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The Aviva Premiership season burst into life at the London Double Header at Twickenham on Saturday as a Nick Evans-inspired Harlequins edged out Wasps in a truly remarkable comeback.
After narrowly escaping relegation last year Dai Young's Wasps side looked much improved, causing Conor O'Shea's troops real problems with their pace out wide - however the defending champions demonstrated the belief and ability that won them their first Premiership title four months previously.
England captain Chris Robshaw led the fight back as they opened up Wasps' defence with a series of sharp off-loads - with England full-back Mike Brown twice the beneficiary with Tom Williams also crossing.
It was left to talismanic fly-half Evans, on his 100th appearance for the club, to seal the comeback as he slotted a penalty with just two minutes left on the clock to claim an epic victory.
And in the second game of the double header Chris Ashton wasted no time in ingratiating himself to the home support as he ran in two tries on his Saracens debut as they eased past London Irish 40-3.
His international team mate Brad Barritt also found himself on the score sheet as Charlie Hodgson added 17 points with the boot - making him the first player to pass the 2,000 point mark in the Aviva Premiership.
On Sunday London Welsh were taught something of a lesson as Leicester Tigers beat them 38-13 at the Kassam Stadium, Thomas Waldrom crossing twice for the visitors.
Lyn Jones' newly assembled squad gave a good account of themselves with two scores in the first half but after the break Tigers really turned the screw to seal a bonus-point win.
Elsewhere on Saturday Olly Barkley held his nerve to slot the winning penalty with the last kick of the game as Bath edged out Worcester 24-23 at Sixways.
Gary Gold, in his first competitive game at the helm for Bath, handed a first start to league convert Kyle Eastmond, in a match that proved to be a real nail-biter, with the lead changing three times in the last ten minutes.
But in the battle of the kickers it was Barkley who had the last laugh as Andy Goode twice missed in the closing stages, once with a conversion and once with a penalty.
Elsewhere, another former England international fly-half, Danny Cipriani, had a less enjoyable afternoon on his return to the Aviva Premiership as he made his debut off the bench for Sale Sharks in a crushing 43-6 defeat by Exeter.
Cipriani was called into action after half an hour due to an injury to Sam Tuitupou, but was powerless to turn the tide as the Chiefs ran in six tries at Sandy Park.
With much attention on Northampton's new signing Ken Pisi it was older brother George who stole the headlines in their season opener, crossing twice in a 24-19 win over Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Saints looked to be cruising midway through the second half but had to cling on in the closing stages with only 13 men as Freddie Burns tried in vain to turn the tide in the home side's favour.
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