory for Northampton Saints at London Wasps saw them close the gap on current leaders London Irish, while at the foot of the table Leeds Carnegie are left still searching for their first win.
On Friday night Nick MacLeod kicked two second-half penalties as Sale Sharks came from behind to clinch a narrow win over Leeds Carnegie in a cross-Pennines derby at Headingley. Macleod’s Welsh compatriot Ceiron Thomas kicked Leeds into a lead early in the second half but missed two further penalties, notably from just inside the Sale half eight minutes from the end, to leave Leeds at the foot of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table without a win from their first six games. Final score: Leeds Carnegie 3, Sale Sharks 6.
Over at Kingston Park, it was a cruel night for Newcastle Falcons who battled their way back from 9-3 down to lead 13-12 over Saracens before conceding a late dramatic penalty duly converted by Alex Goode. Final score: Newcastle Falcons 13, Saracens 15.
On Saturday, England fly-half Toby Flood booted a drop-goal and six penalties as Leicester Tigers claimed a narrow victory at Welford Road to get their title defence back on track. Flood, who returned from a knee injury just six days ago, produced a flawless display with the boot as the Tigers’ efforts up front saw them grind out a win against Bath Rugby. Final score: Leicester Tigers 21, Bath Rugby 15.
At Kingsholm, Gloucester claimed their third successive Aviva Premiership Rugby victory after a dramatic late score denied a Nick Evans-inspired Harlequins side. Brett Deacon touched down with three minutes left, just when it looked like Harlequins would run away with it. Harlequins fly-half Evans scored 21 points from a try, four penalties and two conversions, while England scrum-half Danny Care also touched down. Final score: Gloucester Rugby 33, Harlequins 26.
At Sandy Park London Irish held on to the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table after a narrow win over a battling Exeter Chiefs side. Exeter kicked two penalties and a drop-goal but it was Ryan Lamb’s two penalties in the final 10 minutes that clinched the game. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 9, London Irish 12.
On Sunday at Adams Park, Northampton Saints executed in a comprehensive five-try victory over hosts London Wasps. Tongan prop Soane Tonga’uiha ran in two tries, while Stephen Myler, Chris Ashton and Courtney Lawes also crossed with Myler’s boot kicking 12 points. Wasps’ substitute Ben Jacobs scored a try after charging down a chip by Ashton, but it wasn’t enough. Final score: London Wasps 10, Northampton Saints 37.
RESULTS
LEEDS CARNEGIE 3-6 SALE SHARKS
HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE - Friday 22nd October 2010
Attendance: 5,571
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 13-15 SARACENS
KINGSTON PARK - Saturday 23rd October 2010
Attendance: 5,391
LEICESTER TIGERS 21-15 BATH RUGBY
WELFORD ROAD - Saturday 23rd October 2010
Attendance: 21,194
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 33-26 HARLEQUINS
KINGSHOLM - Saturday 23rd October 2010
Attendance: 11,919
EXETER CHIEFS 9-12 LONDON IRISH
SANDY PARK - Sunday 24th October 2010
Attendance: 10,103
LONDON WASPS 10-37 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
ADAMS PARK - Sunday 24th October 2010
Attendance: 9,206
WEEK 5
LONDON Irish held on to their position at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table in a weekend of thrilling rugby in Round 5.
At Edgeley Park on Friday night Dave Walder’s late drop goal saw London Wasps end Sale Sharks’ unbeaten home record this season and claim their first away win of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season. The scores were level 12-12 at half-time with four kicked penalties each from Walder and Sale’s Charlie Hodgson, and four further penalties from Hodgson had looked set to hand Sale the win, despite Wasps scoring a try from Dan Ward-Smith. However Walder had other ideas and slotted a late drop goal from in front of the posts. Final score: Sale Sharks 24, London Wasps 25.
