Sarries and Chiefs continue to set the pace. Falcons pick up their second win

Week 8 of the Gallagher Premiership weekend saw two games played on Friday.

Harlequins travelled to Sixways to face Worcester Warriors and suffered a 20-13 loss.

Despite having 64% of possession, the visitors could only manage a single try from Joe Marchant, and that was a result of an interception. Warriors led at the break 13-3 thanks to a Nick Schonert try. The hosts made the game safe when Ryan Mills touched down. Harlequins at least had the consolation of picking up a losing bonus point when James Lang’s penalty kick sailed over the posts.

Newcastle Falcons picked up their second victory of the season after a 16-8 victory against Bath at Kingston Park on Friday.

Toby Flood kicked 11 points on his 100th appearance for the club, with centre Johnny Williams crossing for the Falcons only try of the game.

Exeter Chiefs made light of their seven missing internationals to see off a stern challenge from in form Gloucester at Sandy Park on Saturday by 23-6, to make it eight wins out of eight.

It wasn’t Danny Cipriani’s day as his sloppy pass went straight into the arms of Alex Cuthbert who ran from the halfway line to score to put Chiefs 11 points up. Nic White also crossed for Exeter, who picked up four points from the contest to enhance their position at the top of the table.

Wasps got the better of Bristol at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday by 32-28. A bonus point win over the Bears, mainly due to a brace of tries from winger Ross Neal on debut, arrested a run of seven games without a win in all competitions.

The home side looked home and dry leading 32-7 after 47 minutes when Bristol introduced former Leicester player Harry Thacker. The hooker bagged a sensational 16 minute hat trick to leave Dai Young’s men sweating.
However, Neal’s try double added to further efforts from Juan de Jongh and James Gaskell and 12 points from the boot of Lima Sopoaga proved just enough.

Sale Sharks edged a close fought contest 18-13 at the AJ Bell Stadium against Northampton Saints on Saturday as the Sharks moved off the bottom of the table.

Sale were indebted to Denny Solomona who touched down twice despite Saints taking the lead as early as the second minute when Cobus Reinach crossed. Sale hit back through Solomona, with the home side taking a narrow lead early in the second half when Rob du Preez kicked a penalty. Saints levelled against the run of play when youngster Ollie Sleightholme scored his second try in as many matches, but Sale responded with another du Preez penalty to claim the win.

In the final game of the weekend, Saracens travelled to Welford Road to face Leicester Tigers and came away with a 27-22 victory and stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games.

Alex Lozowski- dropped by Eddie Jones for the Australia game- shrugged of his disappointment by scoring one of the visitors three tries. Ben Spencer and Alex Lewington also crossed for Sarries, who almost blew an 18 point lead at one stage. The victory keeps up the pressure on leaders Exeter at the top of the table, with both sides just separated at the top by points difference.

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