Aviva Premiership Sat 17th Oct

Bath 19-17 Exeter Chiefs 

Bath managed to hold on to a scrappy 19-17 victory against the Exeter Chiefs on the opening weekend of Aviva Premiership Rugby. Exeter took the lead within the first 90 seconds, as an excellent counter put debutant James Short through, who held off a tackle to put the away side 5-0 up after Gareth Steenson missed the conversion. 

England international George Ford put his kick between the posts to pull Bath to within two points of Exeter before Steenson made up for his earlier mistake by adding three points to make it 8-3. Bath then took the lead through captain Stuart Hooper after Anthony Watson took a challenge before playing the ball to Hooper in space to score. Steenson then scored another penalty to give Exeter the lead at 11-10 at half time. 

Ford and Steenson then exchanged two kicks each as both sides pushed hard for the victory in a scrappy affair. The England international then hit the vital three points in the final two minutes before Henry Slade has his drop-kick blocked that sealed the win for last seasons' Premiership finalists. The Chiefs performed admirably and earned a bonus point to help ease their heartbreak. 


Saracens 41-3 Sale Sharks 

Reigning Premiership champions Saracens earn a 41-3 win against Sale Sharks in their opening game of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season. Saracens took an early lead as Michael Rhodes ended a strong drive with a try and Charlie Hodgson added three points from a penalty to put the hosts 10-0 up. 

Danny Cipriani pulled three points back with a penalty after missing his first but Hodgson restored the hosts' 10-point lead with another kick through the uprights. Tim Streather then put the champions further ahead, with the centre bashing his way through the Sale resistance to score a try. Just before the half, Mike Ellery was set free by a Hodgson pass to give Saracens a commanding 27-3 lead at the break. 

Ellery doubled his tally in the second half, earning his side the bonus point as Hodgson continued to be perfect with his kicking. Will Fraser went over towards the end to compound Sale's misery, who had a try disallowed by TMO in the final seconds.