Exeter celebrate

Aviva Premiership: Exeter move to the top of the standings by beating Harlequins

19:16 · SUN November 19, 2017

A review of the weekend's Aviva Premiership action as Exeter defeated Harlequins to go top of the standings.

Aviva Premiership results

Sunday

Exeter 31-17 Harlequins
Leicester 35-27 Sale Sharks
London Irish 18-22 Bath

Saturday

Worcester 30-15 Northampton
Wasps 40-10 Newcastle

Friday

Gloucester 23-17 Saracens

Sunday review

Exeter 31-17 Harlequins

Exeter tries: Turner (5), Woodburn (24), Hill (44,68)
Conversions: Steenson (5,24,44,68)
Penalties: Steenson (80)

Harlequins tries: Chisholm (10), Visser (34)
Conversions: Smith (10,34)
Penalties: Smith (40)

Reigning champions Exeter moved to the top of the Aviva Premiership despite the unconvincing manner of their 31-17 win over injury-hit Harlequins at Sandy Park.

Their bonus-point success moved them two points ahead of Saracens, who they meet at Allianz Park next Sunday.

Harlequins, inspired by the skill of young fly-half Marcus Smith, were the better side for large parts of the game but a number of marginal refereeing decisions went against them.

Jonny Hill scored two of Exeter's tries, with one each for Olly Woodburn and Lachie Turner, while Gareth Steenson converted all four and kicked a penalty.

Tim Visser and James Chisholm scored tries for Quins, with Smith adding two conversions and a penalty.

London Irish 18-22 Bath

London Irish tries: Marshall (19), Steele (75)
Conversions: Tonks (75)
Penalties: Bell (3,40)

Bath tries: Banahan (8)
Conversions: Burns (8)
Penalties: Burns (14,27,47,60)
Drop-Goals: Burns (24)

Fly-half Freddie Burns kicked 17 points as Bath survived a brilliant grand finale by London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

A brilliant effort from Irish, particularly late on, put them agonisingly close to winning the game.

Replacement Scott Steele's 75th-minute try, converted by Greig Tonks, added to a first-half touchdown from full-back James Marshall and two penalties by fly-half Tommy Bell to give Irish a chance to snatch victory.

Burns' contribution was big as he punished the Exiles for their mistakes as he went through the book with four penalties, a drop goal and the conversion of centre Matt Banahan's first-half try.

Leicester 35-17 Sale

Leicester tries: Genge (35), Owen (66), Malouf (77), Penalty (24)
Conversions: Ford (35,66)
Penalties: Ford (10,28,48)

Sale tries: Curry (16), Jennings (32), Yarde (39), Ross (51)
Conversions: de Klerk (32,39)
Penalties: de Klerk (3)

Leicester were made to work hard for their sixth consecutive win in the Aviva Premiership as they prevailed 35-27 over Sale at Welford Road.

In a pulsating clash that ebbed and flowed, the Tigers held on to extend their unbeaten run and move into third position, while Sale had to settle for a bonus point in an eight-try thriller.

Saturday review

Wasps 40-10 Newcastle Falcons

Wasps tries: Wade (2, 10), Eastmond (13), Haskell (44), Lovobalavu (59), Bassett (74)
Conversions: Gopperth (3, 15, 44, 59, 74)

Newcastle tries: Robinson (32)
Conversions: Flood (33)
Penalties: Flood (8)

Wasps continued their superb Aviva Premiership run with a bonus-point 40-10 win over Newcastle Falcons.

Christian Wade crossed twice and fit-again Kyle Eastmond added a third inside the opening quarter of an hour to put the hosts 19-3.

The visitors fought back in the 32nd minute as Sean Robinson went over to narrow the gap at half-time.

But the dominant home side pulled clear after the break with James Haskell, Gabiriele Lovobalavu and Josh Bassett all claiming tries.

Worcester 30-15 Northampton

Worcester tries: Heem (24, 35, 80), Adams (49)
Conversions: Lance (36), Pennell (80)
Penalties: Lance (21, 45)

Northampton tries: Foden (53), Gibson (76)
Conversions: Myler (77)
Penalties: Myler (5)

Bryce Heem scored a hat-trick of tries as Worcester picked up their first league win of the season with a bonus-point 30-15 success over Northampton at Sixways.

The victory took Worcester off the bottom of the table and two points above London Irish, who face Bath at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

Josh Adams was Worcester's other try scorer, with Jono Lance adding two penalties and a conversion and Chris Pennell a single conversion.

Ben Foden and Jamie Gibson scored Northampton's tries in the second half with Stephen Myler kicking a penalty and conversion, but it was not enough to prevent the visitors from slipping to a fourth defeat of the campaign.

Bryce Heem scores a Worcester try

Friday review

Gloucester 23-17 Saracens

Gloucester tries: Thorley (61), Hudson (67)
Conversions: Twelvetrees (62, 69)
Penalties: Twelvetrees (8, 51, 58)

Saracens tries: Brits (53)
Penalties: Lozowski (10, 18, 40), Spencer (80)

Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens let slip an eight-point lead as they lost 23-17 to Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday night.

The visitors dominated the first half and scored the game's first try in the 53rd minute through Schalk Brits but Ollie Thorley and Tom Hudson crossed in the final quarter to secure victory for Gloucester, who move up to third in the table.

Billy Twelvetrees converted both tries and kicked three penalties while Alex Lozowski kicked nine points and Ben Spencer landed a late penalty for Saracens.