Aviva Premiership round-up: Northampton cut down by Saracens
Northampton’s unbeaten run in the Aviva Premiership came to an abrupt end on Sunday as they were defeated 24-17 by Saracens at Vicarage Road.
All of Saracens points came from the boot of fly-half Derick Hougaard who profited from the Saints’ ill discipline to kick seven penalties and a spectacular drop-goal. The only try of the game was scored by Paul Diggin which gave Northampton an invaluable bonus point as they drop down to second in the league table.
Topsy Ojo did his chances of securing an England place no harm at all by scoring a hat-trick in London Irish’s 46-12 win over the Newcastle Falcons, which sends the Irish to the top of the table. A double from Jonathon Joseph and a late score by Dan Bowden gave the scoreline a glossy look after Newcastle had matched their high-flying opponents for 60 minutes.
Sale continued their poor record at the Recreational Ground as they went down 31-16 to Bath, who also secured a bonus point through a 78th-minute Ben Williams try. Olly Barkley was probably the main difference between the sides; he kicked four conversions, a penalty and instigated most of Bath’s incisive attacking play which resulted in four tries.
Current champions Leicester Tigers bounced back from their second-half capitulation against Wasps last week by turning over Leeds Carnegie 48-6 at Welford Road. The match was as good as over by half-time as the Tigers back-line ran the visitors defence ragged by crossing over four tries to secure the bonus point inside 37 minutes. The second half was played in the same vein as the first, as the hosts ran over another four scores, including two from the in-form Henry Tuilagi.
Nicky Robinson was the hero for Gloucester as he came off the bench to kick two late penalties to give the home side an invaluable 22-20 victory over Wasps.
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