Saracens hammer Saints, Tigers, Irish and Worcester win
Leicester claimed a bonus-point 34-19 win over Bath at Twickenham while Saracens demolished Northampton 63-13 at Franklin's Gardens.
In Saturday's other games there was an impressive win for London Irish at Harlequins while Worcester came from behind to beat Newcastle Falcons.
Bath 19-34 Leicester Tigers
Bath explored the Twickenham turf for the second time in a year as they moved their home game with Leicester Tigers to south west London.
George Ford became the first man to win “The Clash” twice after his new side toppled his former; even if his kicking did leave much to be admired.
A first-half disaster at scrum time threatened to slam the final nail in the coffin of Bath’s play-off aspirations with Leicester aiming to win five on the bounce.
Rhys Priestland kicked two penalties in the opening quarter of an hour with Ford notching one in reply. Leicester’s scrum decided to stamp their authority over their Bath opponents 20 minutes into the contest and, after an accumulation of penalties and yellow cards for both Kahn Fotuali’i and Shaun Knight, set the platform for Adam Thompstone to go over in the corner.
Minus two men but only 10-6 down Bath went on the offensive despite their numerical disadvantage and a rolling maul following sustained praise eventually saw Tom Dunn credited with a try that Priestland converted.
The home side, or adopted home at least, thought they had extend the lead with the first-half clock in the red. Matt Banahan appeared to dot down in corner but the TMO confirmed a knock on which denied what would have been an irresistible finish.
The second 40 saw Leicester’s dominance at scrum time reasserted and, following several phases and some lengthy advantages, Siona Kalamafoni picked up a couple of metres short to power over alone. Ford missing a very achievable conversion.
The former Bath favourite’s miss looking even more costly when Priestland kicking a penalty from 40 metre’s out to put his side back into the ascendancy by the solitary point.
With a little under 20 minutes remaining Leicester’s number eight Kalamafoni then hauled his side back into the lead. Choosing to ignore the support the Tongan powered over. Ford again missing a conversion that would’ve made the gap six points when his kicked bounced back off the posts.
The England fly-half’s kicking again undermined when Priestland kicked a penalty from a similar spot he had earlier. The penalty awarded when Thompstone was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
With the gap back to a single point Leicester found themselves camped in the Bath 22. A high phase attack eventually saw scrum-half Sam Harrison dive over under the posts allowing for a simple conversion for the largely off target Ford.
With the try bonus point secured and Bath going in search of a losing bonus point their defence became lethargic and Tigers full-back Telusa Veainu scythed through a gap on the outside to go over for try number five.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Try: Dunn
Con: Priestland
Pens: Priestland 4
Yellow Cards: Fotuali'i, Knight
For Leicester:
Tries: Thompstone, Kalamafoni 2, Harrison, Veainu
Cons: Ford 3
Pen: Ford
Yellow Card: Thompstone
Bath: 15 James Wilson, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Elliott Stooke, 4 Charlie Ewels, 3 Shaun Knight, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Victor Delmas, 19 James Phillips, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Max Green, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Cooper Vuna
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Luke Hamilton, 6 Valentino Mapapalangi, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Greg Bateman, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Will Evans, 21 Harry Simmons, 22 Matt Smith, 23 Jordan Olowofela
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Wayne Falla
Television match official: Geoff Warren
Northampton Saints 13-63 Saracens
The last time Saracens visited Franklin’s Gardens they dismantled the home side 57-13 in round one of the Champions Cup. Six months on and déjà vu was the feeling of the day.
Northampton scored 13 points and their opponents opened the flood gates in the second 40. The point of difference this time out being Mark McCall’s side scored 63 points rather than the 57 they got earlier this season; and rather than Jim Mallinder being at the helm Alan Gaffney presided over the worst Premiership defeat in Saints history.
Alex Lozowski was the first man to cross the whitewash when he was teed up by wing Sean Maitland. Owen Farrell converted the try before adding a penalty to make the score 10-0.
Stephen Myler, departing Saints at this season’s conclusion, kicked the home side’s first points of the day via a penalty before levelling the scores when he converted a Reece Marshall try. The hooker benefitting from a Saints rolling maul at the third time of asking after Saracens had illegally pulled down the first two.
Myler kicked a further three to push the home side into the lead but it was short lived as veteran South African Schalk Brits was carried over the try line by his Saracens colleagues. Farrell missed the conversion but Saracens still headed into the interval 15-13 up.
The second half began and Saracens extended their lead courtesy of a Ben Spencer try awarded via a trip to the TMO. The scrum-half sniping in the corner after the ball had popped out of a maul. Less than ten minutes elapsed before McCall’s men secured the bonus point and the game threatened to get out of hand.
Retaining their own lineout the Barnet-based outfit had their initial drive stopped but Mako Vunipola powered over once the ball was freed. Farrell adding the extras.
The away side’s fly-half kicked a penalty to bring up 30 points and three minutes later that became 37. Playing with the advantage Farrell kicked an ambitious chip through to Liam Williams and the Welshman’s skill saw the gamble pay off.
Try number six came on the hour mark after a Lozowski led counter attack was hurled just short by Saints full-back Ahsee Tuala but the onrushing Chris Wyles was able to wrestle over from close range.
Opposing wing Maitland then got in on the act to score Saracens fifth try in 21 minutes. The visitors working off turnover ball executed a sweeping move which eventually saw the Scottish international score.
