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**dudeabides** · 04-17-2010, 02:45 PM

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.

Ashton on fire as Saints go top | Rugby Union | English Premiership | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 04-18-2010, 04:11 PM

Sunday, Leicester were away to Newcastle:

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Leicesterpowered back to the top of the Guinness Premiership table with a brutal 31-7 victory over Newcastleat Welford Road. The Falcons were shorn of their full front row before kick-off with Carl Hayman (back), Jon Golding (ankle), Rob Vickers (neck) all failing late fitness tests and it showed as Leicester secured a try-scoring bonus point in just over half an hour. The Tigers were happy to sit on their 28-0 half-time lead and run their bench in the second half, while Newcastle showed much more fight scoring a try through Charlie Amesbury. Newcastle had an early chance to open the scoring but Tom Catterick, briefly on as a blood replacement for Jimmy Gopperth, was short with a penalty kick at goal in the ninth minute. The Tigers pack destroyed the Newcastle scrum a few minutes later but Toby Flood put the penalty wide in the 13th minute. They did it again to turn over a Newcastle put-in five metres out and a back-row pick-up and drive ended with Lewis Moody scoring near the post and Flood converted for a 7-0 lead after 20 minutes. It was quickly 14-0 with relentless pressure from Leicester ending with a Geoff Parling charge and Ben Youngs floated pass putting Johne Murphy over the in the corner and Flood converting from wide out in the 24th minute. Not only were Newcastle under the cosh in the scrum, they lost their third line-out in a row on their own throw and a high kick had the Falcons defence floundering with Flood cruising through under the posts and converting for 21-0 after just 28 minutes. Moody then shrugged off ineffectual tackling to grab his second after 34 minutes and again Flood converted. The second half was a different story with substitute Hall Charlton, Josh Afu and Mark Sorenson making big inroads for Newcastle. When Gcobanai Bobo cleverly kicked wide and the bounce wrong-footed Scott Hamilton, Charlie Amesbury scored a 48th-minute try which Gopperth converted to make it 28-7. Leicester were content to run their bench as Newcastle made a better fist of their defence but the Falcons concede

**dudeabides** · 04-20-2010, 06:47 PM

A rescheduled match this day brought us the pleasure of watching Bath v Northampton:

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A penalty to Olly Barkley six minutes from time gave Bath a dramatic 21-20 victory over Northampton on Wednesday night, their second win in three days and one that put them within two points of fourth-placed Wasps. Northampton were left to rue missing a golden chance to go top of the Guinness Premiership, spoiled when Neil Best was sin-binned to allow Barker's decisive kick and hamper the Saints' last-ditch efforts to regain the lead. Bath's new millionaire owner Bruce Craig has now seen a second victory in three days as his side extended their hot streak to just one loss in ten league games. Tries in each half by England internationals Lee Mears and Matt Banahan underpinned Bath's tense success, putting them within reach of Wasps, who they meet at Twickenham on Saturday. Centre Barkley added 11 points from the boot to quell a much-changed Saints side, although Northampton stayed in touch through five Shane Geraghty penalties and a Paul Diggin try. The only consolation for Saints was a losing bonus point that left them just behind Premiership leaders Leicester, and victory over Saracens on Saturday will guarantee a home semi-final. The closing seconds provided a frantic climax as Saints threw everything at their opponents, yet Bath kept their composure when it mattered to secure another vital victory. Northampton made 12 switches ahead of that Franklin's Gardens clash. Only centre Jon Clarke, wing Bruce Reihana and lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe remained following a 38-23 victory over Gloucester weekend, but Bath went with 10 of the side that brushed aside Sale Sharks. One of Bath's switches was at fly-half though, where an ankle injury sidelined the influential Butch James and meant a rare recent first team start for Nicky Little. Barkley and Geraghty exchanged penalties inside the opening seven minutes as both sides sparred for territory, but Bath then saw Little sin-binned following a reckless high tackle on Diggin. Referee J P Doyle had no option other than to show the Fijian a yellow card. Geraghty though, botched a simple penalty chance as Little trudged off, sending his kick wide. It was a let-off for Bath, yet they were punished nine minutes later with Little waiting to return as Northampton went through the phases and created a well-worked try for Diggin. Although Geraghty missed the touchline conversion attempt, Bath had been served notice - a dozen changes or not - that Saints meant business. It was a ferociously intense contest, with scoring opportunities at a premium, but Barkley cut the deficit through his second penalty after Geraghty high-tackled home full-back Nick Abendanon. Barkley missed a more straightforward penalty attempt four minutes later, and as hard as they tried, Bath could not find a way through Northampton's defence. That was until Saints offered them some assistance by mentally switching off on the stroke of half-time. Hooker Brett Sharman overthrew a lineout that almost led to a Bath score, and when he repeated his inaccuracy barely 60 seconds later, Saints suffered on the scoreboard. Flanker Julian Salvi pilfered possession from Northampton lock James Cannon, and Mears was driven over by his fellow forwards to give Bath an 11-8 interval advantage. A Geraghty penalty brought Saints level early in the second period, but Bath began to assert dominance up front, notably at scrum time. They were awarded two penalties and a free-kick in quick succession, yet Saints somehow absorbed pressure from six consecutive scrums and cleared the danger. Northampton boss Jim Mallinder had seen enough of the scrum troubles though, and he sent on international props Soane Tonga'uiha and Euan Murray in an attempt to keep Bath at bay. But before either player could get their boots dirty, Bath struck courtesy of a simple close-range move than ended with Banahan powering over. Barkley added the extras, only for two more Geraghty penalties during a four-minute spell to revive the possibility of an away win. Geraghty's fifth successful strike then inched Saints ahead, and with the rampaging Tonga'uiha making his presence felt in open play, Northampton were revitalised. But Best then collected a yellow card, Barkley slotted the resulting penalty and 14-man Saints could not climb back off the canvas as Geraghty rifled a drop-goal attempt agonisingly wide.

