Michael Claasens scored two tries as Bath climbed back to the top of the Guinness Premiership table with a 25-14 win over Northampton on Saturday. Here is a review of all the weekends action.
Nick Evans produced more last-gasp heroics as Harlequins snatched a 26-26 draw with Leicester in front of a record Guinness Premiership crowd at Twickenham.
Sporting Life reports that a fortnight ago, Evans’ successful drop-goal with the final kick of the game had sealed Harlequins a famous Heineken Cup victory over Stade Francais.
Tonight, the former New Zealand fly-half sent Ugo Monye in for a last-minute try before landing a touchline conversion to complete a stunning Harlequins comeback.
With five minutes remaining the Londoners had been 10 points adrift.
But Leicester flanker Lewis Moody was sin-binned as Quins mounted a late rally and Evans took full advantage to send the 50,000 crowd home in festive spirits.
Bath climbed back to the top of the table with a 25-14 win over Northampton which was less convincing than the scoreline suggests.
Saints enjoyed plenty of possession but did not possess a cutting edge sharp enough to open up the home defence until the final minute when lock Juandre Kruger crossed in the corner.
However, it was another South African, Bath scrum-half Michael Claasens, who was man-of-the-match, scoring two tries and relishing the physical contest around the breakdown.
London Irish slipped to a first defeat in 11 league and cup matches as Saracens reignited their season with a 16-13 win in front of a huge holiday crowd of over 16,000 at Vicarage Road.
The Exiles, who last ended up on the wrong end of a scoreline against Bath in September, produced a lacklustre performance after their impressive victory over Gloucester last week as Saracens triumphed after a scrappy affair boasting just one try each – both scored in the first half.
Gloucester carved out a bonus point, 29-10 victory over relegation favourites Bristol to keep themselves firmly in play-off contention.
England internationals Olly Morgan and Mike Tindall scored tries in each half to put Gloucester in charge.
And Tindall’s second touchdown secured a five-point maximum after Gloucester wing Lesley Vainikolo also breached Bristol’s defence.Worcester came from behind to grab a 16-16 draw away to Newcastle at Kingston Park after the Falcons had enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but failed to make it count.
The hosts had opened up a 13-3 lead early in the first half on the back a converted Phil Dowson try and a pair of Rory Clegg penalties.
But the Warriors slowly fought their way back into the game and eventually grabbed a share of the spoils when Pat Sanderson crossed, and Eoghan Hickey converted, 11 minutes from full-time.Captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scored two tries as Sale beat London Wasps 31-3 at Edgeley Park.
The Argentinian back-rower crossed twice as the Sharks chalked up four tries and England duo Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson also touched down as Wasps could only muster a solitary Dave Walder penalty.
The Sharks were in predatory form, twice pouncing on Wasps errors to erase memories of their last-gasp defeat to Bath last weekend and get their Guinness Premiership title hopes firmly back on track.
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Some of the guys not making their pics while on vacation has certainly opened the Superbru competition up.
The first 5 players are covered by a less than two point spread.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : Shhh. Don’t tell them. 😈 I’ve finally managed to crack the top ten.
And there are only about 15 in our pool. 🙄 😳
Quins reckon that next xmas they can get 82,000 for this match.
That 50,000 smashed the previous record for a regular GP match. The record was about 26,000.
@McLovin (Comment 2) :
my records tell me that your current position of 7th IS your higest position but you have been in the top ten before.
🙂
Check your rac…..yahoo.co….. email for an up to date *.XLS spread sheet. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : Thanks, will go and have a look. 😎
Dropped from 3rd to 8th in the last round – forgot to make my picks again… 😡
No chance of that happening this weekend – because…I’ve just made my picks…
Good to see that we have a fellow Bath supporter at the summit…
I see I’m sixth now. ❓ Not complaining. Slow & steady wins it.
I don’t know anything about European rugby and therefor do not take place therein…
@Hmmm (Comment 9) : Didnt know much as well but im learning.
Still 42 sleeps until the S14 starts. 🙄 👿
@McLovin (Comment 11) : better get the fantasy league ready 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 12) : You’d better. 😉 🙂
Going through the fixture list at the mo and even with some very optimistic predictions the Stormers might still not make the semi’s. 👿
Sharks should definitly make the semi’s and not just saying that cause this is a Sharks site. They’re even looking good for a home semi.
Bulls could sneak a semi but will probably be an away match. Won’t be throwing any bets their way just yet.
Lions & Cheetahs. Why bother. They’ll be nowhere.
So worst case scenario. Only Sharks in semi’s.
Best case – Sharks home semi & Stormers also in semi (one can dream).
@McLovin (Comment 18) : sounds like you want to write a predictions piece…
@robdylan (Comment 19) : I’ll thinks about it. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 20) : excellent 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 12) : You’re doing the S14 FL ???