Leicester Tigers 35 London Irish 19

The Guinness Premiership game between Leicester Tigers and London Irish at Welford Road on Saturday March 06 2010.

A splendid evening for Leicester, who have now opened up a six-point gap at the top of the Premiership as they inch towards the defining point of their season. There was more movement from Leicester early on, more adventure and risk than you get from a season of England games. It was all highly enjoyable.

By far the most pleasing aspect of Leicester’s performance was the way that the whole team pitched in. Geordan Murphy was a real steady-Eddie at the back and that excellence went right the way through the team, where Toby Flood, Anthony Allen, Jordan Crane, both locks, both props and Lote Tuqiri all made significant contributions.

If there was a touch of frustration afterwards, it lay in the bang on the head which forced Flood from the field early in the second half, although he is not considered a doubt for England’s match against Scotland, and the fact that it took Leicester so long to grab the bonus-point try after notching three inside 25 minutes. But get it they did when George Chuter went over with nine minutes of the match left.

The first half was a joy. Twenty-five points in 25 minutes from Leicester, three tries, two of which were absolute beauties, and conclusive proof that English teams can play attractive, clinical rugby. I say 'English teams’ with tongue ever so slightly tucked into cheek, because the most audacious touches were provided by Leicester’s two foreign props and Tuqiri, their Australian back, who was playing his last game for Leicester before returning home to a spell of rugby league with Wests Tigers in Sydney.

It was Martin Castrogiovanni’s give-and-take in a single, fluid movement that paved the way for Leicester’s first try for Alesana Tuilagi. The fact that Castrogiovanni had the skill and the permission to make what could have been a risky pass reflects well on the coaching priorities at Leicester. Some still see them as a forward-orientated machine, and they can switch into that mode when the make-up of the opposition dictates, but they are also set up to play attacking rugby.

Castrogiovanni is clearly a favourite with Leicester supporters because when he scored himself after snaffling an interception off a wayward pass from Seilala Mapusua the place erupted. It is that display of affection that Tuqiri has said he will miss. Tuqiri, who has been at the heart of Leicester’s recent resurgence, turned out at centre yesterday and set up their second try when he blasted outside Elvis Seveali’i before offloading to Scott Hamilton.

Again, it was a try that demonstrated that a lack of complexity is often best. Calum Green won clean line-out possession, Flood went wide quickly and it was left to Tuqiri and Hamilton to attack defenders one-on-one. That in itself is a novelty these days, with many coaches over-complicating what is essentially a simple game by building numerous phases and ploys into their attacking strategy.

It was all a bit too much for Irish, who endured a difficult first 30 minutes. But they ended the half strongly when Steffon Armitage touched down after a sweet line-out move begun by Bob Casey. It was a fine effort considering the pounding they had taken up front and Irish maintained their improvement into the early stages of the second half when Ryan Lamb landed a penalty to get them within

12 points of Leicester at 25-13 after 50 minutes.

That was pretty much as close as Irish got. They did in fact get to within nine points when Lamb slotted another penalty, but that only motivated Leicester to mount a final push from their bonus point.

There was further delight at the end when Castrogiovanni was made man of the match, and that in a game where the scrummaging was never an issue.

That is how inventive Leicester were in patches. They will be concerned that they fell away a little during the middle period of the contest. Irish, by contrast, will be concerned that they never gave themselves a chance of a victory at any stage.

Match details

Leicester: G Murphy; S Hamilton (M Smith 76), L Tuqiri, A Allen, A Tuilagi; T Flood (J Staunton 43), B Youngs (J Grindal 76); M Ayerza (B Stankovich 71), M Davies(C Chuter 67), M Castrogiovanni (J White 71), C Green (T Croft 64), G Parling, C Newby, B Woods (B Deacon 11), J Crane
London Irish: T Homer (J Lennard 74); J Rudd, E Seveali’i, S Mapusua, P Hewat; R Lamb (C Malone 78), P Hodgson; D Murphy (M Lahiff 74), J Buckland (D Coetzee 61), F Rautenbach (P Ion 61), N Kennedy (K Roche 67), R Casey, G Stowers, S Armitage, C Hala’ufia (J Gibson 78)
Referee: C Berdos (France).