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**dudeabides** · 04-23-2010, 06:46 PM

Newcastle v Sale:

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Newcastle secured their place in next season's Guinness Premiership with a 32-20 victory over relegation rivals Sale in an enthralling clash at Edgeley Park.

A majestic display from Newcastle fly-half Jimmy Gopperth inspired the Falcons to a priceless victory that preserved their top flight status and plunged their opponents further into the relegation mire. The Kiwi weighed in with a 27-point haul courtesy of a try, two conversions and six penalties with scrum-half Micky Young also crossing for a score. Sale fly-half Charlie Hodgson kicked the home side to the brink of victory with five penalties, a conversion and a drop goal while fullback Marika Vakacegu and No.8 Kris Ormsby notched tries but their second half revival ran out of steam.

Despite being billed as the biggest game in Sale's history, the home side faltered to leave the 2006 champions dangling dangerously over the precipice. Newcastle edged the first of two mammoth relegation tussles over the next three days and although Sale escaped with a losing bonus point, things could potentially get worse for them if basement side Worcester win at Leeds on Sunday.

Heading into the clash, Sale were boosted by the return from illness of fly-half Charlie Hodgson, who paired with Richard Wigglesworth at half-back. Meanwhile, the Falcons' hopes of securing a vital victory were dented before kick-off with the news skipper Carl Hayman had failed a late fitness test. Despite being named in the initial starting XV, a back spasm meant the talismanic tight-head prop had to be replaced by 19-year-old Keiran Brookes, with Gopperth stepping in as skipper. The Kiwi immediately led by example, showing why he is the top goal kicker in the Premiership with two penalties in the opening 12 minutes.

Newcastle were stretching Sale's back line and Gopperth penetrated in the 21st minute, finding the gap to score under the post, before duly converting. The visitors were looking unfazed despite recent drubbings, but were soon pegged back by Hodgson's penalty in the 25th minute. The Sharks looked resurgent as the half wore on and grabbed a try five minutes before half-time, playing the ball from right to left with aplomb to allow Marika Vakacegu to bounce over in the corner.

Hodgson converted but Newcastle headed into the break with a nine-point lead, after Gopperth struck his third and fourth penalties of the evening. The 26-year-old racked up another penalty for the Tynesiders shortly after the restart, before Hodgson brought Sale back with three quickly dispatched penalties.

The Sharks were dominating the second half and the England international levelled the scores with 20 minutes remaining, with a well-struck drop goal. Newcastle were on the back foot but superb work from the forwards allowed Micky Young to capitalise on poor Sharks defending to bundle over in the corner. Gopperth converted sensationally but the end-to-end nature of the match continued with Hodgson scoring a penalty from the restart to break through 1,700 career points.

Then Sale took the lead for the first time with only minutes remaining, moving the ball from right to left to allow Kristian Ormsby to go over in the corner. Hodgson missed the conversion to keep the crowd on tenterhooks, allowing Gopperth to retake the lead. And the former's missed drop goal at the death allowed the Falcons to eke out the win.

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**dudeabides** · 04-24-2010, 03:40 PM

Leicester v Harlequins:

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Reigning Guinness Premiership champions Leicester booked a home semi-final with a comfortable 40-22 bonus point win over Harlequins at Welford Road on Saturday.

Leicester were ahead within three minutes. The Quins won a line-out on halfway but Danny Care's pass was neatly intercepted by Toby Flood, who raced away to score. The outside half added the conversion and, minutes later, a 30-metre penalty to give the Quins a nightmare start.

The home side were penalised at two scrums in their own half which allowed Quins a platform in the Leicester 22. From a scrum, Care made amends for his earlier error by breaking and kicking ahead to win the race for the touchdown, with the Leicester defence strangely hesitant.

Flood kept the scoreboard ticking over from the tee but Leicester were then shocked as, totally against the run of play, Quins produced a 10-point scoring burst to give them a surprising 17-16 interval lead. Firstly David Strettle and Care combined to send George Lowe away for a try which Clegg converted, then Lowe produced a strong run to set up a ruck in the home 22 from which Clegg put his side ahead with a neat drop-goal.

With Quins flanker Chris Robshaw in the binMatt Smith scored the Tigers' next try after a break from Johne Murphy and Ben Youngs pounced from a quick tap penalty for a 33-17 lead. A series of scrums deep in Quins territory then proved fatal, the referee awarding a penalty try for the Tigers' bonus point.

Saracens v Northampton:

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Meanwhile, Saracens silenced Franklin's Gardens with a 28-27 win over Northampton, keeping alive their play-off surge and wrecking the Saints' enviable unbeaten home record.

