Aviva Premiership Rugby 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.
Thank you to Aviva Premiership for supplying information for this post.
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