Waldrom stars as Chiefs stun Saints
A Thomas Waldrom double capped a stunning Exeter Chiefs performance as they dispatched Premiership champions Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens.
The Chiefs went in at the break with a commanding 21-6 lead thanks to Waldrom's efforts and one from Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Saints showed their spirit after the break and Tom Stephenson and Jamie Elliott replied to make the closing stages a nervy affair but Exeter hung on to celebrate a memorable victory.
In the other game on Friday Harlequins claimed a first Premiership win at Kingsholm since 1999 as tries from Nick Easter, Luke Wallace and Charlie Walker saw them down a determined Gloucester.
It had all started so positively for Gloucester as returning England international Billy Twelvetrees scored four unanswered penalties early on but as the game wore on Harlequins' power upfront told.
Despite impressing with ball in hand; Twelvetrees – eager to impress England boss Stuart Lancaster – missed a hatful of kicks at goal after the break as Harlequins ground down their opposition.
All of Friday's scores and scorers:
Northampton Saints 24-18 Exeter Chiefs
The scorers:
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Stephenson, Elliott
Con: Myler
Pens: Myler 2
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Waldrom 2
Con: Steenson 3
Pen: Steenson
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 Tom Stephenson, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Tom Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Ben Nutley, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Mike Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Alex Woolford, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Joel Hodgson, 22 James Wilson, 23 Dom Waldouck.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Don Armand, 6 Ben White, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Dean Mumm (captain), 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Carl Rimmer.
Replacements: 16 Greg Batemen, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Moray Low, 19 Ryan Caldwell, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Haydn Thomas, 22 Ian Whitten, 23 Byron McGuigan.
Referee: Dean Richards
Assistant referees: Ross Campbell, Gordon Goodliffe
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Gloucester 15-22 Harlequins
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Pens: Twelvetrees 4, Thomas
For Harlequins:
Tries: Easter, Wallace, Walker
Cons: Evans 2
Pen: Evans
Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Meakes, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Billy Twelvetrees (captain), 9 Dan Robson, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Tom Savage, 5 James Hudson, 4 Tom Palmer, 3 John Afoa, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 James Gibbons, 18 Yann Thomas, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Dan Thomas.
Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 George Lowe, 11 Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Nick Easter (captain), 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Joe Trayfoot, 5 George Robson, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Will Collier, 19 Sam Twomey, 20 Jack Clifford, 21 Jordan Burns, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Tom Casson.
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Paul Dix
TMO: Keith Lewis