Harlequins 14 Worcester Warriors 11

The Guinness Premiership game between Harlequins and Worcester Warriors at Welford Road on Saturday March 06 2010.

It is all getting very tight at the bottom, but Harlequins dragged themselves away from the nether regions with this invaluable, if scrappy, win. Worcester, however, are deep in the mire and could even finish the weekend at the foot of the table if Leeds and Sale win on Sunday.

The Leeds revival means there is now a proper relegation struggle, which adds extra spice to fixtures like this.

Quins, with David Strettle busy in defence, absorbed the early pressure and took the lead against the run of play after moving upfield through an enterprising tap-and-go from Karl Dickson, which was carried on by Rory Clegg and Strettle before Mike Brown burrowed his way over.

Enertaining stuff and Worcester, only too aware of the need to get something from the game, replied straight form the kick off, moving play right and then left, quick hands seeing the speedy Miles Benjamin diving in for a fine try.

On a bitingly cold afternoon both sides preferred to keep on the move and young Quins centre George Lowe showed a fine turn of speed chasing his own kick before just running out of room in the in-goal area.

Next, Quins, ill-advisedly tried route one through their forwards as they laid seige to Worcester line during a long series of aimless rucks and mauls. Their backs were screaming for the ball with acres to work in but the pack, and scrum-half Dickson, faffed around endlessly as is the vogue these days.

Eventually – inevitably – Quins managed to concede a turnover and then a penalty. It is the curse of modern-day English rugby, the dogged refusal to use the quick possession on offer.

It was a great opportunity lost and, as tends to happen Worcester regrouped and enjoyed the best of the second quarter, which dipped markedly in quality.

Right wing Chris Pennell chased and tackled hard to help build the intensity but with Matt Jones, making a rare start, feeling his way at fly-half, Worcester lacked the fluency to take advantage.

The pace picked up again after the break, with Quins looking dangerous as they opted to run and handle again. But both defences held firm and it was left to Clegg and Jones to slot a penalty apiece as we entered the final quarter. Jones, warming to his work, slotted a well-struck 40 metre effort, but Clegg immediately replied from closer range.

That was just a warm-up for his cracking effort from the half-way line, a low skidder which had enough power and length to ease Quins ahead 10 minutes from time.

Worcester, perhaps bored with draws (they have had four this season), turned down a makeable kick at goal with six minutes remaining and opted for a scrum.

It was the wrong call, albeit a brave one. They were promptly shoved off their own ball and Quins continued to defend with tenacity to bring home a win that enables them to start looking up the table rather than down.

Match details

Scores: 5-0 Brown try; 5-5 Benjamin try; 5-8 Jones pen; 8-8 Clegg pen; 8-11 Jones pen; 11-11 Clegg pen; 14-11 Clegg pen.

Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, T Williams; R Clegg, K Dickson; C Jones, M Cairns (T Fuga 51) J Andress, J Percival, G Robson, C Robshaw, W Skinner (capt), T Guest.
Worcester: C Latham; C Pennell, D Rasmussen (A Grove 66) S Tuitupou, M Benjamin; M Jones, J Arr; M Mullan, C Fortey (A Latui 46), T Taumoepeau, G Rawlinson (G Kitchener 58), C Gillies, T Wood (C Cracknell 70), P Sanderson, K Horstmann.
Referee: M Fox (RFU).

Gloucester 47 Sale Sharks 3

The Guinness Premiership match between Gloucester and Sale Sharks at Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday February 27, 2010.

Gloucester waded through the glue-pot conditions at Kingsholm to register a bonus point victory that should once and for all allay any fears of possible relegation from the Guinness Premiership.

However, in contrast to the improving fortunes of Gloucester, Sale Sharks find themselves well and truly engaged in a dogfight for survival.

This, their ninth defeat in 14 league games this season, leaves them just four points clear of Leeds Carnegie who can claw their way clear this afternoon should they complete the double over London Wasps at Headingley with a bonus point to boot.

From the moment referee Dean Richards awarded the Cherry and Whites a sixth minute penalty try, there was only ever one winner. Down-trodden in the scrum, second best at the line out and visibly smarting from their defeat last weekend at home to Leeds, the Sharks were 26 points down in as many minutes.

Lesley Vainikolo escaped around the outside for his first try after eight minutes and 12 minutes later the giant wing brushed aside Oriol Ripol for his second. When flanker Akapusi Qera dived in on the overlap eight minutes after that, Gloucester were celebrating only their fifth bonus point of the season.