Saints fullback Ben Foden gave Shane Geraghty the chance to seal the win when he touched down late on but the replacement sprayed his conversion attempt wide. The result confirmed Sarries as semi-finalists, where they will again meet Northampton.

Saints took a fifth-minute lead from the second penalty of the match when Stephen Myler, making his 100th appearance for Northampton, curled in a fine kick from wide on the left. But Saracens hit back within a minute, Rodd Penney's pass sending captain Ernst Joubert in by the left wing flag, despite the attentions of Chris Ashton.

The game erupted in the 33rd minute when Saracens halted an attack on the right by tackling Ashton just before Bruce Reihana's pass reached the prolific wing. White sent Botha to the sin-bin and awarded a penalty-try, converted by Myler.

After Myler had kicked the Saints ahead, Saracens centre Adam Powell crossed on the left following a multi-phased passage of play in which Jacques Burger and Glen Jackson played key roles. Myler and Jackson exchanged kicks, and the lead, before Saracens' adventure was rewarded after 70 minutes when, after battering Saints on their line, the ball was whipped wide left where Penney managed to squeeze in by the flag. Jackson's conversion-attempt went wide. Saints struck in the 78th minute after a succession of attacks when Foden raced over - but replacement Geraghty missed the conversion.

Wasps v Bath:

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Bath's extraordinary run of form continued as they moved into fourth place in the Guinness Premiership with a 35-19 win over Wasps at Twickenham.

Wing Joe Maddock ran in a hat-trick of tries but the man of the match was centre Olly Barkley, who capped an impeccable display in midfield by scoring the bonus-point try and kicking 15 points. Bath can now deprive Wasps of a play-off place by beating Leeds at home in a fortnight.

Wasps had started quite brightly and Danny Cipriani landed two penalties to open up a 6-0 lead inside nine minutes. The West Country side hung on, though, and Barkley, presented with a chance from 45 metres, promptly pulled back three points.

The first try came out of the blue on 18 minutes when Michael Claassens took a quick free-kick and Butch James ghosted through a gap before delivering a cleverly delayed one-handed pass to Barkley. Nick Abendanon was on hand to send Maddock over for the try and Barkley added the conversion.

Another Barkley penalty on 22 minutes put Bath 13-6 ahead but he had not finished just yet. Four minutes later the centre's break split Steve Kefu and the limping Simon Shaw, leaving lock Stuart Hooper, Claassens and Abendanon to present Maddock with another try in the opposite corner.

Barkley was wide with the conversion and Bath then had to contend with the loss of Abendanon to the sin-bin for a block on Tom Varndell. Cipriani missed the simple penalty but was then successful from 45 metres. The former England No.10 was first to score in the second half, chipping over a penalty from short range to cut the lead to 18-12 after a frantic passage of 12 phases.

However, Maddock completed his hat-trick on 57 minutes by intercepting Cipriani's floated pass. Barkley added the conversion and, as Wasps wilted, added a penalty on the hour to make it 28-12.

Cipriani's next and final act before being substituted was to knock on a simple pass from which Bath roared back onto the attack and Barkley finished things off, also converting his own try. At 35-12 it was over, still with 15 minutes to play. Indeed, it was only in the last minute that Wasps managed to get over the Bath line when replacement Ben Jacobs broke from a scrum, with Dominic Waldouck adding the conversion.

Gloucester v London Irish:

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London Irish's search for a top four finish took a further hit with a 34-20 loss to Gloucester at Kingsholm.

The Exiles, beaten Premiership finalists last season, were blown away by a Gloucester side that blazed into a 27-3 interval lead. Wings Lesley Vainikolo and James Simpson-Daniel scored tries, while fly-half Nicky Robinson kicked 19 points and there was a second-half touchdown for substitute prop Alasdair Dickinson.

Irish, twice reduced to 14 men after yellow cards, posted consolation touchdowns by lock Kieran Roche, flanker Steffon Armitage and prop Dan Murphy, while Tom Homer kicked a penalty and ex-Gloucester player Ryan Lamb added a conversion. Their play-off hopes, though, are now hanging by a thread.

Even if they beat high-flying Northampton in a fortnight's time, results involving rivals Wasps and Bath must still go their way.The chances are they will miss out, but Irish can have few complaints based on this latest evidence.

**dudeabides** · 04-25-2010, 03:14 PM

Leeds Carnegie v Worcester:

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Worcester have been relegated from the Guinness Premiership after slipping to a 12-10 defeat to Leeds at Headingley.

Worcester centre Alex Grove's 70th minute try put the whole of Headingley on edge as the Warriors went within two points, Leeds fly-half Ceiron Thomas having landed four penalties, but they could not find another score.

The result confirms the home side's place in the top flight for next season, as well as a lucrative financial boost. Their survival sees them accelerated to full shareholders in the Premiership, gaining equal funding to their rivals.

Thomas kicked his four penalties during a dour opening 40 minutes to put Leeds 12-3 up, Willie Walker replying with a penalty of his own for Worcester having missed with an earlier attempt.

Walker also missed two kickable penalties early in the second half before Grove crossed from a Matthew Jones chip to narrow the gap, but it wasn't enough for the Warriors as Jones saw his stoppage-time drop goal charged down to spark delirium among the Leeds faithful.

