Farrell boot keeps Sarries at the top

* In other Saturday action Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Kyle Eastmond wrapped up the bonus-point victory for Bath early in the second half as 14-man London Irish remained winless in Premiership.

* Alex Grove's double helped Worcester Warriors seal their second Premiership victory of the season thanks to a 28-20 home win against Newcastle Falcons.

We look at Saturday's action!

London Irish 14-45 Bath

Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Kyle Eastmond wrapped up the bonus-point victory for Bath early in the second half as 14-man London Irish remained winless in Premiership.

Leroy Houston crossed for Bath in the 15th minute and the Exiles' game was always going to be a tough one after scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin was shown a red card soon after.

Devoto – sin-binned along with Fa'osiliva in the first half – touched down Bath's second try almost immediately, though Scott Steele's try gave the hosts momentary hope.

However, Bath raced out of the traps after the break, Fa'osiliva and Eastmond touching down within minutes of each other.

The hosts crashed over a consolation through Fergus Mulchrone but Rhys Priestland and Nikola Matawalu scored their first Bath tries to make the victory even more resounding.

Priestland handed his side the lead with a sixth minute penalty before his opposite number Shane Geraghty missed the opportunity to level things up shortly after.

But it took the visitors just 15 minutes to register their first try as Houston bundled the ball over from a maul two metres out from the whitewash.

The momentum appeared to swing Irish's way in the 20th minute when Bath flanker Fa'osiliva was yellow carded for a late tackle and the Exiles were awarded a penalty try.

However, replays showed that in the build-up, McKibbin had stamped on Henry Thomas – for which referee Tom Foley brandished a red card and the penalty try was chalked off.

Bath seized the opportunity almost immediately after as Devoto crossed for the second try of the match, converted by Priestland.

But with both sides still down to 14 men – Fa'osiliva was still in the bin – replacement Steele immediately within five minutes of his arrival. Geraghty converted to cut the deficit down to ten points.

Priestland was then off-target with a penalty for the visitors, and Devoto was sin-binned seven minutes before the break for a late shoulder charge on Geraghty.

Fa'osiliva's effort came after a well-worked passage of play put him in place to score from five metres out, before Semesa Rokoduguni burst down the right wing to neatly offload to Eastmond. Priestland kicked both conversions.

Mulchrone barreled over courtesy of a maul close to Bath's try-line and after a lull in play Priestland reignited proceedings ten minutes from full-time with his try after a strong diagonal run.

With George Ford now on the pitch, kicking duties were restored to the England fly-half and he did not miss the conversion.

There was a further try when Asaeli Tikoirotuma failed to deal with Rokoduguni's chipped kick and Matawalu finished things off, before Ford scored the final two points.

For London Irish:

Tries: Steele, Mulchrone

Cons: Geraghty 2

For Bath:

Tries: Houston, Devoto, Fa'osiliva, Eastmond, Priestland, Matawalu

Cons: Priestland 2, Homer 2, Ford 2

Pen: Priestland

Yellow cards: Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Bath, 18), Ollie Devoto (Bath, 33),

Red card: Brendan McKibbin (London Irish, 20)

Teams:

London Irish: 15 Topsy Ojo, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Tom Fowlie, 12 Fergus Mulchrone, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 David Sisi, 6 Tom Guest, 5 Matt Symons, 4 George Skivington (captain), 3 Leo Halavatau, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Smallbone.

Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Tom Court, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Chris Noakes, 23 Dom Waldouck.

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dom Day, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Nick Auterac.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Tom Ellis, 20 Max Northcote-Green, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 George Ford, 23 Jeff Williams.

Referee: Tom Foley

Assistant referees: Wayne Falla & Nigel Carrick

TMO: Rowan Kitt.

Worcester Warriors 28-20 Newcastle Falcons

Alex Grove's double helped Worcester Warriors seal their second Premiership victory of the season thanks to a 28-20 home win against Newcastle Falcons.

Without a victory since their opening-day triumph over Northampton Saints, the Warriors had already wrapped up their try bonus-point before the break following a frenetic and entertaining first 40 minutes.

Tries for Chris Pennell, debutant Bryce Heem and the recalled Grove had them 28-17 up, although the Falcons also played their part in the entertainment with Micky Young and Tom Catterick crossing to keep the visitors in touch.

Falcons improved after the break with Catterick notching an early penalty but they were not able to close the gap any further as their search for their first Premiership win of the season goes on.

