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After the completion of round four of the Gallagher Premiership, there is still no side who hold a one hundred per cent record.
The weekend’s action kicked off on Friday at the AJ Bell Stadium where Sale Sharks hosted Wasps, with the hosts claiming a 28-18 victory.
Rob du Preez kicked Sale Sharks to victory over Wasps, as the home side bounced back from their recent loss to Bristol Bears.
The South African fly-half racked up 17 points, adding five penalties and a conversion to the try scored by his brother Dan to claim the win.
Sharks took an early lead through an early du Preez penalty before Simon Hammersley saw yellow, allowing Wasps to edge in front thanks to Sione Vailanu’s try.
But the hosts responded with a try from Dan du Preez before his brother converted and added three more points to the total to give the hosts a narrow lead at half-time 13-10.
A superb solo effort from Zach Kibirige pulled Wasps to within a single point, before a couple more penalties from du Preez strengthened Sharks position.
Billy Searle responded for Wasps to keep them in touch, but two more efforts from the boot of AJ MacGinty, the second following a red card for Paolo Odogwu, made the result safe for Sale.
Northampton Saints’ one hundred per cent record in the Premiership was ended on Saturday at the Rec when Bath moved themselves of the bottom of the table with a 22-13 victory.
It was Saints who scored inside the opening minute when Rory Hutchinson profited from a James Grayson charge down. Bath responded with Will Chudley darting through a hole in the defence before a Rhys Priestland penalty gave them a narrow 10-8 lead at the break.
Aled Brew then picked up a red card for Bath, but the hosts added more points on the board through a try from Will Stuart, only for Tom Wood to cross for Saints.
Northampton’s indiscipline towards the later stages of the match proved costly with two men sent to the sin bin before Zach Mercer wrapped up victory with a try with ten minutes left.
Saracens ended a very difficult week for the club on a high with a 21-12 victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Sarries, who on Tuesday were handed a 35-point deduction and a fine of over five million pounds for salary cap breaches, opened the scoring through the boot of Manu Vunipola. Nick Tompkins extended Saracens advantage with a try in the 24th minute, but Gloucester quickly hit back with Tom Marshall showing some football skills to dink the ball over Alex Lewington before a couple more touches set him up to dive on the ball over the white line.
Vunipola slotted two more penalties, and with Ben Earle going over from a maul, Saracens looked well in control, only for Gloucester to hit back with Lewis Ludlow crossing with eight minutes to go, but the visitors held firm to register a vital victory in what has been a tough few days for the club.
Worcester Warriors staged a remarkable comeback to inflict defeat on Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday.
Quins raced into a 14-3 lead after only 13 minutes with tries from Alex Dombrandt and captain for the day James Chisholm.
A second Jono Lance penalty reduced the visitor’s arrears, with the Australian kicking three more valuable points on the stroke of half-time to reduce Harlequins lead to five points as the hosts lead 14-9 at the break.
In a tight second half Warriors retook the lead in the 67th minute when Jamie Shillcock went over in the corner with Lance adding the extras.
On the stroke of full time, Quins were penalised for going offside with Lance having the last word to secure a last gasp win for Worcester.
London Irish completed a comprehensive 36-11 victory over Leicester Tigers on Sunday at the Madejski Stadium.
Oli Hoskins crossed for the home side as early as the fifth minute. Irish then added a further two more tries before the break thanks to Ben Loader and Ruan Botha as the home side led 22-6 at the break.
Irish increased their lead after the break through a penalty try, despite Irish’s Matt Rogerson picking up a yellow card, Tom Parton crossed for the Exiles fifth of the afternoon. There was still time for Tigers to pick up a consolation try at the end of the match via Jonah Holmes, but in truth Leicester were well beaten by the final whistle.
Bristol Bears had to come from 17-0 down to record a 20-17 victory against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday.
Chiefs raced into a 17-0 lead by half-time with tries from Sam Simmonds and Nic White along with seven points from the boot of Joe Simmonds.
Bears looked a different side in the second period with Callum Sheedy kicking two early penalty kicks before Chiefs were reduced to fourteen men when White picked up a yellow card in the 61st minute. Bears profited on the one-man advantage when Piers O’Connor went over, with Sheedy adding the extras the visitors had reduced the deficit to just four points with 14 minutes to play.
With the clock on 80 minutes, Bristol’s Dan Thomas went over, with Sheedy converting it was Bristol who recorded a famous victory against the mighty Chiefs.
