Gallagher Premiership Roundup- Saracens on the cusp of the play-offs

Another weekend of fascinating and riveting Gallagher Premiership action kicked off on Friday night when Northampton Saints faced Harlequins with Sale Sharks up against Newcastle Falcons.

A riveting game that ebbed and flowed at Franklin Gardens was eventually won by Saints by the narrowest of margins, a single point 32-31.

Both sides went into the game with plenty at stake. If Quins had won, they would have booked their play-off spot whilst Saints desperately needed the win to boost their chances of finishing in the top four.

Saints were indebted to James Grayson’s 50 meters kick at the end of a thrilling contest to claim the victory.

An absorbing first half saw six tries scored between the sides, with Northampton going into the break 26-17 up.

Quins hit back immediately when Alex Dombrandt and Cadan Murley went over to give Harlequins the lead for the first time in the match before Grayson’s long-range effort went over to claim the win.

Sale Sharks beat Newcastle Falcons 35-27 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night to keep their slim play-off hopes still alive.

A brace from Akker van der Merwe helped Sharks on their way as the hosts picked up a try bonus point. Newcastle led at half time by a slender margin of a point, before Sale sealed the win in the second half. Falcons did have the benefit of walking away with a try bonus point for their troubles.

On Saturday, Gloucester thrashed Bath at the Rec by 64-0.

The cherry and whites ran in ten tries in their biggest ever Premiership win against a Bath side who are really struggling this season.

Louis Rees-Zammit went over twice in a first half dominated by the hosts as they went into the break 24-0 up.

The hosts added a further six tries in the second half to run out comfortable winners and move up to fifth in the table.

Leaders Leicester Tigers secured a top-two finish after running out 56-26 winners against Bristol Bears at Welford Road.

Chris Ashton became the Premiership’s outright all-time top try scorer with a 20-minute hat trick which took his tally to 95 tries, eclipsing Tom Varndell’s 92 try haul.

The win guaranteed Tigers an important home win in the play-offs as the current leaders continued to set the pace at the top.

Max Malins four tries consolidated Saracens’ second place in the Premiership after a 38-16 victory against Worcester Warriors at Sixways on Saturday.

The bonus point win kept Saracens on the coattails of Leicester, four points of Tigers. Sarries now require just one more win from their final two games to guarantee a home semi-final in the play-offs.

On Sunday London Irish were up against Wasps at the BCS, in what turned out to be a try fest. No less than 11 tries were scored between both sides who also shared 84 points.

London Irish came from 25 points down to earn a record-breaking fifth Premiership draw of the season.

Trailing 39-14 with only 13 minutes to go, Irish looked down and out but somehow clawed their way back into the game to claim a share of the spoils.

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