Wasps sting Quins to reclaim top spot
Wasps recorded a 47-18 victory over Harlequins to reclaim top spot in the standings from defending champions Saracens.
* In the other match on Sunday Springbok Wynand Olivier scored the only try in a scrappy affair, to give Worcester Warriors their first win of the Premiership season at home to Newcastle Falcons.
We look at the Sunday matches!
Wasps 47-18 Harlequins
Kyle Eastmond grabbed his first try for the club as Wasps made it five wins from as many Premiership games with a 47-18 victory over Harlequins.
Harlequins had inflicted a first defeat of the season over Saracens last time out, but Wasps made sure lightning didn't strike twice and had the bonus point banked before half-time.
And in the final quarter they added a touch of gloss to the scoreline as they finished with seven tries to go back to the top of the table.
After keeping the ball for full two minutes from the kick off, Jimmy Gopperth put a pinpoint kick into the corner and Wasps' forwards drove hooker Ashley Johnson over for his third try of the season.
Both sides went wide at every opportunity in an entertaining opening quarter. A Christian Wade break sparked a promising Wasps attack which ended when his inside pass went to ground, after which Quins' Mike Brown and Marland Yarde combined from a quick throw-in and only Josh Bassett's vital interception prevented a score.
The visitors ended the first 20 minutes all square, after British & Irish Lion Jamie Roberts got on Yarde's shoulder to force his way over.
Their scoreboard parity was short-lived, however, as Wasps recovered the kick off and Guy Thompson powered over from 25 metres for a try which Gopperth upgraded.
Tim Swiel kicked two 30 metre penalties for Quins, but they were split by a home try of the highest quality. Bassett recovered Gopperth's precise grubber and when he found Elliot Daly steaming up in support, the centre's flat pass sent Dan Robson to the posts for another converted score.
Daly soon followed his England colleague onto the scoreboard with another brilliant long-distance score. He took a flat pass and sped through Quins' midfield untouched before going behind the posts from 40 metres to bank the try bonus point.
After Gopperth again converted, Quins grabbed a lifeline with their second try, touched down by No.8 James Chisholm after a long period of continuity and a neat loop move in midfield.
The third quarter was dominated by Harlequins, but despite being camped in the hosts' half they were unable to claim a third try. Their driving line-out was well repelled by Dai Young's men, and Rob Miller's nearly-missed tackle did just enough to force Tim Visser into touch as the Scottish international sped to the corner.
Finally Wasps sparked back into life following a rash of replacements, and Sam Jones' powerful break and some quick hands sent Wade into the corner for a converted score.
A sixth try, and Kyle Eastmond's first since joining Wasps from Bath, soon followed. Hughes powered through midfield and when he was hauled down by a last-ditch tackle, Joe Simpson's long pass allowed Eastmond to outpace the cover.
A set move from a scrum and a nice line from Daly then sent Bassett to the corner with five minutes remaining, and Gopperth again added the extras to wrap up the scoring.
The scorers:
For Wasps:
Tries:Johnson, Thompson, Robson, Daly, Wade, Eastmond, Bassett
Cons: Gopperth 6
For Harlequins:
Tries:Roberts, Chisholm
Con: Swiel
Pens: Swiel 2
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 Sam Jones, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Ashley Johnson, 1 Matt Mullan (captain).
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Marty Moore, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Kyle Eastmond, 23 Frank Halai.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Alofa Alofa, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 James Chisholm, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 George Merrick, 3 Will Collier, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Sam Twomey, 20 George Naoupu, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 James Lang, 23 Winston Stanley.
Referee: Greg Garner
Assistant referees: John Meredith, Nigel Carrick
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Worcester Warriors 11-9 Newcastle Falcons
Wynand Olivier scored the only try in a scrappy affair to give Worcester Warriors their first win of the Premiership season at home to Newcastle Falcons.
The centre dashed over in the first half following a mistake by winger Sinoti Sinoti – which ultimately proved decisive – as both attacks misfired at Sixfields.
Tom Heathcote and Ryan Lamb each slotted a penalty for the hosts, while Newcastle kicked three but Worcester's defence stayed strong in the final minutes.
Newcastle pushed forwards in search of a winning score but slip to their third defeat of the season and drop to eighth in the table.
With two wins already this season, Newcastle looked confident from the off as they moved the ball comfortably and confidently – with winger Sinoti particularly impressive.
But all their hard work was undone in the 18th minute when Sinoti played a weak pass to Dom Waldouck, who spilled it and lost possession.
Tom Heathcote pounced and released outside centre Olivier, who sprinted in to score.
Flyhalf Mike Delany had a chance to get the Falcons on the board immediately with a penalty he dragged wide, but he made no mistake two minutes later to reduce the gap to two points.
Worcester's try injected some confidence in their backline and a nice move saw winger Cooper Vuna dart forward on the left but when he chipped ahead for the try line, Simon Hammersley got across to clear Newcastle's lines.
And Worcester had the final say of the first half when Heathcote broke through from deep, causing Newcastle's defence to scramble backwards.
Eventually a penalty was called for the hosts and Heathcote booted it over to leave restore their five-point lead at the break.
The flyhalf missed a seemingly simple kick two minutes after half-time as he dragged it wide after Newcastle's powerful forwards earned another penalty.
The away side responded to their problems up front by bringing on former England prop David Wilson for his first Falcons appearance in seven years after he returned from Bath Rugby.
But Worcester replaced Heathcote with Lamb, and the fly-half's first job was to boot over their second penalty of the day to extend their lead to 11-3.
Lamb missed another a few minutes later and Newcastle made him pay as Delany slotted over his second of the day, but the visitors knew that if they were going to win a third game of the season then they needed to find the try line.
And they had a great chance with 11 minutes left as Micky Young broke forward. The ball was recycled to the right and with men over a try seemed certain.
But substitute Belisario Agulla was penalised for a forward pass, just as Will Welch looked to be in for a try in the corner.
The Falcons kept pushing forward and had multiple phases just five metres from the Warriors' try line, but some astute defending frustrated them again.
Joel Hodgson set up a tense finale with a penalty to reduce the gap to two points, but just as they saw a chance of victory referee Tom Foley gave a penalty against the visitors which allowed Worcester to kick the ball downfield from within their own half.
And they saw the game out by booting into touch for a morale-boosting win.
The scorers:
For Worcester Warriors:
Try:Olivier
Pens: Heathcote, Lamb
For Newcastle Falcons:
Pens: Delaney 2, Hodgson
Teams:
Worcester: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Carl Kirwan, 6 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Christian Scotland-Williamson, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Josh Adams.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch (captain), 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Evan Olmstead, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers.
Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 David Wilson, 19 Will Witty, 20 Daniel Temm, 21 Michael Young, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Belisario Agulla.
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Phillip Watters, Kevin Stewart
TMO: Keith Lewis
Source: @premrugby
