Chiefs, Saracens the teams to catch
PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Exeter Chiefs and Saracens retained their 100 percent starts to the season.
Exeter, Bath and Saracens secured bonus-point wins on Saturday, while Newcastle battled hard to down Worcester on the road.
We look at all the Saturday matches!
Exeter Chiefs 35-18 Sale Sharks
Alex Cuthbert got his first try for Exeter Chiefs as they fought hard to conquer Sale Sharks at Sandy Park and go top of the Premiership table.
Santiago Cordero, Jonny Hill, Jack Maunder and Tom Lawday made sure Exeter gained a bonus-point win, but Sale refused to lie down.
Scores from Marland Yarde and Bryn Evans made sure Chiefs had to dig deep for the victory, but ultimately last year’s finalists proved too strong for the visitors.
Chiefs battled hard to earn their third victory, the first time the Devon club has been triumphant in their opening three matches of a top-flight campaign.
AJ MacGinty got Sale on the board first, but it was the hosts who dotted down the opening try after Joe Simmonds broke through and unleashed to Cordero, who got his second in two weeks.
Sharks responded as MacGinty hit another penalty after Ollie Atkins was penalised for a high tackle on Byron McGuigan, before the fly-half chipped through for Yarde to latch on and find a way over in the corner to score his ninth try in ten Premiership games.
But Exeter hit back with Hill smashing his way over from a metre out after a patient build-up, pick and drive, with Simmonds converting.
The hosts got another as Maunder finished off a slick move after Henry Slade glided around the Sale defence and unselfishly popped inside.
The fluidity broke down when an Exeter maul from a line-out resulted in a brawl, for which Hill and Sale captain Jono Ross were sent to the bin.
Sale refused to let the game slip and cut the gap to three points as Paolo Odogwu broke through a Cuthbert tackle and the ball made its way to Evans to touch down, but MacGinty couldn’t add the extras.
Cuthbert instantly made amends by standing Odogwu up in the left corner and diving over to give the hosts the bonus point with 15 minutes left to play.
Sale pushed for the losing bonus point at Sandy Park but it wasn’t to be as Chiefs closed them out late on.
Then Lawday sealed the game from close range with a fifth try for the hosts as they worked the ball well round the corner, before Steenson added the extras.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Cordero, Hill, Maunder, Cuthbert, Lawday
Cons: Simmonds 3, Steenson 2
For Sale:
Tries: Yarde, Evans
Con: MacGinty
Pens: MacGinty 2
Teams:
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Don Armand (captain), 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Toby Salmon, 20 Sean Lonsdale, 21 Sam Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Alex Cuthbert.
Sale Sharks: 15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Cameron Neild, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Alexandru Tarus, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Josh Strauss, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Luke James, 23 Paolo Odogwu.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Philip Watters
TMO: Stuart Terheege
🏉- Read @mstevo1976 report of @ExeterChiefs defeating @SaleSharksRugby in Rd 3 of @premrugby at @SandyParkExeter ⬇️https://t.co/MOUaxcbIUg pic.twitter.com/d7ZbsLiv0h
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) September 15, 2018
Harlequins 32-37 Bath
Joe Cokanasiga produced a monstrous display as Bath Rugby secured their first win of the Premiership season with a fine win at Harlequins.
The winger, who joined from London Irish in the summer, scored a try in each half with the first a jaw-dropping finish tight in the corner.
Zach Mercer also got a brace, Jamie Roberts scored against his former club, while Danny Care, Joe Marchant, Joe Marler and Charlie Mulchrone scored tries for Harlequins.
Bath took the lead early in the first half when Cokanasiga escaped down the left after a fortuitous bounce came his way and he handed off for Roberts to dot down against his former club.
The response from Harlequins was swift. Marcus Smith nailed a penalty before Marchant’s pass was juggled by Care near the try-line and he produced a full-body dive to get the ball down.
When Marchant put Quins further ahead it looked like being another frustrating day for Bath but that soon changed when Zach Mercer bulldozed his way over the line.
Burns converted a penalty and slipped over the first drop goal of the season to put the visitors ahead before Cokanasiga came to the party.
Bath moved the ball out left but Harlequins looked to have the ball covered when it landed at Cokanasiga hugging the left touchline.
However, he threw the ball up to avoid the full tackle of Luke Wallace, catching it spectacularly with one hand to get it down in the nick of time.
The big winger almost repeated the fete seconds later but his foot was deemed in touch. However, Harlequins’ reprieve did not last long as Burns supplied the winger with the perfect pass after the break and he strolled in with ease.
Chris Cook thought he added another for Bath deep inside the second half when he scampered clear to touch down but the referee spotted an infringement earlier in the move and promptly ruled it out.
Harlequins hit back late on through Marler and Mulchrone to set up a tantalising final few seconds but bath held on to win.