The Warriors were forced into a late change pre-match with captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze ruled out, Phil Dowson moving to number eight and Matt Cox coming at flanker.

But it didn't seem to deter the hosts as they got the first try on the board after just five minutes through Pennell.

Heem broke through an initial tackle before eventually being brought down five metres short of the line, but a long pass from Jonny Arr freed up Pennell to go over on the right, before Tom Heathcote added the extras.

Falcons looked to respond when they were awarded a penalty on eight minutes following an infringement at the breakdown but Mike Delany's kick came back off the post.

But Delany got a chance to go for the posts on 13 minutes, this time for a conversion after Falcons' Young touched down.

Ally Hogg was in the instigator with a quick break before offloading to the supporting Young to cross and set Newcastle on the way to levelling the match.

Newcastle were on the receiving end of the biggest ever Premiership home defeat last weekend to Exeter Chiefs.

And they were to concede a second try of the match on 20 minutes when a cross-kick from Heathcote was flicked on by Pennell to Heem who raced through much to the delight of the home fans.

Heathcote's conversion made it 14-7 as the game continued at pace with both sets of players not afraid to go on the attack.

But when Newcastle lost the ball at the breakdown just short of the half hour mark, the Warriors pounced again with Heathcote playing in Grove to add a third try – the former successful with his conversion for 21-7.

The visitors pulled a penalty back through Delany from 30 metres out after Worcester were penalised from collapsing the scrum.

But the Warriors wrapped up the try bonus point three minutes before the break as they broke with pace into Newcastle's 22 and Grove was the man went over on the right, with Heathcote converting.

There was still time for a sixth try of the first 40 minutes, when the Falcons replied with their own attack full of pace.

Juan Pablo Socino started the move, before a Delany show and go eventually resulted in Tom Catterick going over and Delany's conversion left the score at 28-17 at half-time.

It was the Falcons who came out the stronger after the break with Socino and Delany looking to make the early gains.

The visitors were rewarded with a penalty on 49 minutes and Catterick, taking on kicking duties while Delany received treatment, reduced the deficit to just eight points.

After the high-paced first half, the second 40 was a much tighter affair but Newcastle continued to try and apply the pressure.

However errors were starting to creep in from both sides and when Heem stole possession and kicked in behind, Worcester were suddenly on the attack and just metres away from Newcastle's line.

But replacement Ben Howard could not make it to the line as the Falcons' defence held out.

A late penalty for Ryan Lamb then went wide of the posts for Worcester, while Newcastle's Tom Penny was just unable to find Alesana Tuilagi but the hosts held firm to emerge victorious.

The scorers:

For Worcester Warriors:

Tries: Pennell, Heem, Grove 2

Cons: Heathcote 4

For Newcastle Falcons:

Tries: Young, Catterick

Cons: Delany 2

Pens: Delany, Catterick

Teams:

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze (captain), 7 Marco Mama, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.

Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 18 Joe Rees, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Ben Howard.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Giamba Venditti, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Michael Young, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Will Welch, 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers.

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Eric Fry, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Sean Robinson, 20 Todd Clever, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Tom Penny.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Peter Huckle & Paul Dix

TMO: Stuart Terheege

Northampton Saints 6-12 Saracens

Owen Farrell's boot guided Saracens to a gritty victory over Northampton Saints as the champions preserved their winning start to the Premiership season.

Farrell, who kicked 19 points in that semifinal, held his nerve from the tee throughout while penalties from Stephen Myler and JJ Hanrahan salvaged a point for Northampton.

Defeat leaves the Saints with just one win through four rounds of Aviva Premiership action, while Sarries sit pretty at the top of the pile with 17 points to their name.

Myler kicked the game's first points on three minutes, after Saracens skipper Al Hargreaves was offside at the ruck, as the 2014 Premiership finalists wrestled for the early advantage.

The Northampton pack enjoyed the better of those exchanges but there appeared to be no way through a Saracens defence that began the weekend having conceded just 32 points, the fewest in the competition through three rounds.

By the half-hour mark, the Saints had made just 23 metres made with ball in hand – compared to more than 100 from their visitors – as indiscipline and tactical kicking dominated proceedings.

Farrell at last got his side on the board five minutes before the break, levelling things up from the tee after the fly-half was tackled late by England teammate Tom Wood.

