Wasps shatter Northampton's unbeaten start

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Wasps ruined Northampton’s unbeaten start to the 2021-22 campaign with a tense 26-20 victory on Sunday.

Sam Matavesi’s try gave Northampton the lead before Zach Kibirige crossed over for Wasps.

Dan Biggar and Jacob Umaga traded penalties, then Umaga booted Wasps ahead for the first time in Coventry.

Dan Robson scored from Thomas Young’s pass to put Wasps in control, leading 20-10 in the second half.

Wasps survived a controversial incident moments later when replacement hooker Gabriel Oghre escaped with a yellow card for a high tackle on Alex Mitchell.

Northampton closed the gap through captain Lewis Ludlam’s try.

But Jimmy Gopperth took the game away from the visitors with two penalties.

Northampton’s losing bonus point left them in third place, while Wasps’ second win this season moved them up to fifth.

* Meanwhile George Ford kicked three late penalties as leaders Leicester survived a scare against London Irish to preserve their 100 percent record.

And Saracens marked their Premiership homecoming by battling back from 3-17 down to beat Newcastle.

All the Round Four scores and scorers

Wasps 26-20 Northampton Saints

Scorers

For Wasps
Tries: Kibirige, Robson
Cons: Umaga 2
Pens: Umaga 2, Gopperth 2

For Northampton Saints
Tries: Matavesi, Ludlam, Fish
Con: Biggar
Pen: Biggar

Exeter Chiefs 42-5 Worcester Warriors

Scorers

For Exeter Chiefs
Tries: Ewers, Simmonds 2, Cordero 2, Simmonds
Cons: Slade 5, Simmond

For Worcester Warriors
Try: Clegg

Gloucester 33-32 Sale

Scorers

For Gloucester
Tries: Morgan, Singleton, Rees-Zammit 2
Cons: Hastings 2
Pens: Hastings 2
DG: Hastings

For Sale
Tries: Quirke, Reed, du Preez, Warr, Taylor
Cons: Wilkinson, Curtis
Pen: Wilkinson

London Irish 16-21 Leicester Tigers

Scorers

For London Irish
Try: Creevy
Con: Jackson
Pens: Jackson 3

For Leicester Tigers
Tries: Dolly, Liebenberg
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 3

Saracens 37-23 Newcastle Falcons

Scorers

For Saracens
Tries: George, M Vunipola, B Vunipola, Penalty try
Cons: Farrell 3, penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Farrell 3

For Newcastle Falcons
Tries: Brown, Stevenson
Cons: Connon 2
Pens: Connon 3

Harlequins 52-24 Bristol

Scorers

For Harlequins
Tries: Lynagh 2, Esterhuizen, Northmore, Collier, Green, Smith, Dombrandt
Cons: Smith 6

For Bristol
Tries: Joyce, Purdy, Piutau
Cons: Sheedy 3
Pen: Sheedy