Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Lets Finish Off Here and Go to Europe for Two Weeks

Aviva Premiership Round 13
This was the last week of Premiership rugby before teams go to Europe for two weeks and finish off the group stages of the Champions and Challenge Cup and what a weekend of rugby it was as teams from third to eighth are seperated by just FIVE POINTS.

James Hook scored mega penalty which will be a Shed legend for years to come. The Sharks dominating the champions at home while a certain Mr Burgess getting his first Premiership try, a 36 year old could be returning to the England set up and Chiefs lost narrowly…again. Finally, Welsh lost again so nothing changes there. 

Gloucester 24 – 23 Saracens
James Hook slotted a monster kick from the halfway line to clinch a dramatic victory for Gloucester over Saracens under the Friday night lights.

It was an eventful evening at Kingsholm, which saw five tries, four yellow cards and two serious injuries to Gloucester’s Nick Wood and Ben Morgan with the latter sadly missing the Six Nations.

Sarries opened the scoring with a penalty try and then came the battle of the boot between Alex Goode and Hook. It was 13 – 6 before Dan Robson scored a brilliant solo try for the hosts which closed the gap to 13 – 11 at half time.

Callum Braley’s try for the Cherry and White was sandwiched inbetween the Vunipola brothers as Billy and Mako both crossed the whitewash.

Then in the last kick of the game Hook’s 50 metre penalty was just enough to secure the West Country side’s first win at the Shed since beating Leicester in round five.

Scorers
Gloucester
Tries: Robson, Braley
Conversion: Hook
Penalties: Hook (4)

Saracens
Tries: Penalty, B.Vunipola, M.Vunipola
Conversion: Goode
Penalties: Goode (2)

Sale Sharks 20 – 7 Northampton Saints
Sale have given hope to their play – off credentials and European dreams with a dominant performance over Northampton.

The Sharks got back on track after back – to – back defeats to Leicester Tigers and Wasps but the champions never looked comfortable at the AJ Bell.

Tries from Eifon Lewis – Roberts and Dan Braid plus 10 points from Danny Cipriani sounded out Teimana Harrison’s try which was converted Stephen Myler.

It’s clear to see Jim Mallinder was looking forward to the Ospreys match next week but you can’t take anything away from Steve Diamonds men.

Scorers
Sale Shark
Tries: Lewis – Roberts, Braid
Conversions: Cipriani (2)
Penalties: Cipriani (2)

Northampton Saint
Try: Harrison
Conversion: Myler

Bath 39 – 26 Wasps
Sam Burgess scored his first ever Aviva Premiership to help Bath to a convincing victory over Wasps in probably the best game of the week.

The rugby league convert was joined on the scoresheet by Francois Louw, Semesa Rokoduguni, Matt Banahan and Ollie Devoto to record a 12th win in 13 games at the Rec.

Despite Alapati Leina, Nathan Hughes, Ben Jacobs and Alex Lozowski all got on the scoresheet and even though they got the bonus point it wasn’t enough for Wasps as their miserable record against the West County side continues as they haven’t secured a win at the Rec since the 2010/11 season.

Scorers
Bath
Tries: Louw, Rokoduguni, Burgess, Banahan, Devoto
Conversions: Ford (4)
Penalties: Ford (2)

Wasps
Tries: Leina, Hughes, Jacobs, Lozowski
Conversions: Goode, Lozowski (2)

Harlequins 32 – 12 Leicester Tigers
Harlequins number 8 Nick Easter was the stand out player on his 250 appearance and there are calls for the 36 year old to return in an England shirt.

There was also a shoot – out for the England No.9 jersy between Danny Care and Ben Youngs and it was the Quins scrum half coming out on top. He scored the first try of the game and his quick tap and go set up Jack Clifford before half time.

After the break Marland Yarde raced from the halfway line to extend the hosts lead to 22 – 9 and on the 80th minute Tim Swiel added the final try to make it a good start to 2015 for Conor O’Sheas troops.

Scorers
Harlequins
Tries: Care, Clifford, Yarde, Swiel
Conversions: Botica (2), Swiel
Penalties: Botica (2)

Leicester Tigers
Penalties: Williams (4)

Newcastle Falcons 38 – 7 London Welsh
 
London Irish 28 – 26 Exeter Chiefs
A last gasp drop goal from Shane Geraghty snatched a dramatic victory to deliver another heartbreaking defeat for Exeter Chiefs.

Irish got off the mark with Blair Cowan but it was the Chiefs who took the lead at the interval with Dean Mumm scoring five minutes before time.

Cowan then scored his second of the game and was joined by Tom Guest and Alex Lewington to give the hosts control of the match.

Dave Ewers’ converted try and two Gareth Steenson penalties gave Exeter the lead with four minutes left and this will until Geraghty’s drop goal on 81 minutes separated the the sides and sneaked the win.

Scorers
London Irish
Tries: Cowan (2), Guest, Lewington
Conversion: Geraghty
Penalty: Homer
Drop Goal: Geraghty

Exeter Chiefs
Tries: Mumm, Ewers
Conversion: Steenson (2)
Penalties: Steenson (3)

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