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**dudeabides** · 02-19-2010, 07:23 PM

Leeds v Sale:

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Fly-half Ceiron Thomas powered Leeds to their first ever victory over Sale at Edgeley Park on Friday night, kicking 14 points for the Guinness Premiership's basement side in a 19-10 victory.

Scrum-half Scott Mathie scored a vital second-half try for Andy Key's side, who moved to within a point of Worcester ahead of their fixture with Bath this weekend.

Sale had taken an early stranglehold on the game thanks to Kristian Ormsby's try, converted by Charlie Hodgson. Hodgson also slotted a second-half penalty but the home side were unable to find the control exerted by Thomas.

The Leeds pivot opened the scoring after only three minutes with a drop-goal and also produced a try-saving tackle on prop Eifion Roberts. Thomas kept the scoreboard ticking over and Sale were unable to breach the resolute defence of the away side, with centre David Bishop held up over the line in the closing minutes to end their hopes and condemn them to a sixth straight defeats in all competitions.

Gutsy Leeds upset Sharks | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 02-20-2010, 02:54 PM

Saturday's matches:

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Leicester continued their impressive recent run of form at Welford Road with a comprehensive 33-11 win over Gloucester to stretch their winning streak to six games and cement their place at the top of the Guinness Premiership table.

The hosts' pack, which included England's Louis Deacon and Italy's Marco Castrogiovanni, completely dominated the visitors. Despite rarely setting foot in the opposition '22 in the opening stages, Toby Flood was able to put his side in front with three penalties before he took Anthony Allen's pass and fed former Wallaby Lote Tuquiri for the opening try. With Rob Kearney ruled out of Ireland's clash with England next week, Leicester fullback Geordan Murphy gave a timely reminder of his worth with the second try and despite a second half rally from Gloucester who scored through Johnny May, Flood nailed a penalty before Ben Youngs completed the job with his side's third try.

Tigers' coach Richard Cockerill would have been equally cheered when news reached him that Northampton had lost ground at Harlequins with the Saints going down 13-6 at the Twickenham Stoop.

Despite having three England squad members in their team, the Saints succumbed to 'Quins' best performance of the season so far, despite the absence of Nick Easter from their backrow. A testy opening led to former All Black Nick Evans putting his side in front with two penalties. Mike Brown's fine 19th minute try and Evans' excellent conversion gave the hosts a lead that proved insurmountable even though they weren't to score again with Stephen Myler's boot salvaging a losing bonus point.

[IMG]httphttp://www.scrum.com/PICTURES/CMS/9600/9693.jpg://[/IMG]

London Irish lost ground in the race for the post-season following a 12-12 draw with Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Olly Barkley made his long awaited return to action as Bath secured a 37-13 bonus point victory over Worcester at the Rec with the Warriors finishing the game with 14 men.

Winger Joe Maddock scored two first half tries for the hosts who cruised to their fourth victory in a row. Matt Banahan, Michael Claassens and Jonny Faamatuainu scored the other tries, while centre Ryan Davies kicked ten points. Willie Walker scored all of the Warriors' points with a converted try and a bad day at the office got worse for Mike Ruddock's men when Tom Wood received a second yellow card midway through the second half.

Leicester extend lead at top | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 02-21-2010, 01:19 PM

Wasps v Saracens:

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London Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani completed an eventful week by kicking his side to a 9-0 victory over Saracens in their Guinness Premiership clash at Adams Park.

Despite revealing that he is leaving the club to join the Melbourne Rebels, Australia's new Super 15 franchise, at the end of the season, Cipriani's focus was total as he punished a Saracens side who performed way below the standards they've set this season. The victory saw Wasps climb back up to fourth in the table while defeat denied Saracens the chance to leap-frog Northampton into second place.

All eyes were on Cipriani and winger Paul Sackey, who will also quit the club in the summer , as Wasps set about maintaining their record of never losing to Saracens at Adams Park. And it was Cipriani who delivered as if on cue, firing over a second-minute penalty after the visitors collapsed a scrum. Eight minutes later, Cipriani doubled the lead after referee Chris White played a long advantage to Wasps, yet still went all the way back to the original offence for not releasing.

Wasps were the more impressive side in a game of pace and ambition, and former England wing Tom Varndell brushed off Noah Cato to spark a surging attack that faltered only when White penalised the home side for holding on at a ruck. Saracens inability to retain possession was handing ball and territory to their hosts - the visitors made six handling errors in the opening quarter - and there was little about their performance to reflect their status as title-chasers.

Cipriani was just shy of making it 9-0 on 28 minutes, his penalty from inside his own half dropping just under the crossbar. And the crowd gasped on the half-hour when the fly-half's attempted penalty from two yards inside his half cannoned back of an upright.

Saracens also encountered problems in an unexpected area. Wasps have suffered scrum problems for most of the season, but here they had the visitors on toast and, after awarding three penalties at a five-metre scrum, referee Chris White sin-binned prop Richard Skuse in the 38th minute. But Saracens survived to clear their lines when one more penalty at the scrum may well have cost them a penalty try.

Cipriani lit up the start of the second half with a searing break from deep before throwing a splendid reverse pass to Sackey. The wing stepped inside, but his pass was too ambitious and dropped behind his support runners. But Wasps increased their lead after 45 minutes when Cipriani completed a hat-trick of penalties.

That score sparked the most sustained period of Saracens pressure but fly-half Derrick Hougaard frustrated the visiting support by attempting long-range, off-target drop-goals. Saracens looked more threatening in this period, albeit without managing to unlock a tight and disciplined Wasps defence.

Cipriani left the field after 69 minutes, replaced by Dave Walder, and received a warm reception from the home support. The astonishing number of turnovers and knock-ons persisted due to Wasps stern defence and Saracens lack of confidence in attack, as they were reduced to snatching at the ball under pressure.

In the end the better, more organised team claimed the four points as Saracens went through the entire game without earning a single chance of a kick at goal.

Cipriani kicks Wasps to victory | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com

The Premiership table after round 15 shows the four teams who would advance if it remained and the next in line:

1. Leicester (10-4-1) 49 pts.
2. Northampton (10-4) 44 pts.
3. Saracens (10-3-1) 44 pts.
4. Wasps (9-5) 39 pts.
5. Irish (7-4-3) 39 pts.