Also on Friday night a West Country derby of Bath Rugby against Gloucester Rugby was taking place at the Recreation Ground. Following torrential downpours earlier in the day the rain lifted for kick off, however, the dark clouds failed to lift from the Bath team as Gloucester took control from the start under the guidance of captain Mike Tindall. Former Wales fly-half Nicky Robinson tormented Bath with his tactical kicking, a crucial 25th minute try, and a conversion and two penalties to just one penalty score from Bath’s Olly Barkley. Final score: Bath Rugby 3, Gloucester Rugby 18.
On Saturday Tom Guest clinched victory for Harlequins with a try from close-range four minutes from time to beat a determined Newcastle Falcons side at the Twickenham Stoop. The hosts led just 9-6 at the break with fly-half Nick Evans kicking three penalties and Newcastle’s Jimmy Gopperth kicking in two. A penalty try extended Quins’ lead and, although two more penalties kept Newcastle in the game, Guest’s try put the home side out of sight. Final score: Harlequins 23, Newcastle Falcons 12.
At the Madejski Stadium London Irish maintained their position at the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table as they claimed a comfortable victory over Leeds Carnegie. Three penalties from Ryan Lamb, who ended with a personal haul of 18 points, and a converted try from hooker James Buckland helped the Exiles to a 16-7 advantage. Ceiron Thomas crossed for the visitors and converted his own try. The home side added further scores through replacement wing Sailosi Tagicakibau who scored twice, and George Stowers who scored once, meaning tries from Hendre Fourie and Luther Burrell were not enough for the Yorkshire men. The final score was London Irish 40, Leeds Carnegie 24.
At Franklin’s Gardens Bruce Reihana contributed 17 points and passed a Premiership Rugby scoring landmark as second-placed Northampton Saints made hard work of beating newly-promoted Exeter Chiefs. The long-serving New Zealander, handed the kicking duties in preference to fly-half Shane Geraghty, went past the 1,000 Premiership Rugby point mark with his second penalty against Exeter. Saints had led 16-9 at the break thanks to Paul Diggin’s try and three Reihana penalties with Gareth Steenson kicking three penalties of his own for the visitors. Two more Reihana penalties and a try from prop Soane Tonga’uiha sealed the home side’s win, while Chris Budgen and Luke Arscott crossed to earn Exeter a losing bonus point. Final score: Northampton Saints 27, Exeter Chiefs 21.
On Sunday, Derick Hougaard kicked 16 points as Saracens avenged their Twickenham Premiership Final defeat against Leicester Tigers. Tries came from Saracens’ Richard Wigglesworth and Schalk Brits, his third try in three starts continuing the remarkable scoring knack he demonstrated last season, and Lucas Amorosino for Leicester. Final score: Saracens 26, Leicester Tigers 20.
RESULTS
SALE SHARKS 24-25 LONDON WASPS
EDGELEY PARK - Friday 1st October 2010
Attendance: 7,202
BATH RUGBY 3-18 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
RECREATION GROUND - Friday 1st October 2010
Attendance: 12,200
HARLEQUINS 23-12 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Saturday 2nd October 2010
Attendance: 10,813
LONDON IRISH 40-24 LEEDS CARNEGIE
MADEJSKI STADIUM - Saturday 2nd October 2010
Attendance: 6,921
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 27-21 EXETER CHIEFS
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS - Saturday 2nd October 2010
Attendance: 13,296
SARACENS 26-20 LEICESTER TIGERS
VICARAGE ROAD - Sunday 3rd October 2010
Attendance: 7,517
WEEK 4
AVIVA Premiership Rugby continued a bright start to the season with more attacking rugby in Round 4 and a total of 30 tries scored across the 6 matches.
At the Recreation Ground on Saturday Bath left it late to claim their four-try bonus point over Sale Sharks. Young centre Ben Williams came off the bench to add the crucial score two minutes from time following earlier Bath tries from Duncan Bell, Shontayne Hape and Matt Carraro, with Olly Barkley contributing all four conversions and a penalty. Lewaravu scored a consolation try for Sale Sharks, converted by Paul Williams, but it wasn’t enough and the score finished Bath Rugby 31, Sale Sharks 16.