Myler sent a penalty wide of the target three minutes later, while Farrell slotted one from just inside the Northampton half – after the hosts were pinged at the breakdown – to send Sarries into the break 6-3 ahead.

Farrell drew first blood in the second half, slotting a straightforward scrum penalty between the uprights, before Schalk Brits – on his 150th Saracens appearance – and George North – playing his first game for Saints since March – each sought to inject some life into the contest with ball in hand.

The hosts began to probe in search of an opening try and Myler's accurate kick to the corner after 59 minutes increased the pressure, Alex Goode eventually clearing his lines from on Saracens' dead ball line.

But Sarries had significantly improved their discipline after the break, not only holding their hosts at bay but also ensuring Myler – or his replacement on the hour mark, Hanrahan – would have no sight of goal.

The same could not be said for Northampton, who infringed at the maul deep in their own half, allowing Farrell to make it 12-3 with 11 minutes left to play.

Chris Wyles knocked on when a switch with Charlie Hodgson had presented him with an opportunity to kill the game off and Hanrahan capitalised from the tee with the final kick of the game to earn the home side a losing bonus point.

The scorers:

For Northampton Saints:

Pens: Myler, Hanrahan

For Saracens:

Pens: Farrell 4

Teams:

Northampton Saints:  15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliot, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Sam Dickson, 7 Tom Wood (captain), 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 James Craig, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Waller.

Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ahsee Tuala.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Maro Itoje, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 George Kruis, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: Peter Allan & Andy Watson

TMO: Trevor Fisher

Exeter Chiefs 19-6 Leicester Tigers

Gareth Steenson scored all 19 points as Exeter Chiefs produced a dogged Premiership display to see off Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.

The Chiefs led 13-3 at the break as Steenson crossed the whitewash after five minutes before adding the conversion and two penalties.

Leicester did look dangerous in periods and two penalties from Owen Williams kept them in touch heading into the closing stages.

But a yellow card for Riccardo Brugnara was the final nail in their coffin and the Chiefs saw out the win thanks to the boot of Steenson.

The hosts got to work early and were on the board after five minutes as two mauls drove them close to the line before Steenson picked up the ball and crashed across before adding the extras himself.

But the early score wasn't a sign of things to come and the Sandy Park faithful had to wait for their side to extend their lead.

It looked like the Tigers had pulled a score back after 33 minutes but the TMO adjudged there to be a knock-on after Adam Thompstone had showed great pace to drive over.

Steenson then extended the Chiefs' lead to 10-0 when a deliberate knock-on from Tigers brought about a kickable penalty.

The visitors finally got some points on the board with two minutes remaining in the first half as Williams turned over a penalty, but Steenson added another three two minutes into additional time to make the score 13-3 at the break.

The second half started at a blistering pace and the Tigers looked like they were building some momentum.

While both sides came out with intent the scores weren't forthcoming – though the Tigers were pushing hard for a way back into the match.

The visitors were looking good on the ball and would have been within touching distance if their final passes found the mark.

On 62 minutes the Tigers chipped into the Chiefs' lead and reduced the deficit to seven as Williams turned over another penalty from a central position.

Exeter had the chance to restore the ten-point gap with 15 minutes left to play but Henry Slade's kick from the tee went agonisingly wide of the uprights.

With an hour gone Leicester had enjoyed 75% second-half possession and were forcing the Chiefs into some dogged defending.

It hadn't been vintage rugby from the hosts after the break but in the 70th minute they suddenly burst to life as they worked the ball from left to right and then back again to bring the try line into sight.

With seven minutes left, Sandy Park erupted as the referee awarded the hosts a penalty in front of the posts and Steenson gave his side some room to breathe.

The Chiefs thought they had put the match beyond doubt as Jack Nowell dotted down but a yellow card for Brugnara brought play back and the hosts had to settle for another three from the boot of Steenson.

The scorers:

For Exeter Chiefs:

Try: Steenson

Con: Steenson

Pens: Steenson 4

For Leicester Tigers:

Pens: Williams 2

Yellow card: Riccardo Brugnara (Leicester Tigers, 75)

Teams:

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain),  9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Matt Jess.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lachlan McCaffrey, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Fraser Balmain.

Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Riccardo Brugnara, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Mike Fitzgerald, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Peter Betham, 23 Mathew Tait.

Referee: Greg Garner

Assistant referees: Paul Burton & Ross Campbell

TMO: Geoff Warren

Source: @premrugby