Five Teams Have Two Rounds To Clinch Three Play Off Spots

As we enter the final two rounds of the Aviva Premiership, round 20 conjured up more plot twists as the top five teams have all but booked their place in next seasons Champions Cup. Elsewhere, there was a classic match being played at Kingsholm, as Sale could be slipping out of a place in Europe’s top rugby tournament all together with Harlequins keeping their hopes alive.

It all started under the Friday night lights of the Rec as Bath clinched the much needed bonus point win against London Irish to keep their hopes of getting into the play – offs, and securing a home semi final, alive. It also showed Sam Burgess getting more and more comfortable in the new code and finding home in the back row as he picked up his second man of the match award.

It could have been a different story as Irish went into the interval 13 – 12 up thanks to Tom Courts’ try, but the West Country side were more ruthless in the second half scoring 31 unanswered points with tries from Leroy Houston, Jonathan Joseph, Matt Banahan, Burgess and Semesa Rokoduguni. Before Blair Cowan touched down for a consolation try making the score 43 – 18.

At the AJ Bell Stadium, a late fightback from Sale wasn’t enough has Harlequins held on to a 25 – 23 win to boost their Champions Cup hopes whilst damaging the hosts’.

Quins scored four first half tries with Charlie Walker, Chris Robshaw, Marland Yarde and Danny Care all touching down to make them the first team to beat Sale at home in the Aviva Premiership in 2015. 

The Sharks came close to getting a draw as two tries from Tom Arscott and a late Mark Cueto try, however Joe Ford missed two conversions which could cost the home side dearly as the visitors are now just a point of Sale in seventh and a potential European play off.

Another team on the hunt for a European play off spot is Gloucester, who fought back as Billy Burns’ late try allowed them beat Newcastle 42 – 40 at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and White’s were trailing by 17 points with 10 minutes remaining, but Billy Twelvetrees who scored his second try of the game plus Henry Purdy and Burns crossing the whitewash to break Falcons’ hearts.

Newcastle were leading for 70 minutes with Mark Wilson, Sinoti Sinoti, Scott Lawson and Josh Furno all scoring plus Rory Clegg kicking 20 points, and it looked like the visitors were going to win their second Aviva Premiership away match in 18 months.

Gloucester had other plans as Twelevetrees ran in to score his first try of the day in the first half, but it wasn’t until Dan Robson superb touch down that the fightback started as fly half Burns had a fantastic all round game picking up 22 points which has helped extend their eight match unbeaten home streak.

Despite going into half time 10 – 7 up London Welsh ended the game as tiger meat as Leicester ran out 38 – 17 winners to keep up their push for the play – offs.

Koree Britton scored a late first half try to cancel out Ben Youngs’ early score with the sides only separated by Chris Elder’s penalty. However, two quick scores from Lawerence Pearce regained the Tigers lead and once Chris Hala’ufia saw red it was like picking meat off the bone for the Welford Road faithful as Sam Harrison, Jamie Gibson and Tom Youngs touched down.

The big game on Saturday was at Stadium MK as Northampton welcomed Saracens to a kicking master – class presented by Stephen Myler as Saints secured qualification for the plays off with a 25 – 20 win.

With Saints starting to get back their best, they showed what champions are made off, coming back from 17 – 13 down at half time as Chris Wyles scored a two tries and Charlie Hodgson added seven points from the tee.

Samu Manoa scored the only Northampton try with a wonderful assist from Luther Burrell, but the day belonged to Myler as he collected 20 points from the boot. It could have been different if Billy Vunipola didn’t lose control of the ball just before the try line. Nevertheless Saint’s are in the play – offs and now only two points from securing a home semi final.

The last game of round 20 saw Wasps give themselves a chance of reaching the semi finals after a 36 – 29 win over Exeter closed the gap on their rivals.

Joe Simpson’s superb late try wrapped up a vital win for Wasps, but a last minute drop goal from Gareth Steenson gave the Chiefs a losing bonus point, which means they are only a point behind Leicester in the race for the play – offs with Wasps a further point behind them.

It was an entertaining game at the Ricoh Arena as Christan Wade score the first try in the first minute, with Will Chudley quickly replying for the visitors, but the teams were separated by the boot of Andy Goode and late penalty try gave the hosts a 26 – 16 lead at half time.

Exeter did claw back with a Thomas Waldrom try, and with Henry Slade’s conversion and penalty the score was down to three points to 29 – 26. However, the Chiefs dropped their guard and Simpson run into a gap and showed his trademark pace to ran in for the touchdown to make sure the home side were victorious.

With two rounds left to go and five teams still battling to three play off positions the Aviva Premiership is going to end with one hell of a bang.