To their credit, Sale showed terrific resolve in the face of another crushing defeat and in the final minute of the first half they cut the deficit courtesy of a penalty from Charlie Hodgson.

Mike Tindall, playing his first game in four months following hamstring trouble, gave way to Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu at half time, but reported no ill effects. In his absence, Gloucester could have improved their advantage had they have shown greater care in the final third.

They did grab a fifth try courtesy of Robinson's chip, chase and touchdown and completed the rout in the final 10 minutes with further tries from James Simpson Daniel and Andy Hazell.

Match details

Gloucester: O Morgan; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall (E Fuimaono-Sapolu 40), T Molenaar, L Vainikolo; N Robinson (T Taylor 70), R Lawson; N Wood (P Capdevielle 62), O Azam (D Dawidiuk 65), G Somerville (P Doran-Jones 50); W James, A Brown; P Buxton, A Qera (A Hazell 65), G Delve (capt).
Sale: M Vakacegu, O Ripol, D James, D Bishop (J Davies 74), B Cohen, C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth (D Peel 53), E Roberts, M Schwalger (N Briggs 65), M Halsall (D Kerr 20), C Jones (S Cox 62), B Cockbain (I Kench 53), C Ormsby, D Seymour, S Koyamaibole.
Referee: D Richards (RFU).
Attendance: 10,548.

Newcastle 12 London Irish 12

The Guinness Premiership game between Newcastle Falcons and London Irish at Kingston Park on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

There was no question that this was an opportunity lost, but you could have a lively old debate about which team actually lost it.

London Irish will kick themselves for squandering the 12-0 lead they opened up in the first 26 minutes, but Newcastle will feel just as bad about their failure to close out their energetic second-half comeback with a win.

All things considered, the draw was hardly a travesty, especially on a pitch that was in terrible shape at the start and carved up terribly thereafter. "It was never going to be an open, flowing game,"acknowledged Steve Bates, the Newcastle coach.

But the sooner the Kingston Park agronomists get to work on the wretched surface the sooner their paying public might see some entertainment.

All things considered, it was remarkable that Newcastle did not hammer home their second-half superiority by stuffing the ball up the XXLjumper of Carl Hayman, the mighty prop who was the game's outstanding player.

Hayman is said to be uncertain about whether to go back to his native New Zealand at the end of this season or not; he will be a massive loss to Newcastle of the lure of his homeland proves too great.

Newcastle had another Kiwi, Jimmy Gopperth, to thank for all their points, but the fly-half's four penalties could not disguise the fact the rest of his game was decidedly shaky.

Bates paid credit to Gopperth for at least trying to keep the game moving, but a more conservative strategy would probably have brought more points.

Goodness knows, it worked well enough for London Irish before the break. Having failed to reach the line by the scenic route they switched to narrower tactics and collected two quick tries from fiercely effective forward drives.

The first, after 22 minutes, fell to number 8 George Stowers, who barrelled over from short range after a technically perfect driving maul.

The second, four minutes later, was claimed by Steffon Armitage, diving between the posts after the ball had been churned through countless rucks.

That should have been all the platform London Irish needed. But Newcastle kicked it from under them, dominating territory and possession in a one-sided second half. With a little more composure they would surely have overwhelmed their guests on the scoreboard as well.

Gopperth kicked his goals well enough. Remarkably, this was Newcastle's fourth draw of the season, but the north-east side will reflect on the game’s one that should have gone into their win column instead.

Match details

Scores: 0-5 Stowers try, 0-12, Armitage try, 0-14 Homer con, 3-12 Gopperth pen, 6-12, Gopperth pen, 9-12 Gopperth pen, 12-12 Gopperth pen.

Newcastle: A Tait; D Williams, G Bobo, Tu’ipulotu, C Amesbury (R Vickerman 24); J Gopperth, M Young; J Golding, R Vickers, C Hayman (captain), J Hudson, T Swinson, BWilson, W Welch (M Sorenson 59), P Browne (J Afu 55).
London Irish: T Homer; T Ojo, E Seveali’i, S Mapusua, P Hewat; C Malone (R Lamb 55), P Hodgson; C Dermody, D Paice (J Buckland 62), P Ion (F Rautenbach 46), K Roche, B Casey (capt; A Perry 70), R Thorpe (J Gibson 55), S Armitage, G Stowers.
Referee: R Debney.
Att: 5,168.

