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**dudeabides** · 03-06-2010, 04:13 PM

Leicester v London Irish:

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Leicester cemented their place at the top of the Guinness Premiership with a 35-19 bonus point victory over London Irish at Welford Road.

Tries from Alesana Tuilagi. Scott Hamilton, Martin Castrogiovanni and George Chuter ensured the Tigers bounced back in emphatic style from their defeat to title rivals Northampton last weekend. The Exiles were blown away by their hosts in the opening period and although they raised their game after the break they could not add to Steffon Armitage's first half try.

Leicester welcomed back international trio Geordan Murphy, Toby Flood and Castrogiovanni as they looked to extend their impressive Welford Road record having given up just one Premiership point at home this season. Murphy slotted in at fullback with Hamilton switching to the wing while Castrogiovanni and Flood returned at tight-head and fly-half respectively. Irish were also bolstered by the return of England scrum-half Paul Hodgson and openside Armitage as they looked to maintain their post-season push while John Rudd replaced injured winger Topsy Ojo and James Buckland started at hooker.

Leicester began strongly and took a deserved lead with the opening try of the game from Tuilagi. After a good spell of pressure, prop Castrogiovanni put Anthony Allen away with a deft pass and the centre straightened before feeding Tuilagi who raced down the line to score. Flood added the conversion and stretched his side's lead with his first penalty after ten minutes as the Tigers' pack continued to dominate proceedings.

The Exiles struck back on the quarter hour through the boot of fullback Tom Homer after prop Marcus Ayerza was penalised for not binding correctly but it offered only a brief respite. An over-thrown lineout from the Tigers deep inside the Irish half failed to halt the home side's momentum and the pressure resulted in another penalty against the visitors - this time for not releasing - that Flood duly slotted.

A stolen lineout by Calum Green laid the platform for the Tigers' next score with the ball worked wide to departing centre Lote Tuqiri who injected an electric burst of pace before feeding Hamilton who had the pace to carry him to the corner for the try. Flood blotted his copybook by missing the conversion but it was soon forgotten as they were soon celebrating again when Castrogiovanni picked off a pass by Seilala Mapusua in midfield before racing away to score his side's third try - this time Flood added the simple conversion.

Homer's attempt at a long range penalty fell short on the half hour but an offside infringement from the Tigers gave him a chance to redeem himself but again he missed the target. Flood failed to capitalise on his rival's misses by shanking his next penalty chance as half-time approached.

Irish ended the half on the front foot after another offside penalty against Leicester allowed Exiles fly-half Ryan Lamb to take the game into the Tigers' 22 for the first time in the game. A good drive off the lineout from Chris Hala'ufia and another from Mapusua took them close to the line before Armitage dived over for the try. That defensive lapse from Leicester and the conversion from Homer offered the visitors hope as the sides headed to the tunnel.

Irish picked up where they left off after the break but Homer continued to struggle with his kicking game and pushed his latest penalty attempt wide of the posts.

A blow to the head for Flood saw him replaced by Jeremy Staunton just five minutes into the second half while Irish chased the game at every opportunity. The Exiles' pack drew a rare penalty against the Tigers and this time Lamb took over the kicking duties to good effect.

But much of their good work was undone by a moment of indiscipline from Hala'ufia who saw yellow for a high and dangerous tackle on Castrogiovanni. Irish defended bravely whilst one man down but a big scrum from Leicester drew another penalty that Staunton slotted just before Hala'ufia's return to the game.

The inspirational Armitage continued to lead by example for the Exiles and a great burst of speed and a jinking run from the flanker took him deep into the Tigers' half where Lamb once again penalised the home side's indiscipline. Leicester's Tom Croft made his long awaited return to front line action soon after as a replacement for Green but he could not prevent Lamb edging his side back into the game with his third penalty.

But a knock on from Homer at the re-start gifted Leicester great field position and when a strong run from Murphy was snuffed out illegally the Tigers kicked to the corner in search of a try-scoring bonus point. And their gamble paid off with Allen dancing through a couple of tackles before feeding replacement hooker George Chuter for the simple score with Murphy adding the extras.

Leicester power to bonus point win | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com

Harlequins v Worcester:

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Rory Clegg accounted for all of Harlequins' points as they claimed a vital 14-11 victory over Worcester at the Stoop on Saturday afternoon.

Standing in at fly-half for the injured Nick Evans, who failed a fitness test just a couple of hours before kick-off, Clegg produced a virtuoso performance in the Quins No.10 jersey, scoring a try and kicking three penalties in a win which has done much to ease fears that the home side might be drawn into an end-of-season relegation battle.

Those in attendance were treated a very encouraging opening quarter in which both sides touched down. Quins struck first nine minutes in, with a fine midfield break from George Lowe laying the foundations for Clegg's close-range finish. Worcester replied just over three minutes later, though, with Chris Latham putting Miles Benjamin over in the left corner.

A try-fest appeared a possibility but, rather disappointingly, neither side managed to score again in the first half. Lowe thought that he had bagged a try in the 20th minute after appearing to get on the end of his own chip-and-chase but the referee Martin decided otherwise, ruling that the outside centre had knocked on in the act of applying downward pressure. As it was, the two sides went in at the interval locked at five points apiece.

