Saracens pummel Sharks

The London side were dominant from the start with Sharks unable to get a foothold in the game. Saracens move to the top of the standings with their points differential.

In Saturday's other game, George Ford's boot helped Bath edge the Exeter Chiefs 19-17 at the Recreation Ground.

We look at all Saturday's matches!

Saracens 41-3 Sale Sharks

Mike Ellery surged into the spotlight at Allianz Park after the winger's try-double helped Saracens get their Premiership Rugby defence off to a flying start.

Following David Strettle's departure over the summer there is a clear space for a Sarries man to stake their claim for further first-team action on the wing – and former England Sevens international Ellery did just that.

He touched down in either half after debutant Michael Rhodes got things pointed in the right direction for Mark McCall's men with a fourth-minute try.

Outside centre Tim Streather also crossed before Ellery came alive, but the win also owes much to Charlie Hodgson – the former England flyhalf opened up a number of holes and kicked 14 points from the tee.

And the fit-again Will Fraser added the gloss late on with Saracens' fifth try after another surge from the pack.

Sale Sharks did stem the tide somewhat in the second half, but only had one Danny Cipriani penalty before the break to show for their efforts.

Saracens may be the defending champions but their last outing at Allianz Park in Aviva Premiership Rugby ended in a loss to Exeter Chiefs.

But they certainly wouldn't be caught cold from the off here, as Sale lost a line-out and Saracens charged forward through Jamie George and Chris Ashton.

There was just four minutes on the clock when new lock Rhodes, who had been drafted in from the Stormers over the summer, touched down off the back of an inexorable rolling maul.

Hodgson added the extras and Saracens remained on the ascendancy, with Sharks fullback Mike Haley needing to be on his toes to sniff out the danger of a Duncan Taylor grubber kick.

After that initial 15-minute flurry, Sale wrestled back some of the momentum before Hodgson and Cipriani traded penalties after two infringements at the ruck.

However, Sarries are nothing if not clinical and the power of their pack forced the ball deep into the red zone once more – Streather reaping the rewards after wrestling out of a Will Addison tackle and crossing over.

Hodgson's conversion extended the hosts' lead out to 17 points with more than a half an hour gone and it was already looking a long way back for Sale.

The Sharks nearly countered immediately after a lightning break from deep in their own half but new signing Bryn Evans fumbled at the crucial moment.

And Sarries put yet more points on the board in the final attack before half-time, Hodgson and Alex Goode combining to superb effect before Ellery dived over. Hodgson promptly made it five successful kicks from five.

To their credit Sale emerged from the break fired up though when Cipriani kicked to the corner after they won a penalty, Saracens stole the five-metre line-out.

Sale's new prop, South Africa international Brian Mujati, then showed a surprising turn of pace in launching a counter-attack but inaccuracies continued to cost the visitors dearly – leading to another Saracens penalty.

With 20 minutes left to play the only matter to resolve was the try-bonus point and after a reverse pass from replacement scrumhalf Ben Spencer, Ellery stormed over for his second try of the day.

Another new signing in hooker Dave Porecki also made a late surge to the delight of Allianz Park but the biggest roar was saved for Fraser – who crossed on his comeback game following a back injury.

The back-rower, who came on as a replacement, benefited after some more brilliant work from Sarries' pack to cross with six minutes left on the clock.

The scorers:

For Saracens:

Tries: Rhodes, Streather, Ellery 2, Fraser

Cons: Hodgson 4, Goode

Pens: Hodgson 2

For Sale Sharks:

Pen: Cipriani

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Tim Streather, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Mike Ellery, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Gill.

Replacements: 16 Dave Porecki, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 George Kruis, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 Ben Ransom.

Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Will Addison, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Mark Easter, 7 David Seymour, 6 Dan Braid, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.

Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 James Flynn, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Magnus Lund, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Nick MacLeod, 23 Mark Jennings.

Referee: Dean Richards 

Assistant referees: Andy Watson, Nigel Carrick

TMO: David Sainsbury

Bath 19-17 Exeter Chiefs

George Ford shook off his Rugby World Cup frustrations to slot straight back into the Bath side and kick them to an opening-weekend victory over Exeter Chiefs.

These sides met twice in pre-season with Exeter coming out on top on both occasions and they made a flying start to proceedings as debutant James Short crossed over in the second minute.

Bath – whose last Premiership outing was defeat to Saracens in last season's final – responded with a try from skipper Stuart Hooper, leaving the match finely-balanced at half-time.

The second half proved to be a battle of the kickers as Gareth Steenson and Ford – part of the England squad that exited the World Cup at the pool stage last weekend – traded blows and it was the latter who struck the decisive penalty late on.

With the hosts pressing deep inside Chiefs territory early on, Tom Homer's knock-on prompted a swift counter-attack and Short skipped past Ford to race clear and score, though Gareth Steenson missed the extras.

Ford hit back from the tee after Bath earned a scrum penalty but Steenson soon made amends for his missed conversion with a penalty of his own – this time to hosts pinged at scrum time – by sneaking the ball inside the upright.

On balance, Bath's scrum enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, while Homer shook off his early indiscretion with a lively display.

The hosts were well-contained, however, and Exeter came close to a second try after half an hour, only for Bath to hold Luke Cowan-Dickie up on the line and successfully turn over the resulting scrum.

They struck four minutes before the break when Anthony Watson found some space on the left wing and fed second row Hooper – of all people – on his right shoulder to streak clear unchallenged, Ford converting put the home side ahead for the first time.

But Exeter were ahead after at half-time after Matt Banahan was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on and Steenson tapped over from right in front of the posts.

Ford struck his second penalty between the uprights seven minutes into the half, before Sam Burgess and new signing Niko Matawalu – both fresh from their World Cup exploits – were introduced.

The Chiefs called on an England international of their own in Henry Slade but when they were awarded a penalty, Steenson kept hold of the kicking duties, putting them ahead once more.

The lead changed hands again – Ford making it 16-14 after Cowan-Dickie was caught with hands in the ruck – before Slade tried his hand at a long-range effort, which fell short.

Exeter took the initiative in the hunt for a decisive try and after replacement hooker – and club captain – Jack Yeandle was stopped just short, Slade knocked on when stretching for the line.

This got harder for Bath when Burgess was handed a ten-minute spell in the bin for an infringement bang in front of the posts and Steenson happily accepted the three points.

Bath enjoyed the better of the next ten minutes, despite the numerical disadvantage, and went ahead with just two minutes to go courtesy of a fourth Ford penalty.

The Chiefs were not about to throw in the towel and when they went up the other end with the clock in the red, Steenson fed Slade on the Bath 22 – but his drop-goal was deflected away to safety.

The scorers:

For Bath:

Try: Hooper

Con: Ford

Pens: Ford 4

For Exeter Chiefs:

Try: Short

Pens: Steenson 4

Teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 6  Matt Garvey, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3  Henry Thomas, 2  Ross Batty, 1 Nick Auterac.

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 David Wilson, 19 Sam Burgess, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Nikola Matawalu, 22 Max Clark, 23 Jeff Williams.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Alex Brown, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1  Ben Moon.

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Julian Salvi, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Olly Woodburn.

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth 

Assistant referees: Ross Campbell, Gareth Copsey

TMO: Rowan Kitt