Nicky Robinson kick-started Gloucester’s season as he stung Aviva Premiership Rugby rivals London Wasps with an inspired goal kicking performance at Kingsholm. Gloucester’s Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaona-Sapolu scored a first-half try, while Tim Taylor kicked 11 points before the break. Tries came for Wasps from Joe Simpson and Dan Ward-Smith but it was Nicky Robinson who saved the game with two late 53-metre penalties under immense pressure. The final score was Gloucester Rugby 22, London Wasps 20.
At the Stoop Harlequins got their season up and running with a bonus-point victory over new boys Exeter Chiefs. Tries from Nick Easter, Gonzalo Camacho and Karl Dickson for Harlequins and from Mark Foster for Exeter Chiefs kept the game lively with the score ending Harlequins 40, Exeter Chiefs 13.
At Welford Road Leicester Tigers produced their best performance of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season so far to overwhelm their visitors, Leeds Carnegie. The reigning champions went over for a raft of tries as Leeds were given a lesson in forward play. Tigers ran in eight tries courtesy of Scott Hamilton, Matt Smith, George Skivington, Tom Croft, Thomas Waldrom, Manu Tuilagi and two from Alesana Tuilagi with Billy Twelvetrees slotting over four conversions. The two penalties for Leeds Carnegie were kicked by Ceiron Thomas.
London Irish climbed to the top of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table on Saturday after overcoming Newcastle Falcons with a thrilling six-try victory at Kingston Park. Topsy Ojo alerted the England selectors with a hat-trick of tries for Irish, Jonathan Joseph scored two with Dan Bowden running in another one. The score ended Newcastle Falcons 12, London Irish 46.
On Sunday, Saracens’ inflicted previous pace-setter Northampton Saints’ first defeat of the season at Vicarage Road with a 24-point man-of-the-match performance from Derick Hougaard. Hougaard kicked seven penalties and one drop goal with Shane Geraghty of Northampton Saints kicking four penalties in return with a try from Paul Diggin. The final score was Saracens 24, Northampton Saints 17.
RESULTS
BATH RUGBY 31-16 SALE SHARKS
RECREATION GROUND - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 11,618
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 22-20 LONDON WASPS
KINGSHOLM - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 11,377
HARLEQUINS 40-13 EXETER CHIEFS
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 11,461
LEICESTER TIGERS 48-6 LEEDS CARNEGIE
WELFORD ROAD - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 17,063
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 12-46 LONDON IRISH
KINGSTON PARK - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 4,993
SARACENS 24-17 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
VICARAGE ROAD - Saturday 25th September 2010
Attendance: 8,567
WEEK 3
ROUND 3 saw Northampton Saints separate themselves from the rest as the only team to retain a 100% winning record. Meanwhile Exeter Chiefs recorded their second straight home win, proving that Sandy Park will be a tricky venue to go and play for anyone who thought that the new boys this season would be a pushover.
Northampton Saints are now the only unbeaten team in Aviva Premiership Rugby, after an emphatic bonus-point win over previously undefeated Bath Rugby at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night. Bath had proved a match for the Saints in the first half but they still trailed 11-3 at half-time after the impressive Phil Dowson went over for the hosts and Shane Geraghty kicked six points to Olly Barkley’s three. In the second half two tries from England wing Chris Ashton and a further score from Joe Ansbro sealed a bonus point win for the hosts, with Ben Williams running in a late consolation try for Bath. The score ended Northampton Saints 31, Bath Rugby 10.
Over at Edgeley Park on Friday night, Sale Sharks showed grit and determination with a late fightback as tries from Mark Cueto and Kyle Tonetti left Harlequins still searching for their first Aviva Premiership Rugby victory of the season. First-half scores from George Lowe and Jordan Turner-Hall put Quins 17-6 ahead at the break but the momentum swung to Sale in the second half. Cueto scored a try in the 68th minute and, after the visitors lost Tomas Vallejos to the sinbin, Tonetti touched down a neat kick from Nick Macleod for victory in the closing stages. Final score Sale Sharks 21, Harlequins 17.
