As the Aviva Premiership clubs welcome back their international stars (apart from those playing for Wales against South Africa) for round 10 for another eventful weekend of English rugby before going into battle for the final rounds of the group stage of the Champions Cup.
Northampton Saints 22 – 24 Newcastle Falcons
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It was an exciting end under the Friday lights at Franklin’s Gardens as Nili Latu score on the final play of the game to help the Falcons inflict a fifth straight defeat on Saints.
The win moved Newcastle to eight and above Jim Mallinder’s men who went down to tenth in the table (after wins for Sale and Quins this weekend).
It looked like it was job done with 10 minutes to go leading 22 – 17 after tries from Harry Mallinder, Dylan Hartley and a penalty try, but the boot let them down with Piers Francis only getting a conversation and penalty in the second half.
Meanwhile, despite the yellow card, Toby Flood was affective from the boot with converting Sinoti Sinoti and Josh Matavesi’s tries as well as penalty and Tane Takulua kicking the extra points after Latu’s try to make sure Falcons secure the victory.
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Worcester Warriors 14 – 18 Sale Sharks
Meanwhile, under the Friday night lights at Sixways also had a late try as Mark Jennings crossed the whitewash to give Sale a vital win and end Worcester’s two-game winning run.
It was an eventful game which saw Sharks’ Byron McGuigan sin-binned in the first half and then sent off in the second, and even with Faf de Klerk sin-binned, Warriors couldn’t make the extra men count.
Nine of home sides 14 points come from the boot of Chris Pennell with their only try scored by Josh Adams. While the visitors will thank Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Jennings’ touchdowns and seven points from AJ MacGinty boot.
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Exeter Chiefs 42 – 29 Bath Rugby
This win from Exeter achieved two things; extend their position on the league table and dominating win at home against rivals Bath.
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Chiefs were able to secure the bonus point in the first half with tries from Luke Cowan-Dickie, James Short, Mitch Lees and Don Armand. Not to miss out on the fun Thomas Waldrom and Gareth Steenson joined in the battering.
It wasn’t all bad (to say) for Bath as they left with a try bonus point to keep them in the top four with Jonathan Joseph scoring the first adding the bonus points himself and Anthony Watson, Aled Brew and Matt Banahan all scored in the final seven minutes.
Steenson was deadly with the boot scoring 12 points as Rhys Prestland was only able to add six and Freddie Burns could score a penalty in the first half.
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Gloucester Rugby 39 – 15 London Irish
This win has moved Gloucester into second place in the table (something I wasn’t expecting) with a bonus-point win over London Irish making it their fifth win in a row.
A Billy Burns double was helped by Lewis Ludlow, Jake Polledri and Henry Purdy and Billy Twelvetress boots also came in handy with 14 points.
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Irish had to play the second half with 14 men after David Paice’s red card, but they did try and give it a go with Petrus du Plessis and Filo Paulo crossing the whitewash and Tommy Bell kicking a conversion and penalty.
The defeat keeps Irish rooted at the bottom of the table.
Wasps 32 – 25 Leicester Tigers
This was a match both teams needed to win to keep their eye on the top four and Kearnan Myall late try secured Wasps a try-bonus point win over the Tigers.
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It was a thrilling battle under the Saturday night lights at the Ricoh Arena with Tom Youngs opening the try scoring for the visitors before Nizaam Carr and Dan Robson replied for Wasps.
Tigers regained the lead in the second half thanks to a Jonah Holmes quick double and with the bonus of George Ford kicking 10 points the game seemed to be in their hands.
However, Elliot Daly returned from England duty with a try and penalty with Jimmy Gopperth’s seven points the match seemingly going to a draw before he converted Myall’s try.
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Harlequins 20 – 19 Saracens
The final match of round 10 continued the series of thrilling last-minute ending as Harlequins got one over Saracens and handing them a fifth straight loss in all competitions.
Sarries had a tight lead going into the final moments after starting off brilliantly with Brad Barrett scoring a try a minute into the game and Owen Farrell kicked 14 points on his return from England duty.
Charlie Walker kept Quins in touch by crossing the whitewash either side of the half and even with James Lang’s conversion and penalty it didn’t seem enough until scrum-half Danny Care kicked cross-field in the dying moments for Tim Visser to touchdown after Alex Goode’s fumble.
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