Sarries crush Tigers, Quins win

Published: Saturday, 24. September, 2011 in category Aviva Premiership
Saracens: Celebrating against Leicester

Charlie Hodgson scored a try, three penalties and three conversions for Sarries at Welford Road, while back-row forward Ernst Joubert claimed two tries as the reigning champions made light of their own problems with injuries and World Cup absences.

Saracens underlined their dominance with a three-try burst early in the first half and had too much power and experience for the hard-working Tigers in what was a one-sided re-match of last season's final.

Jamie George, Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt crossed for Saracens' other three tries while Niall Morris, Julian Salvi and Ben Woods went over for the hosts.

The result leaves Leicester, who were without 16 first-team squad players, with just one win from their opening four matches, while Saracens' third consecutive win came despite having eight of their top players away on World Cup duty.

Harlequins came back from the brink of defeat to maintain their unbeaten record with a narrow 17-15 win over Worcester at Sixways.

The Quins looked certain losers when they trailed 15-3 with barely 20 minutes remaining.

But they burst from their slumbers to score two converted tries - the first from Sam Smith, and the second a penalty try - to maintain their run.

A dominant forward display saw Gloucester recover from a slow start to claim local bragging rights with 23-6 victory over west country rivals Bath in a bruising encounter at Kingsholm.

Two Sam Vesty penalties had given Bath a 6-0 lead as their ability to retain possession through multiple phases stretched a Gloucester side guilty of turning the ball over on a regular basis during a torrid opening half-hour.

But the Cherry and Whites had established a supremacy at scrum time and their potent threat from driving line-outs was exemplified when Darren Dawidiuk claimed the opening try, with five points from fly-half Tim Taylor giving them a 10-6 interval advantage.

Taylor added two further penalties before Charlie Sharples crossed late on to seal the win and leave Bath without a victory at the home of their neighbours since 2006.

England Under-20 centre Jonathan Joseph grabbed his second try of the match three minutes from time to secure a bonus-point 46-29 victory for London Irish over Newcastle.

The Exiles' other tries came from former England winger Topsy Ojo and a penalty try, with 21-year-old full-back Tom Homer kicking 26 points.

Homer produced a faultless display to land six penalties and four conversions and take his points tally for the season to 68 from four matches.

Newcastle replied with late tries from replacement prop Darren Fearn and centre Jamie Helleur, with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicking 19 points.