Bath 37 Worcester Warriors 13

The Guinness Premiership game between Bath and Worcester Warriors at the Rec on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

A fourth successive Guinness Premiership for Bath was tempered only by a shoulder injury to the former Springbok Butch James.

For Worcester, however, who had flanker Tom Wood sent off for dropping his knee into Bath lock Peter Short after an hour of an often fractious contest at The Rec, it's now all about Premiership survival.

With Leeds having defied the odds to win at Sale on Friday night, the Warriors are now just one point clear of the drop zone and with relegation a distinct possibility considering they still have to travel to Headingley on the penultimate weekend of the season.

To their credit, they were combative for much of this game and even enjoyed a first half lead after thanks to Willie Walker's converted try after seven minutes.

However, having been sucked into relegation trouble shortly before Christmas, Bath have prospered since the return of James and established themselves in this game on the back of the South African's controlling display at outside half.

It came as no real surprise therefore that by half time the hosts were in front courtesy of two tries from the outstanding Joe Maddock and a conversion and penalty from Ryan Davis.

The loss of James shortly after the interval threatened to undermine Bath's victory bid, but when Wood saw red for his moment of madness, the hosts took control and duly ran riot with three tries in the final quarter.

First it was Michael Claasens - the scrum half picking up from a ruck two metres short of the Worcester line and after an audacious dummy that sent Worcester heading for the nearby River Avon, nipped in for Davis convert.

Matt Banahan was next over the line, after a length of the field move that featured the out of favour England wing on three separate occasions and finally, with victory already assured, replacement Jonny Fa'amatuainu barged his way over for a try that Davis, this time, failed to improve.

Match details

Bath: N Abendanon (J Cuthbert 72); J Maddock, S Hape, R Davis, R Davis, M Banahan; B James (O Barkley 47), M Claasens (capt, M Baxter 74)); D Flatman (D Barnes 63), L Mears (P Dixon 63), D Bell (D Wilson 57), S Hooper, P Short (S Hobson 74), B Skirving (J Fa'amatuainu 69), J Salvi, L Watson
Worcester Warriors: C Latham; C Pennell, D Rasmussen, S Tuitupou, M Benjamin; W Walker (M Jones 69), J Arr; A Black (M Mullan 53), A Lutui (C Fortey 63), T Taumoepeau (O Sourgens 70), G Rawlinson, C Gillies (G Kitchener 63), T Wood, P Sanderson (capt), K Horstmann (C Cracknell 79)
Referee: T Wigglesworth (RFU)

Harlequins 13 Northampton Saints 6

The Guinness Premiership game between Harlequins and Northampton Saints at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

A display of enthusiasm and purpose from Harlequins put a dent in Northampton’s title ambitions after an uncharacteristically poor performance from the visitors on a frosty afternoon in the capital.

The tone was set from the first whistle with Quins launching themselves into every tackle with gusto and they showed some real attacking verve. As a result they took the lead after just three minutes via a Nick Evans penalty.

Returning skipper Will Skinner epitomised their effort and his enthusiastic applause after his side won a scrum earned him a punch from Juandre Kruger that wasn’t missed by the referee. Evans stepped up to take on the penalty from the ten-metre line and hit it sweetly to extend his side’s lead.

The Saints’ England hopefuls Ben Foden and Chris Ashton – so electric in recent weeks – were the victims of some suffocating home defence and the watching Ugo Monye can be confident of retaining his place in the back three alongside Delon Armitage.

Northampton looked to be devoid of ideas and spent most of the first period in their own half. And at the end of the opening quarter Quins made their dominance count by scoring the game’s only try through Mike Brown.

A cross-field kick from Evans was claimed by David Strettle who looked inside to feed Brown only for the full-back to be held up agonisingly short.

But from the resulting five-metre scrum Evans and George Lowe combined to put Brown over for a deserved score.

Stephen Myler endured a difficult afternoon and after missing his opening three kicks he was presented with two simpler chances following the break that were duly dispatched to put Northampton within a converted try.

