04-17-2010, 01:45 PM
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#11 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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These are the other matches of Round 20:
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A hat-trick of Chris Ashton tries saw Northampton go top of the table overnight after their bonus point 38-23 win over Gloucester
The result means the Saints go top of the table over night ahead of Leicester's trip north to Newcastle. The England winger's last ditch third claimed the all-important bonus for the home side who were made to work all the way by a dogged Gloucester side.
He got his team on their way with a 12th minute effort after Nicky Robinson and Stephen Myler had exchanged early penalties. Gloucester's Jake Boer inexplicably chose to tap and go when awarded a penalty under the posts and the move backfired spectacularly when Northampton turned the ball over and Ben Foden cleared.
The Saints stole the lineout and moved the ball to Ashton, who turned on the gas to score, Myler converted before adding a penalty, but Charlie Sharples crossed for a Gloucester try after taking a pop pass from James Simpson-Daniel. Robinson converted to make the score 13-10, but Myler extended the lead to six before half-time.
Two tries in four minutes from England hooker Dylan Hartley and Ashton made the gap 30-13. If Ashton couldn't score one himself, he made Hartley's instead turning creator, offloading to the New Zealand born star. Again he took advantage of gaps in the visiting defence to score the third.
Dave Atwood narrowed the lead with a try from a patient move, before substitute Shane Geraghty scored a penalty and Ashton claimed the match ball with his third thanks to unselfish work from Kiwi Bruce Reihana who looked to be on for a try of his own, before generously feeding Ashton to extend his lead at the top of the try scoring charts.
Saracens produced a devestating display to win the London derby at Wembley, defeating Harlequins 37-18 in front of 47,106 spectators.
The home of English football opened it's doors to rugby once again and Sarries' are certainly making themselves at home, making it four wins from four at the famous venue. After tightrope walkers and razmatazz, the action got going and led by South African hooker Schalk Brits the hosts played some excellent rugby.
Nick Evans missed out for 'Quins who kept pace with the third placed side for the first half, Derek Hougaard and replacement Rory Clegg exchanged penalties before excellent work from Brits lead to two excellent tries for openside Andy Saull within three minutes of eachother.
The second was a superb move, Britz making an initial break, finding Justin Marshall and he fed Saull who cantered home. But Conor O'Shea's men got back in touch when Danny Care tapped a penalty and Chris Brooker spotted a gap on the fringe and touched down.
A Hougaard penalty made the score 18-8 at the break, but Sarries cut loose after half-time and scored three tries without reply. Brits got the score his play deserved, before Michael Tagicakibau and Ernst Joubert got the bonus point, with Ugo Monye and Chris York scoring late consolations for the visitors.
London Wasps maintained their recent run of form with a narrow 24-20 win over Worcester in our Game of the Week. Read the report here.
Earlier, Bath maintained their push for the Guinness Premiership post-season with a comprehensive 34-15 victory over Sale ìn front of new owner Bruce Craig at The Rec.
Five seperate players crossed the line for the hosts who dominated throughout. Ollie Barkley got them up and running with a penalty, before he converted Lee Mears' 24th minute try which came from a maul after Danny Grewcock had claimed the lineout. The inside centre then crossed for one of his own after looping on Matt Carrarro, and he added the extras to give his side a commanding 17-0 lead.
Richard Wigglesworth pulled back a penalty for the Sharks, but that couldn't stem the tide and it took just three second half minutes for Matt Banahan to powered through the tackle of Marika Vakacegu for a try, which Barkley converted. Joe Maddock superbly stepped past four defenders to claim the bonus point, before prop David Barnes got himself on the scoresheet from close range.
Former Bath wing Ben Cohen had crossed for the visitors who need to improve to get themselves away from the relegation zone, despite Kris Ormsby's late consolation try.
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Ashton on fire as Saints go top | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com |
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