Worcester lose their top-flight status after a six-season stint in the Premiership but they can have few complaints as they were outfought by a hungry Leeds outfit. The Sixways club have flirted dangerously close to the drop in each of the past three seasons but there will be no reprieve for them on this occasion, with their return of just three wins from 21 games giving them with too much to do with only their final game against Gloucester to come.

Leeds had made one change from the side that had secured last week's vital win at London Irish with Kearnan Myall coming in for the injured Calum Clark in the back row. Worcester were without captain Pat Sanderson after he failed a late fitness test so former Australia fullback Chris Latham led the side with Chris Cracknell coming in at flanker.

Wing Chris Pennell had the chance to give the Warriors the lead with a second-minute penalty but his long-distance effort fell short and wide of the uprights. Thomas made no mistake a few minutes later when he slotted over from 30 metres after a deliberate knock on by Grove to give the home side an early advantage.

Another penalty quickly followed as Worcester were caught offside after Pennell had failed to gather Scott Mathie's box-kick and Thomas doubled the home side's lead. Thomas was then wide with an effort from 43 metres in the 15th minute as the home pack destroyed the Warriors at the scrum, but when Kai Hortsmann entered a ruck illegally in the 20th minute the former Scarlets man made made it 9-0.

The visitors' ill-discipline continued and Tuitupou foolishly refused to pay heed to referee Dave Pearson's warning not to chase a kick-ahead from an offside position, allowing Thomas to knock over his fourth three-pointer of the afternoon. It had been an error-strewn opening half-hour from Worcester, with Mike Ruddock's side losing three line-outs on their own throw and making countless handling errors in the heavy rainfall, but Walker finally got them on the board with a 34th-minute penalty.

They made a strong start to the second half with two lengthy passages of attacking play leading to a penalty opportunity, but Walker failed to convert. The fly-half's woes continued as he spurned a two-man overlap and he was rapidly withdrawn in favour of Jones.

The Warriors' line-out problems continued and another Leeds steal saw the Yorkshire club batter away at the Worcester line. Captain Marco Wentzel and flanker Hendre Fourie were among those to go close but a determined defensive effort saw the ball turned over. A surging break from Worcester No.8 Netani Talei took play to the other end of the field and a cross-kick from Jones deceived Thomas and allowed Grove to cross for a converted try to ratchet up the tension. Jones had a chance to snatch victory with four minutes to play, but his huge penalty attempt fell well short and he then saw a stoppage-time drop goal charged down in a frantic finale.

**dudeabides** · 05-08-2010, 03:39 PM

Final round:

Worcester v Gloucester:

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Worcester ended their six-year stay in the Guinness Premiership with an agonising 23-22 defeat to neighbours Gloucester at Sixways.

However, the Warriors nearly snatched victory with the last kick of the game when replacement Willie Walker hit a 22-metre drop-goal against an upright.

Worcester rang the changes to the starting line-up for the game from the team which lost at Leeds Carnegie in their do-or-die Premiership relegation clash a fortnight ago. Gloucester, meanwhile, made one switch from the team which beat London Irish in their last league clash as England No. 8 Luke Narraway came in for Adam Eustace. There was another absentee from that Leeds game for Worcester, with caretaker coach Andrew Stanley picking the team after the departure of rugby director Mike Ruddock.

And the home side started well as fly-half Joe Carlisle began a good move that led to wing Chris Pennell going over for the first try of the match. There could have been another when Australian fullback star Chris Latham, playing his final game after a two-year stay, went over only for the try to be ruled out for offside.

But Gloucester took their first chance to get points on the board when Welsh fly-half Nicky Robinson launched over a 35-metre penalty. And soon the Cherry and Whites took the lead when pressure inside the home 22 saw the ball run loose on the right wing and give flanker Akapusi Qera a run-in down the touchline from 20 metres.

Worcester were unlucky not to get an attacking scrum when Gloucester full-back Olly Morgan fumbled a kick into his 22 over the line and appeared to accidentally touch it down before clearing. But it was not spotted by any of the officials.

Gloucester went further ahead when a clever kick to the corner saw former England wing Lesley Vainikolo just beat the cover for the try. The Cherry and Whites had the run of possession in the half but Worcester went into the break in front after Robinson threw a pass on halfway only to see centre Alex Grove neatly intercept and race unopposed to the posts, giving Carlisle a simple conversion for a 15-13 scoreline.

But, as both teams rang the changes in the third quarter, the match's intensity waned as Gloucester's handling became haphazard, while Worcester struggled to mount any meaningful attacks. Carlisle had a penalty chance just after the break but missed, while Robinson's second penalty of the afternoon on the hour put Gloucester into a one-point advantage.

Worcester's one meaningful attack at that stage saw them gain significant possession inside the Gloucester 22 but a strong defence refused to buckle as the move fizzled out. However, the game sparked into life again in the last 10 minutes. Gloucester hooker Scott Lawson looked to have wrapped up the victory as he emerged from a pile of bodies after an attacking line-out win by Narraway for Robinson to convert and produce an eight-point gap.

However, Worcester would not give in and had the visitors struggling in their own 22. Then, after a ruck was turned over on the line, Robinson was caught unable to clear on the dead-ball line. He ran left but was tap-tackled for the ball to run loose and Latham to pounce for the try.