On Saturday fly-half Gareth Steenson booted Aviva Premiership Rugby newcomers Exeter Chiefs to their second home victory of the season against Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park. The Falcons scored two tries to the Chiefs’ one but it was Steenson’s five penalties and a conversion which sealed victory for the home team. The final score was Exeter Chiefs 22, Newcastle Falcons 17.
At Adams Park on Saturday Richard Haughton scored a late try as London Wasps staged an impressive fightback from 30-18 down to Leicester Tigers at half time to earn their first win of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season. Champions Leicester had looked on course for victory after crossing for four first-half tries, with a double from former Tiger Tom Varndell keeping the hosts in touching range. Four second-half penalties from Dave Walder brought the hosts level with 10 minutes to play before substitute Haughton’s late converted try sealed a memorable win in front of their home fans. Final score London Wasps 37, Leicester Tigers 30.
On Sunday David Strettle marked his first start for Saracens with another try as Brendan Venter’s side imposed a third successive Aviva Premiership Rugby defeat on Leeds Carnegie this season. Strettle touched down in the 26th minute and replacement hooker Schalk Brits added a late second try. Fly-half Derick Hougaard kicked six points to ensure victory with the score ending Leeds Carnegie 14, Saracens 26.
Over at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, Ryan Lamb punished his former club with an immaculate goal kicking display for London Irish against Gloucester Rugby. The Exiles fly-half booted 13 points and hooker James Buckland and number eight George Stowers added tries in each half with the score ending London Irish 23, Gloucester Rugby 16.
RESULTS
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 31-10 BATH RUGBY
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS - Friday 17th September 2010
Attendance: 13,491
SALE SHARKS 21-17 HARLEQUINS
EDGELEY PARK - Friday 17th September 2010
Attendance: 6,026
EXETER CHIEFS 22-17 NEWCASTLE FALCONS
SANDY PARK - Saturday 18th September 2010
Attendance: 7,326
LONDON WASPS 37-30 LEICESTER TIGERS
ADAMS PARK - Saturday 18th September 2010
Attendance: 8,006
LEEDS CARNEGIE 14-26 SARACENS
HEADINGLEY CARNEGIE - Sunday 19th September 2010
Attendance: 4,774
LONDON IRISH 23-16 GLOUCESTER RUGBY
MADEJSKI STADIUM - Sunday 19th September 2010
Attendance: 8,267
WEEK 2
ROUND 2 displayed some exciting rugby and highly competitive match-ups as clubs look to build early season momentum. The current pace-setters are Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints, both with two wins from two, but the competitive nature of every game suggests there's a long way to go in the season.
On Friday night Newcastle Falcons came back from 3-17 down to London Wasps at Kingston Park, to run out 29-17 winners. 17 points came from the boot of last season’s Gilbert Golden Boot Winner, Jimmy Gopperth, with Wasps failing to score any points after the 27th minute.
On Saturday Bath Rugby went top of the table by a point as they beat London Irish 20-13 at the Recreation Ground with a late try from Nick Abendanon. In second place are Northampton Saints after their 16-20 win over Harlequins at The Twickenham Stoop, with tries coming from their England duo Chris Ashton and Dylan Hartley and a last minute try-saving effort from another England favourite, Ben Foden.
Gloucester Rugby needed a late penalty from Nicky Robinson to record a 22-21 win over Leeds Carnegie at Kingsholm, whilst Leicester Tigers also ground out their first win of the season against a determined and dangerous Exeter Chiefs side at Welford Road. Rob Baxter’s men led 10-20 at half time and they thoroughly deserved the ten point advantage, but two tries in the last quarter helped Leicester to victory and cruelly denied the Chiefs a bonus point.
