Fourteen-man Leicester extend lead at the top
PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Leicester Tigers extended their unbeaten record in the Premiership this season as the leaders snatched a thrilling 28-26 victory at Bristol Bears on Sunday.
Guy Porter’s dramatic try four minutes into stoppage-time gave Leicester a 10th successive win.
Bristol were the last team to defeat Leicester in a Premiership game, claiming an away success almost seven months ago.
They nearly repeated that feat through tries from Fitz Harding and Ioan Lloyd, while Callum Sheedy kicked 16 points.
Porter, Nemani Nadolo and Julian Montoya touched down for Leicester, with George Ford adding three penalties and two conversions.
Second-placed Saracens swept to a 61-29 win over Worcester Warriors at the StoneX Stadium to cut the gap at the top of the Premiership table to five points.
They showed no signs of rustiness after almost three weeks without a game as they crossed nine times in total.
Alex Lewington and Billy Vunipola scored two tries each and further scores from Nick Tompkins, Alex Goode, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl and Max Malins sealed a hugely comprehensive win.
The visitors did score three late tries to secure a bonus point of their own as Francois Venter, Gareth Simpson and Ashley Beck crossed after the break, adding to Joe Batley’s try in the first half.
Dan Frost scored two tries as Wasps earned a much-needed 38-30 over in-form London Irish.
It ended a run of six straight defeats in all competitions for the injury-hit home side, as they moved up to eighth in the table.
This was the Exiles’ first defeat in seven games despite Agustin Creevy scoring two of their five tries.
Winless Bath were beaten 40-20 by West Country rivals Gloucester.
The scores and scorers:
Wasps 38-30 London Irish
The scorers:
For Wasps:
Tries: Frost 2, Crossdale, Barbeary
Cons: Gopperth 3
Pens: Gopperth 4
For London Irish
Tries: Creevy 2, Hassell-Collins, McElroy, White
Con: Jackson
Pen: Jackson’
Saracens 40-29 Worcester Warriors
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Lewington 2, B Vunipola 2, Goode, Tompkins, Isiekwe, Earl, Malins
Cons: Lozowski 8
For Worcester Warriors:
Tries: Batley, Venter 2, Smith, Beck
Cons: Smith 2
Bristol Bears 26-28 Leicester Tigers
The scorers:
For Bristol Bears
Tries: Harding, Lloyd
Cons: Sheedy 2
Pens: Sheedy 4
For Leicester
Tries: Nadolo, Montoya, Porter
Cons: Ford 2
Pens: Ford 3
Bath 20-40 Gloucester
The scorers:
For Bath:
Tries: Spencer, Fox
Cons: Bailey 2
Pens: Bailey 2
For Gloucester
Tries: Penalty, Harris 2, Singleton, Balmain, Moyle
Cons: Hastings 5
Source: AFP & Rugby365com