The scorers:
For Harlequins:
Tries: Care, Marchant, Marler, Mulchrone
Cons: Smith, Lang 2
Pens: Smith 2
For Bath:
Tries: Roberts, Mercer 2, Cokanasiga 2
Cons: Burns 2, Priestland
Pen: Burns
DG: Burns
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Aaron Morris, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 James Chisholm, 7 Chris Robshaw (captain), 6 Luke Wallace, 5 Dino Lamb, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Will Collier, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Stan South, 20 Renaldo Bothma, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 James Lang, 23 Paul Lasike.
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Max Green, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Ellis, 5 Luke Charteris (captain), 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Aled Brew.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Roy Maybank, Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: David Rose
🗣 “They came with a game plan to get stuck into us and unfortunately they managed to do that.”
📽 @dannycare following today’s defeat to Bath Rugby #COYQ #HARvBAT pic.twitter.com/aFsosmw1xS
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) September 15, 2018
Northampton Saints 27-38 Saracens
David Strettle scored two late tries including his 50th in Premiership as Saracens came from behind to beat Northampton Saints 38-27 at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints had looked on course for a second successive home win when Dan Biggar slotted a penalty ten minutes from time but Strettle then popped up to score twice in the space of three minutes and earn the win for the champions.
Northampton had made the better start thanks to a try from Piers Francis, while Jamie George was in the bin, with Biggar helping them to a 10-0 lead.
Alex Lewington crossed twice in the first half to leave it at 10-10 at the break, and Saracens looked on course for a comfortable win when Ben Spencer went over early in the second half and added a further penalty.
However, after conceding 20 unanswered points, Saints responded with a second try in as many weeks from Dylan Hartley. That came shortly after Billy Vunipola had been sin-binned, with the Saints pack taking advantage to get on top.
Alex Goode knocked over a penalty to make it 23-17 but then Ben Franks crossed to put Saints back ahead thanks to Biggar’s conversion.
Goode and Biggar then exchanged penalties to leave Saints up by one heading into the final ten minutes, which is when Strettle struck to score twice and seal a five-point success, with Saints left to wonder at what might have been.
The scorers:
For the Saints:
Tries: Francis, Hartley, Franks
Cons: Biggar 3
Pens: Biggar 2
For Saracens:
Tries: Lewington 2, Spencer, Strettle 2
Cons: Spencer, Goode
Pens: Spencer, Goode 2
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tom Collins, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Heinrich Brüssow, 6 James Haskell, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Francois Van Wyk, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Andrew Symons, 23 Harry Mallinder.
Saracens: 15 Liam Williams, 14 David Strettle, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Mike Rhodes, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Sean Maitland.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley, Peter Allan
TMO: Keith Lewis
What a win!! ⚫️🔴 pic.twitter.com/KSncOgT3wi
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) September 15, 2018
Worcester Warriors 20-23 Newcastle Falcons
Toby Flood held his nerve from the kicking tee as Newcastle Falcons claimed their first win of the Premiership season and condemned Worcester Warriors to their third loss on the spin.
Flood’s late penalty separated the sides as the former England fly-half ended up with an individual 13-point haul.
The Falcons came storming out of the blocks at Sixways and Sonatane Takulua crossed for their first try when he got on the shoulder of the charging Sami Mavinga for a fine score.
And they had a second not long after, Flood the creator with a clever inside pass to Sinoti Sinoti who burst through a small hole to dot down.
The Warriors and Sixways were stunned but Duncan Weir did get them on the board with a penalty at the midway point of the first half.
And it was the home side who finished the half on top as first George McGuigan and then Johnny Williams saw yellow for Dean Richards’ Falcons.
Williams’ infringement was a double whammy for the Falcons as his deliberate knock-on also led to a penalty try and it was only 14-10 to the visitors at the break.
But the 13-men of Newcastle held firm at the start of the second half and Flood actually stretched their lead with a penalty to make it 17-10.
Back came the Warriors, Weir getting on the end of Ryan Mills’ clever kick to dot down and with the conversion added as well, the scores were level.
However, Flood put the Falcons back in front with a penalty for a high shot before Chris Pennell hit back with a long-range effort of his own with ten minutes remaining.
But Flood held his nerve from in front when the Warriors went offside and despite the hosts turning down a kickable penalty late to ramp up the pressure, the Falcons head back home with their first win of the season safely secured.
The scorers:
For Worcester:
Tries: Penalty try, Weir
Con: Weir
Pens: Weir, Pennell
For Newcastle:
Tries: Takulua, Sinoti
Cons: Flood 2
Pens: Flood 3
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryan Mill, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 GJ van Velze (captain), 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Marco Mama, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Pierce Phillips, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Anton Bresler, 20 Alafoti Fa’osiliva, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Ashley Beck.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Will Welch (captain), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Will Witty, 4 Calum Green, 3 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Sami Mavinga.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Jack Payne, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Gary Graham, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Tom Penny.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Steve Lee
TMO: Trevor Fisher
No shortage of physicality today pic.twitter.com/md7cGMNVSk
— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) September 15, 2018
Source: @premrugby
