Aviva Premiership Round Up: Exeter Cheifs Lead The Way

Aviva Premiership Round Up: Exeter Cheifs Lead The Way
12:11, 18 Sep 2017

After three rounds of the embryonic Aviva Premiership season, it is no surprise to see Exeter Chiefs sitting proudly atop of the table.

Rob Baxter’s men, who beat Wasps in a dramatic Premiership final at Twickenham in May to claim their first top-flight title, have responded in style to their opening-day defeat at Gloucester.

They stuffed London Irish and on Friday they thumped Worcester Warriors 41-10 at Sixways, further underlining the strength and depth of their squad.

Sam Simmonds (two) Jack Nowell, Jonny Hill and Olly Woodburn scored for the Devon club as they registered an 11th straight win against Worcester.

The rock-bottom Warriors have yet to collect a single point this season and look set for a long hard winter.

Wasps, meanwhile, lie second despite a stormy 24-21 home defeat at the hands of Harlequins on Sunday.

Christian Wade scored to put the hosts ahead but James Haskell was yellow-carded after an altercation with Joe Marler.

Quins edged in front with the extra man when Mike Brown fed Marland Yarde for a try but Wasps led 13-11 at the break.

Charlie Walker went over for Quins, Tom Cruse replied and with the score 21-21 Marcus Smith scored a winning penalty.

It was the first time Dai Young's side, who also had Danny Cipriani sinbinned, have failed to win at the Ricoh Arena in the Premiership since December 2015, when they were beaten by Saracens.

For John Kingston's visitors it was a first away Premiership triumph since they won at Gloucester in March.

Relief was the overriding emotion for Leicester Tigers on Saturday as they won for the first time this season, beating Gloucester 24-10 at Welford Road.

The Tigers surged into a 21-0 half-time lead, with Ben Youngs' early brace, Nick Malouf's try and George Ford's accuracy off the tee providing their points.

Gloucester, resurgent after the break, answered with a try from Josh Hohneck and Billy Twelvetrees' boot.

The Tigers wrested momentum back but could not find the bonus-point score.

Saracens inflicted a first defeat of the season on Newcastle Falcons as they claimed victory in the second Premiership game to be staged in the United States.

Chris Wyles scored in his homeland and Owen Farrell kicked five penalties, before a penalty try completed the win.

The game was played in front of banks of empty seats at the 18,500-capacity Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia.

In March 2016, Saracens beat London Irish 26-15 front of 14,800 at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

Rugby league convert Denny Solomona scored two tries as Sale brushed aside London Irish 36-7 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night.

Ross Harrison's first try for the club in 156 games helped establish a 24-0 half-time lead for Sale, who had lost their first two games.

Josh Charnley, another former Super League star, secured Sale's bonus point on 56 minutes before the Exiles got on board with a penalty try.

Irish's Blair Cowan was shown a red card for an altercation before Mark Jennings scored for Sale late on.

Northampton made it two wins from two at home this season with a 24-6 bonus-point victory over Bath on Friday.

Tries from Courtney Lawes and David Ribbans bookended the first half to give Saints a 12-6 half-time lead.

Ribbans crossed again soon after the break as Bath struggled to gain momentum at Franklin's Gardens.

George North secured the bonus point with the fourth try five minutes from time, and injuries meant Bath finished with 14 men.

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