Carlisle's conversion set up a furious finish as Worcester went for only their fifth league win of the season and they nearly snatched it with a drop-goal from Walker only for it to agonisingly hit the post and Gloucester cleared to touch to secure a narrow victory.

Newcastle v Wasps:

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Wasps' season ended on a low despite their 25-21 victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park, with Bath's win over Leeds ensuring that they finished outside of the play-offs.

The London side miss out on a place in the semi-finals for the second year running since their 2008 Premiership triumph. That result also meant the Wasps careers of Danny Cipriani, who left the field early on with a thumb injury, and Paul Sackey ended in disappointment before their moves to Melbourne Rebels and Toulon respectively.

Defeat sees Newcastle, for whom lock James Hudson was outstanding, finish a lowly 10th but, in head coach Alan Tait's first game in charge, there were encouraging signs the northeast fans can look forward to a better campaign next season.

Wasps had led 10-7 at the break thanks to a try from hooker Rob Webber and five points from the boot of fly-half Dave Walder, with Jimmy Gopperth scoring a converted try for the hosts. Newcastle re-took the lead through Grant Shiels' try, but Dan Ward-Smith replied almost immediately for the visitors and a lovely break from scrum-half Joe Simpson sent Sackey in for a wonderful try. Walder's second penalty sealed the win before Tim Swinson got a late consolation for the Falcons.

Newcastle captain Carl Hayman made his final appearance for the club before joining Toulon while Rob Vickerman came into the centre and Danny Williams started on the wing in the absence of the injured Charlie Amesbury. Cipriani started at fullback for the visitors with Tom Varndell at wing while lock Simon Shaw and flanker Joe Worsley missed out through illness and injury, with Ward-Smith moving to second row and Serge Betsen starting on the blindside flank.

Tait had only been handed the reins following the departure of Steve Bates on Tuesday, and he could hardly have wished for a better start as the Falcons showed excellent patience to build through the phases for the opening score. A sniping break from scrum-half Micky Young allowed Gopperth, the Premiership's top points-scorer, to break into the Wasps 22 and, a few phases later, the fly-half cut back against the grain and brushed off a weak Cipriani tackle to cross for a third-minute try he converted. And the hosts should have extended their lead when a fierce hit by Gcobani Bobo on Sackey sparked a smart counter-attack.

Fullback Alex Tait made ground with an arcing outside break but flanker Brent Wilson could not hold the final pass with a clear run to the line ahead. Wasps responded as Sackey broke out of his own 22 but lock George Skivington lost the ball in contact in what was proving to be an entertaining end-of-season encounter.

Cipriani was then forced off in the 23rd minute after appearing to fall awkwardly dotting down a Newcastle kick-ahead, Mark Van Gisbergen was his replacement. But the visitors shrugged off that blow to level the scores, a well-controlled driving maul allowing Webber to burrow over the line, Walder adding the conversion against his former club. And Walder then gave Wasps the lead as he knocked over a simple penalty after Tane Tu'ipulotu was penalised for hands in the ruck.

Wasps were reduced to 14 men in the 48th minute when Webber was sin-binned for pulling back the Newcastle support after Hudson had taken a Gopperth cross-kick and they were punished immediately as lock Swinson offloaded out of the tackle to send replacement prop Shiels over, Gopperth judging the blustery conditions to perfection to land the conversion.

But the game turned back in the visitors' favour as the lead lasted all of three minutes. Bobo's poor clearance kick was charged down, and Wasps took full advantage of the field position as Ward-Smith crashed through a tackle to cross, although Walder failed to add the extras. Newcastle laid siege to the Wasps line but were unable to make their pressure tell and they were punished in the 63rd minute. Simpson used his pace to make an intelligent blindside break from the base of a scrum on halfway and freed Sackey on the right, the England winger made no mistake as he stepped Tait's covering tackle for a wonderful try which Walder converted.

Wasps were now in firm control and Walder added his second penalty in the 71st minute to close out the win. But Newcastle kept going and Swinson barged over in the final seconds for a consolation try, converted by replacement Tom Catterick.

**dudeabides** · 05-08-2010, 03:40 PM

London Irish v Northampton:

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Jon Clarke grabbed a brace of tries as Northampton secured a home semi-final against Saracens in the Guinness Premiership play-offs by thrashing London Irish 31-7 at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Saints, who finished the regular season in second place, took an 11-0 lead into the break thanks to powerful centre Clarke's 39th-minute try and two penalties by Stephen Myler. Chris Ashton, playing in front of watching England manager Martin Johnson and his fellow national team coaches, dotted down for Northampton's second try while Clarke added a third late on, with Myler kicking the rest of their points.

It was hardly the ideal way for 2003 World Cup-winning centre Mike Catt, playing the final match of his illustrious career, to bow out but he at least came off the bench for the last 13 minutes for a cameo appearance for Irish, for whom he will continue to be attack coach.

The hosts' only points came from Danie Coetzee's 65th-minute try, converted by Tom Homer, as Toby Booth's men ended the season in sixth place and with a lacklustre performance under their belts.

England full-back Delon Armitage was a late withdrawal from Irish's starting XV, and was replaced by winger Topsy Ojo, with Homer reverting to number 15. Injuries have hit the Exiles hard this campaign, a key reason why one of the hot pre-season tips for the title have fallen short of a top-four finish thanks with just three wins in 2010, but they at least welcomed back star winger Sailosi Tagicakibau for the first time since February.