The second-half developed into a goal-kicking contest between Clegg and his opposite number Matthew Jones. It was a battle which the latter looked set to win after an impressive start to the second half from the Warriors.

However, after finding themselves 11-8 down with 65 minutes elapsed, Quins rallied. Clegg levelled matters once more when Worcester were pinged for coming in from the side and then struck again moments later, this time from halfway, to land what proved the game's deciding score.

Clegg kicks Quins to victory | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-07-2010, 11:50 AM

Sale v Northampton:

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Sale Sharks slipped to the bottom of the Guinness Premiership table after a 15-7 home defeat to Northampton Saints.

Tries from wings Paul Diggin and Chris Ashton saw the Saints make light of a woeful goal-kicking display from fly-half Stephen Myler to keep the pressure on leaders Leicester with their first ever league win at Edgeley Park. Sale had entered the game level on points with bottom club Leeds and this performance, their eighth-straight defeat in all competitions, will have done little to ease their relegation fears.

Northampton led 7-0 at the break thanks to Diggin's try, converted by fullback Bruce Reihana, but could have been much further ahead as Myler missed four straightforward penalties.

Charlie Hodgson and Lee Thomas failed with a penalty attempt apiece for the Sharks. Ashton then went over shortly after the break and Shane Geraghty slotted a penalty to seal the win, before Ben Cohen got a late try for the home side and Hodgson missed a last-gasp penalty which would have given his side a losing bonus point.

Leeds v Saracens:

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Leeds made it three Premiership wins from three and moved off the bottom of the table with a 19-12 victory over faltering Saracens. The visitors, who were top of the table at New Year but have now lost five of their last six league games, let a 9-3 half-time lead slip on a bright but chilly afternoon at Headingley. Neil Back's side, meanwhile, will have renewed belief they can survive in their first season back in the top flight.

Although they lost reliable goal-kicker Ceiron Thomas midway through the first half, his replacement - 19-year-old Joe Ford - kicked enough of the chances that came his was to make sure of the triumph. Leeds wing Lee Blackett helped too by crossing on the hour for the game's only try on a virtually grassless but dry surface.

Sale hit rock bottom | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-07-2010, 12:39 PM

London Wasps v Gloucester:

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David Walder scored 19 points as Wasps closed in on top four with a 24-19 home victory over Gloucester. The Wasps fly-half, handed the No.10 shirt ahead of Dany Cipriani, scored a try which he converted and added three penalties to Tim Taylor's two to give the homse side a 16-6 lead at the break.

A try from Mike Tindall and five points from the boot of Nicky Robinson saw Gloucester pull level but another Walder penalty and a try from winger David Lemi put Wasps back in control. Robinson slotted another penalty before the break to bring them within range but they had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Newcastle v Bath:

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Newcastle's hopes of a rare double over Bath disappeared as the visitors scored two second-half tries to come back from 10-5 down and win 17-13 at Kingston Park. The game ended in controversy with the referee blowing for time with one minute and eight seconds still left on the scoreboard clock and Newcastle banging away at the Bath line before Bath turned it over and booted the ball dead.

The Newcastle players were furious and pointed to the clock but the referee still ushered both teams off the pitch. Matt Banahan crossed to give Bath an early lead but the Falcons hit back with a score of their own from Rob Vickerman that was converted by Jimmy Gopperth. Another penalty from Gopperth gave the home side a 10-5 lead at the break but Bath stormed back into the contest after the break with a try from Nick Abendanon. Chances came and went for both sides before former Falcon David Wilson burrowed his way over for Bath's third try, Olly Barkley converting to make it 17-10. Four minutes later Gopperth landed a penalty to give Newcastle hope at 17-13 but he missed another good chance three minutes later.

Toothless Sharks hit rock bottom | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-19-2010, 08:24 PM

And in the next round, Sale v London Wasps:

Quote:

Sale have eased their relegation fears with a hard-fought 19-8 victory over Wasps at Edgeley Park.

Saracens-bound scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth struck the decisive blow with a second-half try and also landed a late penalty while fly-half Charlie Hodgson kicked 11 points in an excellent individual display.

Wasps, who again left Danny Cipriani among the replacements, conjured a try through centre Ben Jacobs but were far from their best.

The result moves Sale level on points with Leeds and sends Worcester to the bottom of the table, Mike Ruddock's side two points adrift after 16 rounds of action.

Hodgson was this week called into the England squad as cover for Jonny Wilkinson but Sale were thankful for his availability as he steered them to a first win in eight attempts. In a game rearranged after Wasps refused to play the fixture in November due to a waterlogged pitch, Sale had far too much desire for the visitors, who have also lost to lowly Leeds twice this season.

Hodgson notched the opening points when Wasps were penalised for infringing at a scrum just inside their own half in the sixth minute but the Sharks were thankful for some loose handling by David Lemi as the Wasps wing squandered two openings.

Dave Walder missed a penalty for the visitors and was punished by Hodgson, who landed two penalties either side of Sale having a try disallowed to secure a 9-0 half-time lead.

Cipriani replaced Walder at half-time and the future Melbourne Rebel was involved as some slick handling sent Jacobs over. The conversion was not forthcoming and Wasps were further behind when Wigglesworth pounced on a loose pass to score, the No.9 also landing a late three-pointer to seal the points.

Sharks ease fears with vital victory | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com