Premiership: Saracens gain revenge over Leicester while London Irish and Sale seal wins over Bath and Exeter

Saracens continued with their excellent start to the season when the sealed a convincing 51-18 victory over Leicester Tigers to avenge last season’s Premiership final loss.

Five days after being left out of England head coach Eddie Jones’ first training squad of the autumn, Elliot Daly and Ben Earl were at the forefront of Sarries’ onslaught as both crossed for deserved tries.

Another England discard Max Malins was not far behind as Sarries dominated most facets of play and eventually outscored the champions by seven tries to two.

Willing to strike from all quarters of the pitch, Saracens played at a pace that left Leicester chasing shadows, using clever offloads and smart lines to devastating effect, especially in an irresistible first half.

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To make matters worst for Tigers, Handre Pollard’s debut as an interval replacement lasted only 27 minutes because of injury and it was also an afternoon to forget for Anthony Watson, who was representing his new club for the first time.

Saracens did not escape without a cost, however, as England hooker Jamie George was forced off at half-time because of an ankle injury.

After a pleasing season opener against Harlequins and rollercoaster victory over Gloucester, it was seeing Leicester in the opposite corner that brought out the best in Mark McCall’s men.

Their eagerness to attack was evident in the 15th minute when they raced into the lead with an Alex Lozowski try that began in their own 22.

Owen Farrell launched the move but it was the ability of Daly and Alex Lewington to unpick the visiting defence, plus an injection of pace from Ivan van Zyl, that made the score possible.

A kind bounce off Freddie Burns’ speculative chip allowed prop James Cronin to reply soon after but Saracens stormed back in front with another clinical try created by the influential Daly and finished by Earl.

Even after a series of penalties offered promising field position, Leicester were powerless to keep out on another high tempo attacked that ended with Malins running in his fourth try in two appearances.

Saracens were unstoppable as Billy Vunipola sent Earl into a gap but the key moment was George running a clever line at pace before finding Malins in support.

Only indiscipline was letting the hosts down and with 35 minutes gone they were losing the penalty count 9-2, but when they could breach the whitewash at will it became irrelevant.

Just before half-time they struck again as Farrell switched play to Daly and Nick Tompkins, who combined skilfully to send Van Zyl over.

Leicester brought Pollard on for the second-half, shifting Burns to full-back and nudging Freddie Steward to the left wing and with the changes came signs of a fightback.

Pressure was building on the home line and the Tigers pulled the trigger by working the ball wide to Steward who had the strength to ride two tackles and touch down.

Leicester were in full flow as they renewed the attack but their accuracy deserted them at key moments and on their next assault, Saracens ran in their fifth try courtesy of sharp handling a strong finish by Daly.

There was no let up as the floodgates opened with Theo McFarland and Sean Maitland adding late tries.

London Irish prove too strong for Bath

Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Loader both scored hat-tricks as London Irish produced a breathtaking first-half performance which blew Bath away.

Irish led 35-5 at the interval before the home side took their foot off the pedal to allow Bath to stage a spirited rally as the game ended 47-38.

Bath had no answers to the slick handling of the home backs in the opening period, with their cause not being helped by early injuries to forwards GJ van Velze and Josh McNally, and a yellow card for Josh Bayliss.

It was Bath’s fourth consecutive league defeat, which has seen them ship a total of 154 points.

For Irish, Paddy Jackson also scored a try and converted six.

Niall Annett scored two tries for Bath, while Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Matt Gallagher, Joe Cokanasiga and Piers Francis were also on the try-scoring sheet, with Orlando Bailey adding three conversions.

Sale Sharks end Exeter Chiefs’ winning run

Sale maintained their fine unbeaten start to the Premiership season with a dogged 28-20 victory over in-form Exeter Chiefs.

Joe Carpenter’s try on his Premiership debut plus scores from captain Ben Curry and Akker van der Merwe sealed a first victory for the Sharks over Exeter in five and ended the Chiefs’ own unbeaten start to the season.

Sale’s other points came via the boot of Robert du Preez, who contributed 13 points courtesy of three penalties and a couple of conversions.

Tries from skipper Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Maunder were not enough for the Chiefs, who rued their missed opportunities and were denied a losing bonus point when Henry Slade’s long-range penalty attempt at the death fell short.

Slade finished with a 10-point haul after succeeding with two conversions and as may penalties.

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