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