FRONT ROW: Aviva Premiership Round Up Week 3

We have combined our Aviva Premiership Round Up and our annual feature following an individual team, into a brand new feature called 'Front Row'. In fact one further change is that we will be following different teams each week,  playing in League 3 and below. We also welcome any Rugby stories you have, please send them to sportspulse@sporttrades.co.uk.

Welcome to Aviva Premiership Round Up, week 3, brought to you from our friends at Aviva.

London Welsh recorded their first ever victory in the Aviva Premiership by beating Exeter Chiefs 25-24 on Sunday and head coach Lyn Jones praised his side's guts and determination in coming back from a poor start to the game.

 

The Exiles were 14-0 down after 11 minutes at the Kassam Stadium as Chiefs full-back Luke Arscott and wing Matt Jess both scored converted tries.

 

But amazingly the Exiles were ahead 15-14 by half-time thanks to a penalty try, awarded from a rolling maul, and a 70-metre interception score from wing Nick Scott as well as two goal kicks from Gordon Ross.
Exeter re-took the lead in the second half through No. 8 Richard Baxter but Welsh weren't to be denied in front of their home fans and in the dying minutes Ed Jackson barged his way over to score the crucial try leaving Welshman Jones ecstatic at the final whistle.

"We shelled 14 points in the first 10-15 minutes having played so well and it didn't feel like a fair reflection and Exeter took some opportunities that we gave them," said Jones, whose side now lie in ninth.
"But we didn't fold, we stuck in there and we've fought, we came back and we took our opportunities as and when they came.

"We've shown good character to come back and I think 25-24 was a fair result and I think where we are, it's important to get something out of every game"

At the top of the table Harlequins enlarged their gap over the chasing pack with a 37-14 victory against Sale Sharks at the Stoop and director of rugby Conor O'Shea insists he will not be reining in his players' attacking instincts for any side this season.

Full-back Mike Brown scored the bonus-point try in the final play of the game, adding to efforts from wing Ugo Monye, centre Jordan Turner-Hall and lock George Robson, while Nick Evans kicked 17 points.
O'Shea said: "The players play what they see and that's the way they want to play."

"We are always going to make the odd mistake too many because we are trying to play the whole time.
"We have to tighten that up but we don't want to rein them in, we just want them to make better decisions the whole time because, as I say, live by the sword, die by the sword."

On the other side of London at Wembley Stadium, Saracens locked horns with Leicester Tigers but neither side came out on top in a 9-9 draw.

Sarries fly-half Owen Farrell spurned four of his five goal kicks in the first half leading to his substitution in the 52^ndminute for Charlie Hodgson.

His England rival Toby Flood was in better form with the boot and scored all of Leicester's points but Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall insists 20-year-old Farrell will soon back to his best.

"Owen's not had much practice recently, he's had a small groin injury which has stopped him practicing as much as usual and it's very rare he has a day like this one," said McCall.

"He's a magnificent player for us but every man has the odd bad day at the office and I know he has the strength of character to come back."

Honours were also even at Sixways where Worcester Warriors nearly ended their six-month run without a win in the Aviva Premiership only for Gloucester Rugby to sneak a 16-16 draw thanks to a late Freddie Burns penalty.

Worcester fly-half Andy Goode looked to have won it for the home side when he kicked his second penalty with just seconds remaining to add to a James Currie try and five points from the boot of centre Joe Carlisle.
Cherry & Whites centre Henry Trinder crossed for the visitors and fly-half Billy Twelvetrees struck two penalties before Burns replaced him and dashed Worcester's hopes of a maiden win of the season.

Winger Tom Varndell scored two tries to help London Wasps to a 43-14 victory over London Irish at Adams Park but it was Stephen Jones who took most of the plaudits kicking 23 points in an accomplished display.

Scrum-half Joe Simpson and replacement prop Zak Taulafo also crossed for the hosts while wing Marland Yarde scored the Exiles' only try and fly-half Steven Shingler kicked three penalties.

England full-back Ben Foden suffered apparent ligament damage to his right ankle as he helped Northampton Saints record a 18-14 win over Bath Rugby at the Rec.

Foden, 27, limped out of the match in the second half but fly-half Stephen Myler's five penalties and a drop goal from Premiership stalwart Tom May secured victory.

Bath scored the game's only try via Foden's opposite man, and England rival, Nick Abendanon while fly-half Olly Barkley kicked three penalties.