Myler’s testing time on the field was ended on the hour mark when Shane Geraghty replaced him and the substitute playmaker provided Northampton with more direction but unfortunately an equally poor return with the boot.

Two attacking line-outs deep in Quins territory gave the Saints a final chance at leaving with more than a losing bonus point but on both occasions the hosts’ dogged defence held out.

Remarking on his side’s first league win since December, John Kingston, the Harlequins head coach, said: “The intensity of the performance from the guys was outstanding today. I don’t think they probably got the rewards that their dominance deserved.”

Match details

Harlequins: M Brown; D Strettle, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, T Williams (S Smith 58); N Evans, K Dickson; C Jones, M Cairns (C Brooker 74), J Andress, J Percival, L Stevenson, C Robshaw, W Skinner [capt], T Guest.
Northampton: B Foden; C Ashton, J Clarke (C Mayor 64), J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler (S Geraghty 59), L Dickson; S Tonga’uiha, B Sharman (A Long 64), E Murray (B Mujati 59), I Fernandez-Lobbe (M Easter 55), J Kruger, C Lawes (S Gray 79), N Best, P Dowson [capt].
Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)

Leicester Tigers 33 Gloucester 11

The Guinness Premiership game between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester at on Saturday Feb 20 2010.

The leaders flexed their considerable muscles here, scrummaging Gloucester so far into the ground that some of the heads of the visiting forwards were barely visible by the end. But Leicester were fortunate that facet of the game was so dominant because without it Gloucester, so much more adventurous and snappy behind, might have pushed them much closer.

As it was, the result was never truly in doubt as Leicester's three tries - a bonus-point fourth would have flattered them - and 18 points from the boot of Toby Flood provided a comfortable enough victory.

Many eyes were on Flood yesterday after criticism fell upon Jonny Wilkinson following a poor England showing last weekend in Rome, but this was a contrived, sensationalist story, especially regarding Flood's release from the England squad to play here. He didn't feature against Italy and, like others, quite rightly needed game time yesterday.

That was all there was to it. And anyway he spent more than half of yesterday's match at inside centre after Dan Hipkiss departed with an ankle injury and Jeremy Staunton took over at fly-half.

Flood did not miss a place kick, and kicked out of hand decently, but he did nothing spectacular in open play, indeed made a few unforced errors. He remains a dependable international player, a good deputy for Wilkinson, nothing more.

Leicester scrum half Ben Youngs might be a lot more than that one day, but he will need to work hard on his kicking. It was poor yesterday, especially in the first half, but he was always a threat round the fringes, thoroughly deserving a late try for his speed off the mark and willingness to chance his arm.

Leicester actually began slowly. Indeed Gloucester took a 6-0 lead through a couple of Nicky Robinson penalties. But it could not last. Retreating backwards at the scrummage takes its toll on any side, as Leicester gleefully found some grunt and go-forward. Flood kicked three penalties and then really should have scored in the left-hand corner after good work from Gloucester old boy Anthony Allen.

Flood knocked on under pressure from Robinson, but a scrum was not exactly what Gloucester wanted. They could not clear their lines and Leicester soon had the put-in. Though Jordan Crane lost control of the ball in the rush forwards, it was eventually secured and spread right, from where Lote Tuqiri took an inside line off Flood to canter under the posts. It did seem rather simple. As simple as the conversion, in fact. It was 16-6 at the break.

It was immediately 23-6. The home forwards rumbled to the right-hand corner and when the ball went left there appeared to be a sea of red lining up in defence. But a short ball from Scott Hamilton - who otherwise had an afternoon to forget - surprisingly and suddenly opened it and sent Geordan Murphy, now happily restored after a lengthy injury absence, galloping through a gap. Flood converted.

But Gloucester were not cowed. Gareth Delve's muscularity made the gain-line a battle despite the pre-eminence of Martin Castrogiovanni & Co in the tight and the unremitting industry of Ben Woods and Craig Newby in the back row.

And visiting full back Olly Morgan showed some nice touches and exceptionally good hands, while fly-half Robinson threw his trademark long passes to stretch Leicester.

One such pass made space for young centre Jonny May, a late replacement for Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu who failed to recover from a dead leg, to storm over 60 metres from his own line. He eventually had a three-on-one with Tuqiri, which he disappointingly butchered by running too laterally, but it was his first full start after all, and, in such an intimidating cauldron, it was pretty impressive stuff.