And the Samoa international enlivened the crowd on a chilly day in Reading with the first real break, sprinting 60 yards before being hauled down by opposite wing Ashton, who struggled against Tagicakibau in the first half.

Homer missed an angled, fourth-minute penalty attempt before Myler opened his account with a 35-yard kick after 18 minutes for 3-0. Although defences were largely on top, Saints looked more dangerous out wide and they butchered a clear four-on-one overlap in the 25th minute after picking up turnover ball.

Myler extended the lead to 6-0 with a 35th-minute penalty and Northampton scored a killer try seconds before the break, Ashton sending away Clarke down the left wing for the centre to scamper over for his eighth of the season. Myler missed the conversion and then a penalty chance early in the second half but the match was as good as won when Ashton went over in the 48th minute.

A quick tap fooled the Irish defence and after Soane Tonga'uiha had taken the ball on, Reihana laid a try on a plate for Ashton, who grounded under the posts for his 23rd of the season to allow Myler a simple conversion. The fly-half kicked his third successful penalty of the afternoon for 21-0 as an increasingly bedraggled home side continued to come off second best in the tight.

Exiles supporters finally had reason to cheer in the 65th minute when, after a series of close-quarter attacking phases, Coetzee barged over from a yard with his team's first points of the match. Homer added the extras before Catt entered the fray, to rapturous applause.

Saints saw full-back Ben Foden helped off the pitch at the same time, to be replaced by Shane Geraghty, and the England international was immediately given treatment by Saints medical staff.

Catt, 38, did not have any time to turn the tide in Irish's favour - although he was jokingly given the official man-of-the-match award - and Clarke had the last laugh with a late try down the left.

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Leicester v Saracens:

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Saracens silenced Welford Road with a 32-23 victory over table-topping Leicester on Saturday, but still saw their hopes of a home semi-final dashed by Northampton's victory at London Irish.

It was a deserved win for the visitors, however, who won at Leicester for the first time in 32 visits. Saracens took the lead after three minutes when Glen Jackson kicked a 40-metre penalty and the visitors' start became even better when the fly-half landed another 30-metre goal two minutes later. Leicester soon hit back when Jeremy Staunton got their first points from a penalty after eight minutes and were ahead not long after.

Jackson's kick was charged down and the Tigers took full advantage with Geordan Murphy crossing the gain line and from the ruck swift hands saw Alesana Tuilagi outflank the defence to score. Staunton converted from the touchline and then landed a simple penalty to put Leicester 13-6 ahead.

Back came the visitors with Jackson gaining them a good position with an excellent touch finder. They built up a sustained period of pressure with both Brad Barritt and Jacques Burger going close but the home defence held firm and Saracens' only reward was a further penalty from Jackson. He had a further chance to reduce the arrears as the Tigers were penalised when Lewis Moody high tackled Barritt but Jackson pushed the kick wide.

After 25 minutes Saracens were back in front once again through a try from Chris Wyles. Murphy and Tuilagi carelessly allowed a Garryowen to bounce with Wyles running onto the loose ball to collect and score. Jackson converted to give his side a 16-13 lead. For the remainder of the half the Leicester pack dominated proceedings in terms of possession and territory, with Tuilagi making a couple of powerful runs, but Saracens kept their line intact to lead at the interval.

Within two minutes of the restart, Saracens received a tremendous boost to their chances when Schalk Brits intercepted a stray Leicester pass to run 35 metres and score. Jackson converted to give the visitors a healthy 10-point advantage but soon afterwards the outstanding hooker was forced to leave the field with an injury. Staunton missed a penalty chance for Leicester but after 57 minutes they were back in it.

Ben Youngs made a brilliant blindside break from halfway. He was hauled down narrowly short but from the resulting ruck the Tigers had too many numbers and Marcos Ayerza scored. Staunton converted and then exchanged penalties with Jackson to leave the visitors 26-23 ahead going into the final quarter. With 12 minutes to go the Tigers were hit by a double blow. At the ruck close to the Leicester line, Tom Croft, the home flanker, was yellow carded and Jackson kicked the penalty. The Tigers were stunned into action with skipper Murphy doing everything in his power to lift his side, but once again Leicester fell foul of the referee, as Derick Hougaard made no mistake with a beautifully struck 45-metre penalty to seal Leicester's fate.

**dudeabides** · 05-08-2010, 03:44 PM

Harlequins v Sale:

Quote:

Harlequins ended the Guinness Premiership season with a 35-20 victory over Sale Sharks at The Stoop which had all the elements of their campaign, a mixture of the superb and the very ordinary.

In the end, however, they fully deserved to wrap up the season with a victory - with late determination proving decisive. However, they failed to achieve their target of a top six finish. For former champions Sale, a campaign spent fighting to stave off relegation can also hardly be regarded as a successful season for the former champions.

It was a special day for wing David Strettle and hooker Tani Fuga - both playing their final games for Harlequins. England wing Strettle is joining Saracens while Fuga has become a free agent.

