Aviva Premiership review: Wasps win at Harlequins
A review of this weekend's action in the Aviva Premiership.
Aviva Premiership results
Friday, February 9
- Bath 32-9 Northampton
Saturday, February 10
- Exeter 5-6 Worcester
- Gloucester 24-17 Leicester
- Saracens 25-3 Newcastle
- London Irish 9-13 Sale
Sunday, February 11
- Harlequins 22-44 Wasps
Sunday
Wasps overcame the 17th-minute dismissal of centre Kyle Eastmond to secure a 44-22 victory at Harlequins.
Eastmond was sent off for a dangerous high challenge on Marcus Smith, the second time in a month a Wasps player had been given his marching orders at the Stoop.
James Haskell had also been ordered off in the European Champions Cup meeting between the sides at the same venue but this time around Wasps were the winners to move up to third in the Aviva Premiership table.
Thomas Young scored two tries for the visitors, with Juan De Jongh, Tom Cruse, Josh Bassett and Willie Le Roux grabbing one apiece. Danny Cipriani added four conversions and kicked two penalties.
Tim Visser, Charlie Matthews and Aaron Morris were Quins' try-scorers with Smith adding a penalty and two conversions.
Saturday
Worcester pulled off one of the shocks of the Aviva Premiership season by defeating defending champions Exeter 6-5 in an attritional battle at Sandy Park.
After 11 successive league losses at the hands of Exeter since 2011, lowly Worcester deservedly secure a famous victory over the league leaders.
Chris Pennell kicked two penalties for the 11th-placed Warriors with Mitch Lees scoring the only try of the game for Exeter.
Gloucester entered the top three as they ground struggling Leicester to a 24-17 defeat at Kingsholm.
It was Leicester's fifth defeat in six league games and it was an improved performance, with tries from wing Nick Malouf and fly-half Joe Ford, with the stand-off converting both and centre Matt Toomua landing a last kick penalty.
Gloucester missed out on a try bonus point as centre Henry Trinder crossed twice and replacement Matt Scott added the third try. Centre Billy Twelvetrees kicked a penalty and three conversions.
Richard Barrington and Max Malins scored tries as Saracens defeated Newcastle 25-3.
The hosts were in control for most of the contest at Allianz Park, with their superb defence keeping out the Falcons.
With Exeter suffering that surprise home loss to Worcester, European champions Sarries closed to within a point of the top of the table.
Sale Sharks survived a late fightback from London Irish to come away with a narrow victory at the Madejski Stadium courtesy of a Josh Strauss try.
The visitors consistently and aggressively bombarded London Irish with pressure in the first half and their persistence was rewarded when Strauss sprawled over the line to put the visitors 10-3 ahead at the break.
However, the tables turned in the second half as Sale showed moments of indiscipline and Tommy Bell's boot kept the Irish on the Sharks' tail.
The Exiles pushed for the line late on to try and steal a victory but last season's Championship winners remain searching for a win in the Premiership since the opening day of the season.
On Friday, Bath had moved into the top three after a comfortable 32-9 win against struggling Northampton at the Recreation Ground.
Wing Matt Banahan, replacement prop Nick Auterac and substitute hooker Ross Batty scored tries while fly-half Freddie Burns kicked 17 points.
Stand-off Piers Francis scored three penalties for the Saints, who remain 10th after their ninth defeat of the campaign.
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