In the final match of the round, David Strettle scored a try on his debut for Saracens as they recovered from their opening round loss to beat Sale Sharks 28-13.
RESULTS
NEWCASTLE FALCONS 29-17 LONDON WASPS
KINGSTON PARK - Friday 10th September 2010
Attendance: 5,159
HARLEQUINS 16-20 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
TWICKENHAM STOOP - Saturday 11th September 2010
Attendance: 10,823
BATH RUGBY 20-13 LONDON IRISH
THE REC - Saturday 11th September 2010
Attendance: 11,005
GLOUCESTER RUGBY 22-21 LEEDS CARNEGIE
KINGSHOLM - Saturday 11th September 2010
Attendance: 9,994
LEICESTER TIGERS 37-27 EXETER CHIEFS
WELFORD ROAD - Saturday 11th September 2010
Attendance: 17,956
SARACENS 28-13 SALE SHARKS
VICARAGE ROAD - Sunday 12th September 2010
Attendance: 6,087
WEEK 1
SALE Sharks kicked off the new Aviva Premiership Rugby season on Friday night with a comprehensive 35-18 win over Newcastle Falcons at Edgeley Park under the watchful eye of new Head Coach Mike Brewer. The former New Zealand flanker saw tries from debutants Karena Wihongi and winger Tom Brady, plus six penalties and two conversions from fly-half Nick Macleod, as well as a drop goal from Dwayne Peel. Despite Newcastle’s Brent Wilson running in two tries and Jeremy Manning adding a conversion and two penalties, Sale proved too strong for their northern cousins, sending a message that the Sharks may have teeth to watch out for this season.
On Saturday, in front of a record 75,112 crowd, the London Double Header swung into glorious action with London Irish against Saracens first up. Impressive tries from Schalk Brits and Ernst Joubert saw Saracens control the first half, however, Irish turned up the heat to sizzling in the second half with tries from Delon Armitage, Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau, with two conversions and three penalties from Ryan Lamb. The score ended London Irish 33, Saracens 16.
In the second London Double Header match, London Wasps’ Mark van Gisbergen and Harlequins’ Nick Evans earned a London derby draw for their teams with an impressive seven kicks apiece. Andy Powell, on his debut, and Tom Varndell had crossed for first-half tries for Wasps, while Quins’ tries came through Nick Easter and Mike Brown. Both kickers kicked two conversions and five penalties with the score ending London Wasps 29, Harlequins 29.
At Sandy Park Stadium on Saturday, Exeter Chiefs produced a stunning performance to open their Aviva Premiership Rugby campaign with a 22-10 victory over Gloucester Rugby. Fly-half Gareth Steenson was the hero of the day with a tally of 17 points, landing all his kicks of a conversion, a drop goal and four penalties, which alongside a try from Mark Foster gave the home club victory. James Simpson-Daniel and Tim Taylor scored tries for Gloucester but Nicky Robinson missed all his kicking attempts.
On Sunday, Bath Rugby’s Head Coach Steve Meehan praised his players’ attitude following their bonus-point victory over Leeds Carnegie. Full-back Nick Abendanon touched down in the first half before Sam Vesty, Matt Carraro and captain Luke Watson added further scores after the break with Vesty kicking three conversions and two penalties. Leeds Carnegie ran in a try by Steve Thompson and Cieron Thomas kicked one drop goal and two penalties with Leigh Hinton kicking a further conversion. The score ended Leeds Carnegie 16, Bath Rugby 32.
Also on Sunday, Northampton Saints earned the early-season East Midlands bragging rights as tries from props Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Majati paved the way for an opening round Aviva Premiership Rugby win over champions Leicester Tigers at Franklin’s Gardens. A crowd of 13,489 saw Tonga’uiha cross twice in the opening five minutes. Further tries by Brian Mujati of Saints, and Scott Hamilton and Alesana Tuilagi of Tigers followed in a thrilling encounter that ended Northampton Saints 27, Leicester Tigers 19.