The hosts lost lock James Percival after only two minutes. He was hurt in an open play tackle and left the field on a stretcher after three minutes treatment to be replaced by Tomas Vallejos. But two minutes later the mood in the home camp was a lot lighter as George Lowe raced clear up the left to open the scoring in fine style with a try created for him by Jordan Turner-Hall. Fly-half Nick Evans missed the conversion.

With six minutes gone Quins went 12-0 up when Evans produced a splendidly accurate cross-kick which Strettle plucked out of the air wide on the right to score from close range. This time Evans made no mistake for the extra two points.

Sale gained in confidence and their continued pressure was finally rewarded when Hodgson converted a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts on 20 minutes. However, the former England fly-half left the field two minutes later looking very groggy after needing treatment following a tackle.

The game tilted the visitors' way when referee White sin-binned Vallejos for a deliberate obstruction in the 28th minute. Sale needed only two minutes more to capitalise. England centre Mathew Tait won possession on halfway and beat three opponents in a tremendous solo run that took him behind the posts. Lee Thomas converted to make the score 12-10 at the interval.

Having exerted all the pressure early in the second half Quins fell behind to a sucker punch in the 47th minute. Sale looked to have lost momentum when an attack broke down but when the ball was scrambled back to Thomas the centre produced a tremendous snap drop-goal to edge the visitors in front for the first time.

To make matters worse for the hosts they lost influential fly-half Evans to a thigh strain minutes later leaving replacement Rory Clegg to begin his involvement by taking a penalty. However, the youngster kept his nerve and regained the lead for Quins.

After a spell of cat-and-mouse kicking from end to end the hosts stepped up a gear in the 59th minute. The hugely impressive Strettle began the move with a darting break from inside his own half and by the time Nick Easter burst in on the right to score Quins' third try, the ball passed through eight pairs of hands. Clegg missed the conversion.

Quins extended their lead in the 69th minute when Sale were penalised for not retreating 10 yards as Clegg kicked the penalty without fuss. But the visitors refused to lie down and were back in the hunt three minutes later when a period of sustained pressure was rewarded when the pack drove over Sisaro Koyamaibole. The conversion by Thomas reduced the lead to three points.

However, Quins were determined the end the season on a high and struck twice in the last six minutes. Turner-Hall clenched the bonus points when he scored the fourth try, Clegg converting, then - with the last attack of the match - Tom Williams crossed to conclude the scoring.

Bath v Leeds:

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Bath set up a mouth-watering Guinness Premiership play-off semi-final with Leicester Tigers courtesy of a commanding 39-3 victory over Leeds Carnegie at the Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon.

First half tries by Nick Abendanon and Michael Claassens sent Bath on their way to an 11th victory in 12 league games since Christmas. A 17-point interval advantage was extended after the break through wing Matt Banahan's touchdown, a brilliant second Abendanon try and a Joe Maddock score, while Olly Barkley kicked four conversions and added two penalties.

Leeds mustered a solitary Ceiron Thomas penalty in reply after being outclassed throughout the contest. While Leicester lose rarely at home - and they knocked Bath out of Premiership and Heineken Cup contention last term - the west country club will not be short of confidence. After collecting just 12 points from their first 10 Premiership games, Bath took 49 in the next 12, suggesting confidence will not be an issue when they head to the east midlands.

Bath last lifted the league title in 1996, but they are a transformed team since Christmas and Leicester will underestimate them at their peril. The Tigers can, though, reflect on a 43-20 victory over Bath five weeks ago, which will give them confidence in terms of reaching the Premiership final at Twickenham on May 29.

England squad member Shontayne Hape lined up in Bath's midfield hoping to press his claims for the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand before Martin Johnson's squad announcement on Tuesday. Leeds, meanwhile, fielded 13 of the side that secured Premiership safety by condemning Worcester to last place with their narrow victory over them a fortnight ago.

Maddock led Bath out on his final home appearance before moving to Italy next term, but the home side suffered an early injury blow when England hooker Lee Mears went off injured. Mears was replaced by South African Pieter Dixon, and Bath took time to settle as they were hindered by several unforced handling errors.

Leeds encountered few problems keeping Bath out, although veteran lock Danny Grewcock was denied a try when the video referee ruled he had failed to touch the ball down under a pile of bodies. And it was a prelude to Bath breaking the deadlock as they made their temporary one-man advantage count after Leeds scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, playing his last club game ahead of retirement, was sin-binned for a technical infringement.

Bath retained field position after Grewcock's near miss, and quickly recycled possession enabled Abendanon to cross, with Barkley converting from the touchline. Leeds were struggling to keep Bath out, and a Barkley penalty made it 10-0 ahead of an injury to referee Martin Fox that saw him replaced by David Rose.

Bath, without ever threatening to find top gear, extended their lead as half-time approached when skipper Claassens shredded Leeds' blindside defence for an opportunist score. Barkley converted, and Leeds were down and out at 17-0 adrift, with Bath halfway towards mission accomplished.

Leeds had no answer in the second period, being unlocked by Barkley's midfield craft that created a score for Banahan, then Abendanon dummied a pass to flanker Andy Beattie before finishing off a high-paced handling move that clinched a bonus point. Leeds had entered damage-limitation mode, and it was just a case of how many more points Bath would score as they completed their Premiership home programme.

Maddock sprinted over for try number five, and the final whistle could not come soon enough for a Leeds side high on commitment, but excruciatingly short in terms of attacking endeavour.

