Friday night’s fixture was set to be a corker as social media had exploded in the run up to the game. But as Harlequins hosted Saracens at the Stoop, the Quins ‘hype’ was hastily hijacked and as Elvis once said, “a little less conversation, a little more action.”

Saracens were undoubtedly setting a precedent with their defiant defence. Also Charlie Hodgson secured 22 points alone and tries from David Strettle and Chris Ashton also added to the tally. As they say in Eurovision, it was ‘nil point’ for the Quins and it was a score I, and maybe everyone bar Saracens, was utterly shocked by, as they stormed to a 39-0 thrashing over their London rivals. Sarries are sizzling but let’s hope Conor O’Shea and his team can turn it around, quickly.

Sale Sharks travelled down to Kingsholm Park in what could only be described as a close encounter against the Cherry and Whites. Chips from Danny Cipriani set up two terrific tries for Tom Arscott and Chris Cusiter early on. A third came off a quick tap and go that enabled Luke McLean to sprint down the wing, to score another for the Sharks.

Gloucester trailed at half-time but made a remarkable comeback that stemmed from Jonny May’s second-half try. He went on to set up Rob Cook brilliantly for another and if that wasn’t enough, Gloucester were then awarded a penalty try. Kingsholm erupted in elation and even though Sale retaliated with a late try from Danny Cipriani, it wasn’t enough to stop the Cherry and Whites from securing a 34-27 victory. Great win Glaws but what a sterling performance from Cips, a player on the losing side!

Bath welcomed London Welsh to the Rec and what an opening start it was for the home side and an ultimate try-fest. Chris Cook crossed the white-wash early on but Pete Brown put Welsh back in contention shortly after with their first try of the season. Semesa Rokoduguni and Jonathan Joseph fired through the Welsh defence to score before half time but Welsh were never far behind as Seb Stegmann scored to take the newly reformed club into double figures.

Leroy Houston scored the bonus point try for Bath in the second half but Seb Jewell broke away to touch down for London Welsh’s third try. Rokoduguni scored his second with ease and once again Welsh responded, this time it was Lachlan McCaffrey who walloped over the line. Bath had the final say as Rokoduguni and Joseph both scored their second taking the full time score at the Rec to 53-26. Brilliant Bath and well done London Welsh!

Leicester Tigers travelled down to Sandy Park to face the Exeter Chiefs and it didn’t look rosy in camp for the Tigers with Niki Goneva yellow carded early on for a high tackle on Haydn Thomas and a try from Dave Ewers to set the scene. But tension subsided and Anthony Allen crossed the line for the East Midlands side but scrum-half Haydn Thomas pushed back to score as half-time approached. Leicester took control in the second half to pick and go on several occasions with Ben Youngs scoring and the boot of Owen Williams securing the 20-24 victory over the Chiefs. But it was close, and you can never underestimate the Chiefs!

Newcastle Falcons welcomed London Irish to Kingston Park and even though Joshua Furno scored early on for the home side, the visitors took a narrow one-point lead going into half time with two penalty kicks from Shane Geraghty. Second-half tries came from Andrew Fenby and Fergus Mulchrone for Irish and two from Sinoti Sinoti for the Falcons but it was the boot of Geraghty that just edged it for the visitors, taking Irish to a narrow 18-20 away win. Another close match and maybe that is how this premiership will pan out this year.

Sunday’s treat was the turn of the Champions Northampton Saints to take on the Wasps at Adams Park. It was a game of two halves; the first on penalties from the boot of Stephen Myler and Andy Goode and the second of sheer willingness to win from the Wasps as they battered and barricaded the Saints into the middle of the pitch. A moment of magnificence came from an interception try from Ashley Johnson and seconds later a terrific try came off the restart for Tom Varndell. Ben Foden scored for Northampton late on but it came as nothing more than a consolation prize of a losing bonus point and the Wasps celebrate their first win over the Saints since October 2009.

The final score 20-16, a job well done. Another team laying down markers. Way to go Wasps!

By Rhiannon Chandler Day

@RhiannonCDay

To see more from Rhiannon, please check out her rugby blog at: rhiannonsrugbyunionblog.blogspot.co.uk

Aviva Premiership Results in full:

Harlequins 0-39 Saracens

Exeter Chiefs 20-24 Leicester Tigers

Gloucester 34-27 Sale Sharks

Bath 53-26 London Welsh

Newcastle Falcons 18-20 London Irish

London Wasps 20-16 Northampton Saints