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It was an eventful two weeks in Europe of our Aviva Premiership in both Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, but now it’s back to domestic matters with three matches all contenders for match of the round.
They only return for Round seven before taking part in this year’s Anglo-Welsh for the next two weeks.
Sale Sharks 6 – 10 Exeter Chiefs
Exeter moves to the top of the Aviva Premiership table (for under 24 hours) after a hard-fought victory at the AJ Bell.
Winger Lachlan Turner scored the only try in the second half to separate the two teams under the Friday night lights giving the Chiefs the fifth win of the season. Two penalties from Faf de Klerk made sure Sale got a losing bonus point.
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These are the type of the wins the champions will have to secure if they want to keep hold of the title this season.
Harlequins 41 – 35 Worcester Warriors
The first contender for match of round seven happened at the Twickenham Stoop as fans were treated to an 11 try thriller.
Marcus Smith started the scoring for Quins in the third minute, but they were bulldozed by three Worcester from David Denton, Perry Humphreys and Josh Adams.
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Mat Luamanu was able to respond before the interval to give the home supporters something to cheer and reduce the gap to 17 – 18.
Scrum-half Danny Care crossed the whitewash to regain the lead for the host’s just minutes into the second-half and he was joined 10 minutes later by Jamie Roberts to secure the try-bonus point.
The victory looked wrapped up for Harlequins on 63 minutes once Charlie Walker crossed over.
However, minutes later, the Warriors made sure they didn’t give up without a fight and Dean Hammond secure the try-bonus point and scored his scored with six minutes left.
With three minutes to go, Jack Singleton scored Worcester’s sixth and with Tom Heathcote's conversion they left with the losing-bonus point too.
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Northampton Saints 22 – 38 Wasps
The second contender to the match of round seven was as Franklins Gardens, but England head coach Eddie Jones will be worried by losing three of his autumn internationals squad – Elliot Daly, Matt Mullan and Piers Francis.
However, Wasps will be pleased leaving their Midlands rivals with a try-bonus point victory.
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Ahsee Tuala got things started for Saints, but tries from Christian Wade, Ashley Johnson, Josh Bassett and Juan de Jongh made sure last season’s runners-up got back to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership.
Harry Mallinder did get a consolation try at the end of the game and before going off Francis was looking impressive kicking 12 points.
Saracens 44 – 13 London Irish
Saracens returned to the top of the Aviva Premiership table after thumbing London Irish with a strong six-try bonus point victory.
Mako Vunipola scored the only try of the first half before the host turned on the style in after the interval with Owen Farrell, Liam Williams and Chris Wyles clinching the try-bonus point.
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Nathan Earle was able to score a double coming off the bench and Farrell ended the game with 14 points from the boot.
Irish were able to score a try thanks to David Paice and there other eight points come from Tommy Bell’s boot.
Bath Rugby 21 – 22 Gloucester Rugby
Owen Williams showed he had veins of steel kicking the winning conversion in the 88th minute which gave Gloucester bragging rights in the West Country the in the final contender for match of round seven.
Will Heinz and Semesa Rokoduguni traded early tries in the first half and only split by Rhys Prestland’s penalty.
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Despite two more penalties from Prestland, Williams’ penalty and Heinz getting his second for the cherry and white’s looked to have got the victory.
However, with only minutes left Rokoduguni scored his second try of the match and the win looked siled by the home side.
Gloucester wasn't going to be denied of their first away win of the season and Ed Slater stretched his way over deep into added time, but will Williams’ conversion it meant the visitors left cheering.
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Newcastle Falcons 13 – 30 Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tiger finished off round seven with a strong away performance to secure their fifth Aviva Premiership victory in a row.
Tigers started strongly with tries from Telusa Veainu and Ben Youngs, but Falcons made sure their visitors went into the half with a slim led with Toby Flood’s penalty and Vereniki Goneva converted try.
Another Flood penalty slimed the gap to just a point before three George Ford penalties put them out of Falcons grasp and then Jonny May’s try-scoring dominance continued and secured victory for the Tigers.
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