Guinness Premiership Review

01 December 2009

Saracens drop their first points as Willie Walker secures a draw for Worcester
Ryan Lamb bagged all 16 points as London Irish close the gap at the top to four points

Worcester Warriors fly half Willie Walker kicked four penalties from four attempts to deny Saracens

Photo: Getty Images

Worcester Warriors 12 Saracens 12

Saracens dropped their first Guinness Premiership points of the season as their eight-match winning streak came to an end at Worcester.

For the home side, it was the second 12-12 draw in consecutive weeks after the same score at Sixways against Bath.

Opposing fly-halves Willie Walker of Worcester and Derick Hougaard each slotted four penalties, while Walker has scored all his team's points in the last three matches, with Worcester now having gone 240 minutes without scoring a try.

Bath Rugby 0 London Irish 16

Ryan Lamb scored all 16 points as London Irish piled on the misery for Bath.

Lamb's 'full house' of a try, conversion, two penalties and a drop goal was in neat contrast to the scrappy match which went on around him.

But the Exiles will be delighted with the win, which cuts Saracens' lead at the top of the table to four points.

Harlequins 35 Gloucester Rugby 29

Harlequins won a wonderful seven-try thriller despite a battling comeback by Gloucester.

Quins centre George Lowe and Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples both grabbed a brace of tries, while opposing No.8’s Nick Easter of Harlequins and Gareth Delve for the visitors also scored.

The kicking of Nick Evans ultimately proved decisive for the home side as the fly half added six kicks to his superb solo try.

Northampton wing Chris Ashton, who bagged a hat trick in the victory over Newcastle

Photo: Getty Images

Newcastle Falcons 8 Northampton Saints 28

Northampton wing Chris Ashton underlined his growing reputation with a hat-trick of tries as Saints secured a fourth straight win in all competitions in this Guinness Premiership encounter at a bitterly cold Kingston Park.

The former Wigan rugby league back crossed for a try in the first half followed by a brace in the second 40 minutes, with fly-half Shane Geraghty kicking three penalties and two conversions for the visitors.

Newcastle's try came at the end of the opening stanza from wing Tom Biggs, with stand-off Jimmy Gopperth kicking a solitary penalty for Steve Bates' side.

Leicester Tiger 36 Leeds Carnegie 6

Leicester ran out emphatic winners over bottom club Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road with 33 unanswered points in the second half.

Toby Flood scored 17 points before being substituted midway through the second half, while England colleague Lewis Moody and centre Anthony Allen also crossed for the Tigers.