Seventh heaven soon became eight courtesy of Jackson Wray. The number eight picking up close to the line and driving over thanks to a strong latch. Farrell kicking his sixth conversion of the day. The scoring for the day was rounded off in the 80th minute courtesy of replacement Nathan Earle. The flying wing scoring after a flowing move sent him over.
The scorers:
For Northampton:
Try: Marshall
Con: Myler
Pens: Myler 2
For Saracens:
Tries: Lozowski, Brits, Spencer, Vunipola, Williams, Wyles, Maitland, Wray, Earle
Cons: Farrell 6
Pens: Farrell 2
Northampton Saints: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Piers Francis, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 David Ribbans, 5 Christian Day (c), 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Reece Marshall, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Tom Collins, 23 Ben Foden
Saracens: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Nathan Earle
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Simon McConnell
Television match official: David Rose
Harlequins 5-35 London Irish
London Irish are fighting for their Premiership lives but they just about kept themselves afloat whilst heaping further pressure on Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston.
Three unanswered tries in the opening half an hour set the foundations for an impressive performance a little over half an hour from their Madejski home. A three try advantage was swiftly wiped out against Gloucester recently, but Quins weren’t able to replicate that comeback at the Stoop.
Piet van Zyl bagged a swift brace; his first try owing much to Tow Fowlie who fended off the best efforts of the Quins defence before offloading to the scrum-half. His second a work of art after James Marshall’s cross kick found Alex Lewington who offloaded to the supporting Van Zyl.
Tommy Bell, a late replacement for Johnny Williams, kicked the extras on both occasions to put the visitors 14-0 up. Two tries became three when Max Northcote-Green went over in the corner and following TMO consultation the score was awarded.
Bell kicked a penalty with last kick of the opening 40 to send Irish 22-0 up at the interval. The former Leicester man kicked a further penalty six minutes into the second-half to push the gap out to 25 points.
It took 52 minutes for the home side to get on the scoreboard courtesy of Jack Clifford and another trip to the TMO. The number eight picking up the loose ball to dot down. It was hardly the signs of a comeback and shortly after London Irish turned a likely four points into five by bagging their fourth try of the afternoon.
Two-try man Van Zyl chip through and Fowlie latched onto it to score. The TMO was again called in but the try awarded with Bell kicking the extras. The full-back kicking his third penalty of the day to make the score 35-5 with ten minutes remaining.
The scorers:
For Harlequins:
Try: Clifford
Yellow Cards: Care, Matthews
For London Irish:
Tries: Van Zyl, Northcote-Green, Fowlie
Cons: Bell 3
Pens: Bell 3
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Jack Clifford, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Mat Luamanu, 5 Stan South, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Dave Ward (c), 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 George Merrick, 20 Archie White, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 James Lang, 23 Alofa Alofa
London Irish: 15 Tommy Bell, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Tom Fowlie, 12 Theo Brophy Clews, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 James Marshall, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 7 Max Northcote-Green, 5 Josh McNally, 6 Jake Schatz, 4 Franco van der Merwe (c), 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 David Paice, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Dave Porecki, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Aseli Tikoirotuma
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Roy Maybank, Phil Watters
Television match official: David Grashoff
Worcester Warriors 27-13 Newcastle Falcons
Worcester produced perhaps their biggest result of the season as they derailed Newcastle’s journey to the play-offs. Trailing at the break three tries in the second-half turned the contest to help cement their Premiership status.
London Irish’s commanding win at Harlequins meant the Warriors had little margin for error and the rose to the challenge.
Chris Pennell kicked the first points of the day as he and Toby Flood traded penalties on two occasions to leave the score 6-6. Newcastle scored the first try of the contest shortly before the interval after strong carries from both Sinoti Sinoti and Alex Tait eventually allowed Vereniki Goneva to stroll over the try line.
The second 40 allowed for a cagey affair and it took in excess of 20 minutes for the first score to come. Scotland international David Denton going over from close range after Worcester had opted for a scrum after being awarded a penalty. Dorian Jones kicked the extras to level the contest.
Shortly after and the home side had turned the match on its head; Jackson Willison breaking into the 22 and, after several Warriors attackers had gone close, Nick Schonert powered over. Jones again kicking the extras to make the score 20-13.
The game now in the balance with a Falcons score drawing the teams level. However, England centre Ben Te’o had no intention of allowing for that scenario as he helped secured the win when his break set-up a Worcester attack. Bryce Heem and Josh Adams went close before Denton scored his second of the day to push the gap out to 14 points with less than five minutes remaining.
The scorers:
For Worcester:
Tries: Denton 2, Schonert
Cons: Jones 3
Pens: Pennell 2
For Newcastle:
Try: Goneva
Con: Flood
Pens: Flood 2
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Ben Te’o, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Jamie Shillcock, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 GJ van Velze (c), 7 Sam Lewis, 6 David Denton, 5 Will Spencer, 4 Darren Barry, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Ryan Bower
Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt, 17 Gareth Milasinovich, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Marco Mama, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Dorian Jones, 23 Dean Hammond
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Nili Latu, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Evan Olmstead, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Calum Green, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Sam Lockwood
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Will Witty, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Joel Hodgson, 22 Dominic Waldouck, 23 Adam Radwan
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson, Adam Leal
Television match official: Stuart Terheege