And soon afterwards he did score (although the booing of the Welford Road faithful suggested they were not convinced about the grounding of the ball), reaping the rewards of good work from Robinson and Tim Molenaar.

It seemed the game was in the balance. But Leicester returned to the arm-wrestle and Gloucester could not break free. This place remains a fortress; Leicester have not lost here since September 2008. With a scrummage like this it is little surprise.

Match details

Leicester: G Murphy; S Hamilton (A Tuilagi 72), D Hipkiss (J Staunton 31), A Allen, L Tuqiri; T Flood, B Youngs; M Ayerza, M Davies, M Castrogiovanni (B Stankovich 72), L Deacon (capt), G Parling, C Newby (B Deacon 63), B Woods, J Crane.
Gloucester: O Morgan; T Voyce (C Sharples 61), J May, T Molenaar (T Taylor 72), L Vainikolo; N Robinson, R Lawson (A Williams 71); N Wood (A Dickinson 58), O Azam (S Lawson 49), G Somerville (P Capdevielle 64), D Attwood, A Brown, L Narraway (A Eustace 69), A Qera (A Hazell 58), G Delve (capt).
Referee: W Barnes (Surrey)

Northampton 25 Newcastle 13

The Guinness Premiership game between Northampton and Newcastle at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday Feb 13 2010.

Chris Ashton responded to his England omission with a sparkling two-try display as Northampton saw off the gutsy challenge of Newcastle.

No longer just a poacher, the 22-year-old wing offered himself up as a midfield threat and was a constant presence on his team-mates’ shoulders in support.

But it was from his regular position on the right flank where he opened the scoring after Bruce Reihana had put him away down the short side.

Newcastle responded in strong fashion by sticking to their strengths up front and got their reward when Rob Vickers burrowed over following a destructive 15-metre rolling maul.

With Jimmy Gopperth at the fore, it looked as if the visitors would stamp their authority on the game but Juandre Kruger stretched over to finish a flowing Northampton move on the stroke of half-time.

Gopperth and Stephen Myler traded penalties but it was left to Ashton to provide the only try of an otherwise edgy second period. He found himself in the right place at the right time to take an offload from Kruger for his 11th try in the league.

Jim Mallinder, Northampton’s director of rugby, responded to his wing’s performance by backing Ashton to break through for England. “He’s not far off now. He feels he’s a serious contender to play international rugby,” said Mallinder.

Match details

Scores: 5-0 Ashton try, 7-0 Myler con, 7-3 Gopperth pen, 10-3 Myler pen, 10-8 Vickers try, 10-10 Gopperth con, 15-10 Kruger try, 18-10 Myler pen, 18-13 Gopperth pen, 23-13 Ashton try, 25-13 Myler con.

Northampton: B Reihana; C Ashton, J Clarke (C Mayor 71), J Downey, P Diggin; S Myler (S Geraghty 77), L Dickson (A Dickens 71); S Tonga’uiha, B Sharman (A Long 71), B Mujati (D Morris 72), C Lawes (I Fernandez-Lobbe 59), J Kruger, P Dowson, N Best, R Wilson (M Easter 59).
Newcastle: A Tait; D Williams, G Bobo, T Tu’ipulotu (R Vickerman 68), C Amesbury; J Gopperth, M Young (C Pilgrim 77); J Golding (G Shiells 68), R Vickers, C Hayman, J Hudson, T Swinson (M Sorenson 63), J Afu, B Wilson, F Levi (P Browne 30).
Referee: D Richards (RFU).

Leicester 34 Wasps 8

The Guinness Premiership game between Leicester and Wasps on Saturday Jan 9, 2010.

A humiliation for Wasps and their pretensions as a credible scrummaging presence. For the second successive match a sensational performance by the Leicester forwards paved the way for a significant victory.

This was even better than their effort against Saracens a week ago, and that was spectacular. Against a Wasps side that started strongly and featured the rapidly improving Danny Cipriani, Leicester handed out a scrummaging lesson which will take years for Wasps to live down.

The added bonus was that the victory also catapulted them to the top of the Premiership. It was appropriate reward for the prodigious amount of work the club had put in over a freezing week to get the game on.

