Bears rout Tigers; Gloucester win big

PREMIERSHIP WRAP: Saracens moved to the top of the standings, but the most intriguing results of Saturday's Round Nine matches were the big wins by Bristol Bears and Gloucester.

Saracens went top with a 29-6 victory over Wasps at Allianz Park.

Two tries from hooker Harry Thacker guided Bristol Bears to a comfortable 41-10 win over Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.

And a flurry of second half scores gave Gloucester a comfortable win over Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm.

In the other Saturday match Mark Wilson crossed with the final play of the game and Toby Flood's simple conversion saw Newcastle Falcons claim a dramatic comeback win at Northampton Saints.

All Saturday's matches!

Bristol Bears 41-10 Leicester Tigers

Two tries from hooker Harry Thacker guided Bristol Bears to a comfortable 41-10 Premiership win over Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.

The visitors had been within three points after the opening quarter thanks to a try from Manu Tuilagi but were forced to play a man short for almost an hour after Kyle Eastmond's red card for a high tackle.

Luke Morahan and Harry Randall both touched down after the break for the hosts, who topped up their total with 21 points from the boot of Ian Madigan.

Try machine Thacker gave Bristol the perfect start, after he was fed by Alapati Leiua following a burst right through the middle of the Tigers defence where he turned Jonah Holmes inside and out before releasing the hooker to score.

Thacker's try against his former club came after a hat-trick against Wasps last weekend.

After an Madigan penalty extended the hosts' lead to 10 points they were reeled in by a spectacular score from centre Manu Tuilagi.

Fresh from his first England appearance in two years last weekend, the outside centre carried the ball from the base of a ruck 25 metres out and weaved around the defence to dive over and score.

The visitors' chances of registering a first win in three games was greatly reduced after centre Eastmond was sent off for a high tackle on Madigan after 25 minutes.

After the red card a series of penalties were exchanged by the Irishman and his opposite number George Ford – leaving it 16-10 to the hosts.

Just before the break Thacker had his second but only after referee Wayne Barnes had gone over the try with TMO Trevor Fisher – the hooker touched down after he was put through by flanker Steven Luatua, making it 21-10 to hosts at the break.

Bristol continued to make the most of their numerical advantage just after half-time with winger Luke Morahan adding a third try for the hosts.

The Aussie flier weaved around Jonny May and then took off from 60 metres out with open space to race through to score.

Bristol continued to turn the screw with scrum-half Harry Randall registering the bonus-point try after 50 minutes, as the No. 9 turned his opposite number Ben Youngs inside-out before racing through to score for his first try for the club.

Leicester did push for some late points despite being down to 14 but Bristol managed to keep them out, as they grabbed their third win of the campaign.

The scorers:

For Bristol Bears

Tries: . Thacker 2, Morahan, Randall

Cons: Madigan 3

Pens: Madigan 5

For Leicester Tigers:

Try: Tuilagi

Con: Ford

Pen: Ford

Teams:

Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Will Hurrell, 12 Siale Piutau (co-captain), 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Jordan Crane (co-captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Steve Luatua, 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Yann Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Lewis Thiede, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Piers O'Connor.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford (captain), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jake Kerr, 1 Ellis Genge.

Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Gaston Cortes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Mike Fitzgerald, 21 Ben White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Matt Smith.

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson & Paul Dix.

TMO: Trevor Fisher.

Gloucester 36-16 Worcester Warriors

A flurry of second half scores gave Gloucester a comfortable win over Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm.

Gloucester grabbed six in total but after going into half-time with just a point advantage, four scores in 20 minutes provided the crucial buffer for the hosts.

The win takes them up to third in the Premiership, leapfrogging Harlequins as Wasps as they look to keep pace with the division's top two.

A fast-paced start from both sides did not immediately translate to the scoreboard, Cipriani missing a tough penalty to give Gloucester a slim lead.

But it was from another penalty that the hosts eventually did draw ahead, Cipriani kicking to the corner, with Gloucester winning the resulting line-out well and driving before James Hanson scurried over.

And the line-out once more proved profitable for Gloucester as they won the ball, shifting to Jason Woodward who made ground before setting up Charlie Sharples to sprint over for their second score of the match.

Duncan Weir reduced arrears to just a point as he grabbed three quick penalties, leaving Gloucester to rue a frustrating lack of discipline as momentum began to shift.

And come the end of the first half, Gloucester were the ones hanging on as the Warriors pressed for a score that would hand them the lead heading into the break, but to no avail.

Weir missed the chance to take the lead as he dragged a fourth penalty wide from distance and Gloucester made him pay as Ollie Thorley benefited from good work by the maul, with Owen Williams feeding Thorley who danced over.

Freddie Clarke added Gloucester's bonus point score as he took the ball at pace just five-metre out to crash over and further extend his side's lead, with Billy Twelvetrees adding the hosts' first successful kick of the match.

The visitors' life was made even harder as Chris Pennell was sent to the bin after a collision in the line-out, and Gloucester made the most of their man advantage, grabbing quickfire tries through replacement Jaco Visagie and another from Thorley.

Bryce Heem ran in a consolation for the Warriors, becoming the Premiership's top-scorer in the process, but Gloucester saw out the closing stages in relative comfort.

The scorers

For Gloucester:

Tries: Hanson, Sharples, Thorley 2, Clarke, Visagie

Cons: Twelvetrees 3

For Worcester Warriors:

Try: Heem

Con: Weir

Pens: Weir 3

Teams:

Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Owen Williams, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (captain), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Freddie Clarke, 5 Ed Slater, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 James Hanson, 1 Josh Hohneck.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Henry Trinder, 23 Tom Hudson.

Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Michael Heaney, 8 GJ van Velze (captain), 7 Matti Williams, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Pierce Phillips, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Callum Black.

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Darren Barry, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Wynand Olivier.

Referee: Thomas Foley

Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth & Philip Watters.

TMO: David Rose.

Northampton Saints 14-16 Newcastle Falcons

Mark Wilson crossed with the final play of the game and Toby Flood's simple conversion saw Newcastle Falcons claim a dramatic Premiership comeback win at Northampton Saints.

Cobus Reinach's double had looked like being enough for hosts Saints who opened up a 14-6 lead with barely ten minutes remaining at Franklin's Gardens in the vital battle at the foot of the table.

But not for nothing have the Falcons now won three times in a row on this ground and six in a row against this opposition.

Brett Connon's penalty trimmed the gap to five points as the game entered the last ten minutes and then the Falcons forward pack got to work.

Phase after phase, much like their famous European win over Montpellier earlier this season, saw the Falcons hammer at the Saints line.

The hosts were forced to infringe time after time and eventually Dan Biggar was sent to the sin bin and Wilson grounded at the base of the post.

It took the TMO to confirm the score before Flood added the simple extras and Falcons climbed off the foot of the table for at least 24 hours until Sale Sharks play on Sunday.

On the day Dylan Hartley made his 250th appearance for the Saints, it was Reinach who looked to have made the real difference for Saints.

Flood's early penalty put the Falcons in front and despite plenty of Saints pressure with Ahsee Tuala and Taqele Naiyaravoro impressing, the Falcons held firm.

Flood then doubled their lead when Saints infringed at the breakdown and the Falcons – bottom of the league table – were 6-0 to the good.

But Saints finally got the try their first-half dominance deserved when Springbok Reinach dummied and disappeared down the left for a fine solo score.

Biggar added the extras for a 7-6 lead and that was how it stayed until the break, despite both sides wasting five-metre line-outs in the closing stages.

It was Saints who struck first in the second half, and it was that man Reinach again.

Although this score owed much to his forward pack, Courtney Lawes' tip pass releasing Teimana Harrison who burst through two tackles to put Reinach under the posts.

Biggar again added the extras for a 14-6 lead and that was how it stayed deep into the second half.

Tuala then had to produce a fine covering tackle on Vereniki Goneva to prevent the Falcons winger scoring in the right corner but Connon did add a penalty to make it 14-9.

And then the Falcons rolled up their sleeves and finished the job in style as Wilson grounded at the base of the post and Flood held his nerve from bang in front for a vital win at the foot of the table.

The scorers:

For Northampton Saints:

Tries: Reinach 2

Cons: Biggar 2

For Newcastle Falcons:

Try: Wilson

Con: Flood

Pens: Flood 3

Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dylan Hartley (co-captain), 1 Alex Waller (co-captain).

Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Francois Van Wyk, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Ollie Sleightholme.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood (captain), 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 John Hardie, 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Calum Green, 3 David Wilson, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Sam Lockwood.

Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Logovi'i Mulipola, 19 Andrew Davidson, 20 Gary Graham, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Pedro Bettencourt.

Referee: Matthew Carley

Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Robert Warburton.

TMO: David Grashoff.

Saracens 29-6 Wasps

Saracens moved to the top of the Premiership with a 29-6 victory over Wasps at Allianz Park.

Sarries, now unbeaten in 20 games, took full advantage of Exeter Chiefs slip up on Friday but were made to work hard by a Wasps side resolute in defence.

Mark McCall's men took the lead after 10 minutes making good use of a line out and earning a penalty, scored by Alex Lozowski.

Wasps fans were pleased to see Elliot Daly back in the team as he knocked over a monster penalty from 55 metres to level the scores.

The reigning champions dominated possession in the opening stages but it was Wasps who squandered the best chance of a first-half try when debutant Michele Campagnaro spilled the ball 5 metres outside the Saracens whitewash.

Lozowski made it 6-3 from the tee after Sopoaga was penalised at the ruck and added another just before half-time to send Sarries in at the break with a slender lead.

The home side piled on the pressure after the restart and looked to have the first try of the game when Jamie George went over but replays showed the hooker was held up.

Wasps won a penalty from the resulting scrum and Sopoaga kicked to half-way to give his side some breathing space.

Daly then cut Saracens' lead to three points with another long range penalty.

With an hour on the clock George did have his try as he found himself with some space out wide to score his eighth try against Wasps.

Wasps refused to go down without a fight and continued to use Nathan Hughes as a battering ram but to no avail as Lozowski added his fifth penalty of the game to extend Sarries lead.

A defensive error by Daly proved to be the killer blow for Wasps as his pass was intercepted by Nick Isiekwe who ran the ball in unchallenged.

Lozowski scored the resulting conversion to take his points tally up to 19, successfully nailing all seven kicks in the match.

The scorers

For Saracens:

Tries: George, Isiekwe

Cons: Lozowski 2

Pens: Lozowski 5

For Wasps:

Pens: Daly 2

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Mike Rhodes, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Titi Lamositele.

Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Dom Day, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Nick Tompkins.

Wasps: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Ross Neal, 13 Elliot Daly (captain), 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Michele Campagnaro, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Craig Hampson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Antonio Harris, 1 Ben Harris.

Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Mike Daniels, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Ben Morris, 21 Will Porter, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Juan de Jongh.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Hamish Smales & Michael Hudson.

TMO: Stuart Terheege.

Source: @premrugby