Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 19 saw all 12 clubs holding onto their positions in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table at a time when all eyes are locked on a top four finish. There were home victories for Northampton Saints, Gloucester Rugby, Saracens, London Irish and most notably Leeds Carnegie, who sneaked a valuable win over Exeter Chiefs. Leicester Tigers were the only club to win away, in a passionate but fractious encounter at the Twickenham Stoop.
On Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens Northampton Saints boosted their chances of a top four finish with an eight-try victory over Sale Sharks. A rampant pack produced two penalty tries for Saints, who secured their try-bonus point before half-time. Their other tries came from scrum-half Lee Dickson, England winger Chris Ashton, prop Brian Mujati, England flanker Tom Wood and replacements Bruce Reihana and Phil Dowson, with fly-half Stephen Myler kicking 13 points. Sale replied with tries from replacement hooker Marc Jones and lock Warne Lewaravu, with Charlie Hodgson kicking 14 points. Final score: Northampton Saints 53, Sale Sharks 24.
Over at Kingsholm, Gloucester Rugby recovered from a Harlequins horror show seven days ago to put a top four finish back on track with a win over Newcastle Falcons. The Falcons were all set to inflict another fright with three Jimmy Gopperth penalties keeping them in contention until subsiding during the final quarter. Tries for Gloucester came from full-back Freddie Burns, wing Jonny May, scrum-half Rory Lawson and substitute Henry Trinder, while Burns slotted two conversions and two penalties before Tim Taylor added the final two conversions. Final score: Gloucester Rugby 34, Newcastle Falcons 9.
At The Twickenham Stoop, Aviva Premiership Rugby table toppers Leicester Tigers held off a ferocious fightback from Harlequins to clinch a hard-earned victory as both sides ended the game with 14 men with Marcos Ayerza and Joe Marler both shown red cards. Tries came from Danny Care for Harlequins and Alesana Tuilagi for Leicester Tigers with kicking from Nick Evans and Toby Flood. It was Flood’s final kick of the match that won the game. Final score: Harlequins 13, Leicester Tigers 17.
On Sunday Matt Stevens helped Saracens tighten their grip on second place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table with an Aviva Premiership Rugby Man of the Match display against Bath Rugby. Stevens faced his former club for the first time since leaving The Rec and put in a star performance. David Strettle ran in a try for Saracens backed up with five penalty kicks by Alex Goode, Bath’s only reply was three penalties from the boot of Butch James. Final score: Saracens 20, Bath Rugby 9.
At Headingley Carnegie, Adrian Jarvis claimed 17 points with the boot as relegation-threatened Leeds Carnegie secured a tense victory over Exeter Chiefs. The former Bristol fly-half landed four penalties, a conversion and a drop goal and Hendre Fourie and Alfie To’oala touched down as Neil Back’s bottom-placed side moved to within two points of Newcastle. Exeter Chiefs secured a try from Bryan Rennie, three penalty kicks, a conversion and a drop goal from the boot of Gareth Steenson. Final score: Leeds Carnegie 27, Exeter Chiefs 22.
At the Madejski Stadium, London Irish faced London rivals London Wasps with the visitors leading 12-3 early on in the game. However, London Irish soon started to dominate the game inflicting another defeat on Wasps who remain in eighth place in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table. Riki Flutey and Rob Webber scored a try each for Wasps, Dave Walder kicking a conversion, while Irish ran in a try via David Paice with a conversion and six penalties converted by Tom Homer. Final score: London Irish 25, London Wasps 12.
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