And next week's semifinals are set:

Northampton v Saracens
Leicester v Bath

with the winners to face off in the finale two weeks later.

**dudeabides** · 05-16-2010, 03:32 PM

In the first semifinal,

Northampton v Saracens:

Quote:

Saracens stunned Northampton 21-19 in their Guinness Premiership semi-final clash at Franklin's Gardens to book a place in this season's finale.

Tries from outstanding fullback Alex Goode, winger Chris Wyles and hooker Schalk Brits and a man of the match performance from fly-half Glen Jackson including a superb late conversion inspired an upset win and carried Saracens into their first ever Premiership final. Tries in either half from props Soane Tonga'uiha and Brian Mujati had put Saints on course for victory but they had no answer to Brits' late score and were guilty of failing to orchestrate a last-gasp drop goal opportunity for fly-half Stephen Myler.

Saracens were a far more adventurous side, but once Saints got a grip up-front and began exerting a vice-like grip through their forwards there seemed no way back for the visitors. Goode, somehow overlooked for England's summer tour to Australia and New Zealand next month, was easily the game's most accomplished performer. He outshone Northampton's revered back-three of Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Bruce Reihana by showcasing a dazzling skills-set, and his performance ultimately reaped the reward it deserved as Saracens booked a Twickenham appointment with Leicester or Bath.

Northampton, beaten by Saracens on home soil 22 days ago, fielded South African Mujati in the tighthead role instead of Scotland international Euan Murray, whose religious beliefs mean he does not play on a Sunday. The visitors, meanwhile, were boosted by Goode's recovery from a thumb injury. Goode reclaimed his familiar No.15 shirt, which meant Wyles switching to the wing instead of Richard Haughton. The clubs' fifth meeting this season followed an acrimonious month marred by the Tonga'uiha affair, in addition to Northampton criticising Saracens' victory celebrations at the Gardens three weeks ago.

Northampton began brightly and when Saracens flanker Andy Saul was penalised for not releasing Saints offered a signal of their intentions by kicking to the corner but the visitors snaffled the ball and cleared the danger. A superb steal and run from No.8 Roger Wilson then had Saracens scrambling back in defence and Burger's desperate attempts to snuff out the danger saw the Namibian sent to the sin bin and Myler give Northampton the lead from the kicking tee.

The home side were soon pressing again with winger Ashton, flanker Phil Dowson and fullback Foden combining well but simple errors robbed them off territory and momentum. And they were made to pay by Saracens who conjured a superb score to take the lead. Winger Michael Tagicakibau injected some blistering pace to cut through the Sarries line before feeding hooker Schalk Brits who surged towards the 22 where the ball was recycled wide to Goode who crossed for the opening try of the game. Jackson's conversion made it a seven-point score and he was narrowly wide with a drop goal attempt midway through the half.

Northampton continued to be undone by a crippling penalty account with Ashton in particular feeling the wrath of referee Wayne Barnes with the winger guilty of exuberance on more than one occasion. It was left to the Saints pack to lead the fight back by going back to basics and a huge driving maul laying a good foundation only for errors to return and blunt their attack.

There was no quarter given by either side at the breakdown where a ferocious battle played out with first Ashton and then Goode providing eye-catching flair to compliment the bruising physicality of the contest. But it was the unlikely figure of prop Tonga'uiha who delivered a fitting finale to the opening period. The Tongan, the subject of a tug-of-war between the two club earlier this year, stormed up the short side before shrugging off Goode and crashing over in the corner. Myler made a mess of the conversion but his side were back in control as the sides headed to the tunnel.

A knock on at the start of the second period handed Northampton the ball in the shadow of Saracens' posts and pressure at scrum time from Tonga'uiha drawing a penalty that Myler duly slotted. But the match soon swung back to Saracens with the visitors once again rewarded for their ambition. The increasingly impressive Goode drew two tacklers in midfield before feeding replacement Kameli Ratuvou who in turn worked the ball to lock Hugh Vyvan who found winger Wyles for another excellent try that was converted by Jackson. The tit-for-tat exchange continued with the cool-headed Myler bringing his side level with a penalty just two minutes later.

Northampton were soon knocking on the door again with a powerful catch and drive deep inside the Saracens 22 resulting in a try for Mujati, another reported transfer target for Saracens, but Myler could only pull his conversion attempt wide of the posts. With renewed vigour, Saints pressed forward with Foden chasing down a clearance that drew yet another penalty inside the Saracens 22. The kick went to the corner for the lineout before Tonga'uiha and then Ashton went close to scoring but they were unable to find an opening.

Northampton went in search of the match-winning score as the game entered the final ten minutes but replacement wing Joe Ansbro saw the door slammed in his face by a resolute Saracens defence. The visitors then responded with Tagicakibau powering upfield where successive penalties against Saints increased the pressure on the home side and laid the platform for the match-defining score. Saracens kicked to the corner for the lineout and Brits powered his way over with a little help from his friends although he had to wait for the TMO to confirm the score.

Jackson slotted the high-pressure conversion to give his side the lead with just three minutes of the game remaining and set up a nail-biting finale. Foden and Ashton led Saints' riposte and they proceeded to set up camp on the Sarries' 22 but they were unable to conjure the drop goal opportunity for Myler who coughed up possession and with it the game.

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