As ever in a performance as emphatic as that laid down by Leicester, there were casualties. Tim Payne, who has started each of England’s last five internationals at prop, was doubled up and over by the 22-year-old Leicester tight head Dan Cole.

Payne had a stinker of a match. He was sin-binned at the end of the first half for failing to keep his end up scrummage-wise, and his personal difficulties spread throughout the rest of the Wasps front five.

John Hart, the Wasps’ captain, was lectured by French referee Romain Poite on two occasions and told to sort out his forwards in the scrum, but the brutal truth was that the Wasps tight forwards weren’t up to it.

Monsieur Poite awarded a penalty try against Wasps in the second half when they disintegrated for the umpteenth time, and he came close to awarding a red card for persistent offending in the scrummage generally. If he had, there would have been no grounds for any complaints.

Payne’s wretched afternoon did not end there. In the second period when Wasps were trying desperately to get back into the match, Payne found himself on the end of backs move and heading for a try, only to have the ball knocked out of his grasp by Cole.

Cole, the young pretender, finished the game as man of the match. Payne, the man in possession of the England shirt, was replaced 10 minutes from the end, his reputation in tatters. God, sport can be harsh at times.

Leicester in this mood are ruthless, and the only surprise was that, caught cold by Wasps at the start of the encounter, they took so long to get going. This was the only period of the game when Wasps were competitive. Mark Robinson and Cipriani combined beautifully early on and a Cipriani break followed by some sweet stepping from Dominic Waldouck led to a try from Mark Van Gisbergen. When Cipriani landed a penalty at the end of the first quarter it gave Wasps a 5-point lead at 8-3.

But then the Leicester pack began to muscle up. Jordan Crane led the way in the loose, carrying ball after ball after ball into contact, and that route one approach was embraced by the rest of the forwards just before the interval.

Geoff Parling, another Leicester forward making a name for himself, won a lineout close to Wasps’ goal line, Marcos Ayerza drove close before the ball was whipped wide though the hands of Lote Tuqiri and Scott Hamilton for Johnne Murphy to score.

Twenty-four minutes later Leicester had scored their fourth try through Tuqiri, claiming a bonus point. It was a devastating period in which Leicester served notice on the rest of the Premiership that they remain the team to beat.

It will take some time for Wasps to recover from this defeat because it attacked the fundamentals of a decent rugby side. No team can prosper without a resolute scrummage and Wasps haven’t had one for some time. Last week Newcastle gave then the hurry up in that department and unless they improve rapidly at that phase their season will dissolve before their eyes.

Elsewhere, Wasps remain a tidy outfit. Cipriani looked a class act in the bits of the game where Wasps had their head above water. He still has problems with his judgement, running ball from penalties in positions where his team needed the 3 points which were on offer.

But there is no doubt that he sees space and has the ability to make use of that space, either for himself or his colleagues, better than other outside halves.

Mark Van Gisbergen and Simon Shaw had their moments, too, for Wasps before Shaw limped off near the end of the game with an over-flexed knee which was described as “not serious” but which will have England’s medical team scurrying to put right before the start of the Six Nations.

How long it takes before Wasps get their scrummaging right is another matter. Their future until they do is entirely bleak.

Wasps 6 Newcastle 12

The Guinness Premiership match between Wasps and Newcastle at Kingsholm on Sunday Jan 3, 2010.

Newcastle, stunned by their home defeat by lowly Leeds last week, albeit in atrocious weather at Kingston Park, bounced back in the best possible fashion at Wasps last night with a superbly crafted victory, their first ever at Adams Park.

It was not particularly pretty but it was very clever and admirable in its way with their pack, led by All Black Carl Hayman, exerting a stranglehold on proceedings from start to finish. Jon Golding destroyed the Wasps scrum and lock James Hudson disputed man of the match honours with a commanding performance in the line-out.

All went absolutely according to plan for Newcastle until four seconds from time when, leading by six points, Newcastle were quietly running the clock down on halfway but somehow managed to cough the ball up.

Panic! Wasps were suddenly offered a chance to steal a game they had no right to win and surged forward before moving the ball to the right, where Dan Ward-Smith and speedster Tom Varndell were lurking in acres of space.

