Gallagher Premiership Roundup- Saracens clinch home semi-final. Harlequins book a top four finish

The penultimate round of Gallagher Premiership matches saw yet more drama with Harlequins cementing their place in the final four and Saracens claiming a home semi-final.

At Twickenham in front of over 47,000 fans, Harlequins staged yet another one of their famous comebacks with a 28-24 victory over Gloucester.

Billed as Summer big kick off, it was the Cherry and Whites who dominated the opening fourty minutes by going into the break with a 24-7 lead.

Harlequins looked a different side after the break and showed their mark as true champions by hitting back to keep Gloucester pointless in the second half and running in tries from Joe Marchant who picked up a brace along with one from Alex Dombrandt.

The victory meant that Harlequins will finish the regular season in third place and will play the second place side which will be either Saracens or Leicester Tigers.

For Gloucester, they will have to wait a week when they face Saracens, with their chance of finishing fourth hanging on a thread.

Saracens secured a home semi-final with a 42-38 win over Northampton Saints at StoneX Stadium on Saturday.

In a tight opening period, Northampton held a slender one point advantage. Saracens raced into a 28-10 lead in the second half through tries from Nick Tompkins, Alex Lewington and Theo McFarland. There was still time for Sarries to run in two further tries with McFarland dotting down again and Alex Goode going over before Saints hit back with a brace of tries from Tom James, Rory Hutchinson and Matt Proctor earned Saints two crucial bonus points.

Leicester Tigers are closing in on a top spot finish for the first time since 2011 after a 27-5 victory at Newcastle.

Tries from Nemani Nadolo, Guy Porter and Freddie Steward sealed yet another win for the side top of the pile. The result means that Leicester hold a three point lead over Saracens with one game left to play against Wasps at home.

Bath moved off the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership table after a 27-24 win over London Irish.

The exiles led 17-14 at the interval with Augustin Creevy crossing twice before Orlando Bailey’s penalty kick and a try from Will Muir tied the game. It was down to Bailey’s late penalty kick to win it for Bath.

Exeter Chiefs hopes of securing a top four finish are all but over after suffering a 40-33 loss to Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.

The defeat means it will almost certainly be the first time Chiefs haven’t made the semi-finals since 2015.

There was nothing to split the sides at the break with the score 14-14. But tries from Toby Fricker and Luke Morahan put Bristol ahead before Dave Ewers late consolation try for Exeter.

Akker van der Merwe’s try and the boot of Robert du Preez gave Sale a 16-7 victory over Wasps to keep alive their slim chance of a Premiership play-off place.

Hooker van der Merwe crashed over in the second half to give Sale a lead they held on to  ensure a Champions Cup place next season.

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