Aviva Premiership fixtures 15th Apr to 17th Apr

Friday 15th April

Gloucester 16-9 Exeter 

Gloucester edged out Exeter to keep their top-six hopes alive and prevent the Chiefs from sealing a Premiership play-off place for the first time.

Exeter, promoted from the Championship in 2010, remain second behind Saracens.

After a pointless first half - the first top-flight game to be 0-0 at half-time in seven years - the match came to life with Ollie Thorley's debut try and two Gareth Steenson penalties.


Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw landed three kicks to secure Gloucester's win.



Saturday 16th April

Worcester 35-54 Wasps 

Christian Wade equalled the Premiership record for most tries in a game as he scored six against Worcester to lift Wasps to second in the table.

England winger Wade scored four tries in the first half before adding two more from interceptions in the second to seal a play-off place for Wasps.

Worcester scored six tries of their own in a game which totalled 14 at Sixways.

Wade, 24, equalled the previous record set by Saracens' Ryan Constable against Bedford exactly 16 years to the day.

The British and Irish Lion's incredible individual display, on his 100th appearance for Wasps, saw him move to second on the leading Premiership try-scorers chart for this season, two behind Exeter's Thomas Waldrom with 13.

His first try came after Frank Halai had scored Wasps' opener in response to an early Ryan Mills penalty, and by half-time Wade had stretched his personal tally to four, either side of Francois Hougaard and Cooper Vuna scores for the hosts.

Wasps were seemingly out of sight at 33-15 ahead, but Worcester scored four more tries of their own in the second half to pick up a bonus point.

However, Dean Ryan's side could never keep up with Wasps and especially Wade, as he broke away for two more of his own before replacement fly-half Alex Lozowski completed their scoring late on.


Wasps climb above Exeter into second and look well set for a home semi-final in the play-offs with two games to play.


Saracens 22-12 Harlequins 

Saracens extended their lead at the top of the Premiership with victory over London rivals Harlequins in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

Chris Ashton scored twice and England lock George Kruis added another as Sarries led 19-9 at half-time, with Ben Botica kicking all of Quins' points.

Botica and Owen Farrell each landed a penalty in a try-less second period.

Saracens are now four points clear of second-placed Wasps, while Harlequins' play-off hopes are all but over.

The Twickenham Stoop outfit are now nine points off fourth-placed Leicester with two matches to play, following Tigers' thrilling victory over Northampton Saints in Saturday's East Midlands derby.

Conor O'Shea, who leaves in the summer to become Italy head coach, will now be pinning his hopes of one last piece of silverware with Quins on the European Challenge Cup, with his side set to face Grenoble in the semi-finals next Friday.

But Saracens, who play Wasps in the European Champions Cup last four, are still very much fighting on all fronts after a commanding display at Wembley.

After Botica had kicked Harlequins into an early lead, two fine Ashton tries and another from Kruis ensured they were always in control against their local rivals.


Mark McCall's side need just five points from their remaining two fixtures to be absolutely certain of a home semi-final in the top-flight play-offs.


Northampton 24-30 Leicester Tigers 

Leicester moved closer to securing a top-four finish with a narrow victory over local rivals Northampton.

Tries from Harry Thacker and Vereniki Goneva put the Tigers 17-13 up at the break, with Teimana Harrison replying.

Freddie Burns kicked penalties either side of George Pisi's score but a penalty from Stephen Myler brought the hosts back to within two points.

Burns then converted his own try to put Leicester 30-21 up before JJ Hanrahan's late penalty set up a tense finale.

Leicester remain fourth in the table but are now seven points ahead of fifth-placed Northampton with two games of the regular campaign remaining.

It means Richard Cockerill's side, who face Racing 92 in next Sunday's European Champions Cup semi-final, are on the brink of reaching the play-offs for the 12th successive season.

Burns was faultless kicking from the tee, ending with a personal haul of 20 points after his second-half try put Leicester in control.

The Tigers defence had to withstand late pressure as Northampton attacked in search of a late try, but Leicester held on to record just their second away win since mid-December.


Sunday 17th April

Sale Sharks 29-17 Bath 

Two late tries gave Sale victory over Bath and moved the Sharks into the Premiership's top six.

Sale, unbeaten at home in the top flight since April 2015, were 17-9 ahead at half-time through Vadim Cobilas and Will Addison tries.

George Ford's boot brought Bath's only points of the half, but Semesa Rokoduguni crossed and Ford kicked again to draw them level.


However, David Seymour and Mark Easter gave the hosts a bonus-point win.


Newcastle Falcons 13-6 London Irish 

Newcastle Falcons produced a superb second-half defensive display to beat London Irish and pull seven points clear of the Premiership's bottom club.

The Exiles, members of the top flight since 1996, now face Harlequins and Wasps in their two remaining fixtures.

Greig Tonks had kicked them in front at Kingston Park, but Marcus Watson's try and penalties from Mike Delany and Juan Pablo Socino put Falcons 13-6 ahead.

London Irish dominated after half-time but were unable to break through.

Tom Coventry's side created numerous try-scoring opportunities, only to be thwarted by a combination of resolute Newcastle defence, wayward handling and poor decision-making at the crucial moment.

Asaeli Tikoirotuma was arguably most guilty, attempting an ambitious offload when presented with a straightforward 10-metre finish to the corner, while Andrew Fenby was unlucky not to successfully ground Shane Geraghty's grubber through.

Even Newcastle's first-half try came from a London Irish error, as Tonks' pass on the edge of the Falcons 22 was intercepted by Watson for an eye-catching 60-metre touchdown.


London Irish will now need to earn surprise victories over both Quins and high-flying Wasps if they are to have any chance of catching 11th-placed Newcastle, who play Saracens and Sale in the last two rounds.