A simple pass to Varndell and Wasps were in under the posts but Ward-Smith fatally turned inside and Newcastle’s scrambled defence gratefully salvaged the win that should always have been theirs. That is three big Premiership victories on the road already this season: London Irish, Bath and Wasps. Not too shabby for a side traditionally known more for their obduracy and competitiveness at home.

“I am very pleased with result,” conceded coach Steve Bates, a former Wasps stalwart for many years. “On the balance of play we dominated the game up front and that was the basis for a well deserved victory. We are a pretty determined and close group of guys and we reacted in a strong way after last week. We had a particularly good afternoon defensively.”

The real damage was done by the Newcastle pack in the opening 40 minutes when they came close to destroying the Wasps scrum. If it had been a boxing match the referee would have stopped the fight there and then.

Given that, and a secure Newcastle line-out, Wasps had to work hard in defence to keep Newcastle at bay, which they did after taking an early lead through a David Walder penalty after Newcastle dropped the ball from the start and then went accidentally offside.

Wasps had to make the best of their counter-attacking opportunities and Danny Cipriani, operating at full-back, certainly looked lively enough trying to work his way down the right-hand touchline in tandem with David Lemi. Both are dangerous runners, although they were not quite reading the same script on occasions and with Cipriani liking to run across field, the likes of Lemi need to cut angles off him.

Jimmy Gopperth levelled the scores with a simple kick in front of the posts before Wasps finally built up a head of steam with Simon Shaw predictably involved. The England lock firstly charged down Hall Charlton to get Wasps going forward and then carried three times as Wasps drove for the line. On the final occasion he appeared to cross but Hayman, totally committed to the cause, managed to get underneath and after much consideration the television match official, Geoff Warren, found in his favour.

No tries but more than enough to maintain the interest as both Walder and Gopperth smashed the ball against the woodwork with long-range penalties before Gopperth finally got home from 48 metres to see Newcastle go down the tunnel 6-3 up.

Half-time saw the predictable introduction by Wasps of Samoan prop Zak Taulafo for the inexperienced Rob Baker, but the change had no immediate effect with the Wasps going back five metres at a rate of knots as Newcastle applied the squeeze. Penalty, three points from Gopperth and growing unrest among the Adams Park faithful.

Gradually, though, the Wasps scrum did begin to contest the issue and with Cipriani moving up to fly-half to replace Walder, Wasps began to get on the front foot and were soon rewarded with a penalty in midfield, in front of the posts, which Cipriani pulled horribly to the left.

Cipriani was promptly relieved of kicking duties, replacement Paul Sackey delivering the bad news in none too subtle fashion by running on from the touchline with the tee and heading straight for Mark van Gisbergen when Wasps were next awarded a penalty – Van Gisbergen promptly slotted it from the right-hand touchline. Gopperth, though, was on target for Newcastle moments later and although Wasps were in the game at 12-6 down Newcastle kept them at bay comfortably, until the very final play of the game.

To most eyes Wasps were well beaten, but afterwards director of rugby Tony Hanks added to the growing criticism of how referees are dealing with the breakdown area.

“Week in week out the breakdown seems to be different,” lamented Hanks. “We need clarification as to who is allowed to play the ball. We just want a game where you are encouraged to play rugby and you are not afraid of breakdowns and people flopping on the ball. It’s very much in the tackler’s favour at the moment.

“It was disappointing and frustrating, one of those games you need to go away and reflect upon. I thought Newcastle defended really well and put us under pressure, but there are some areas of our game we need to work on.”

Saracens 15 Leicester 22

The Guinness Premiership match between Saracens and Leciester at Vicarage Road on Saturday Jan 2, 2010.

Do not talk to Saracens about Christmas cheer. This was their second defeat in the Premiership over the festive period after an unbeaten run since the start of the season, and it has cast considerable doubt over their ability to last the distance.

It brought an important victory for Leicester. They were behind in the first half, yet they powered through to win convincingly on a superlative performance from their tight five forwards.

The Leicester scrum in the final quarter was simply fabulous, smashing the Sarries pack backwards and bringing with it a plethora of penalties, the majority of which Toby Flood struck over with serene calm. Flood ended the match with 17 points but they weren’t really down to him. They belonged to the big men in front of him. It was some scrummaging performance.

The result was also good for the game as a whole because Saracens are an unlovely team to watch. Clearly, it is up to them as to how they play their rugby and their success, at least until their last two fixtures, has been some justification, but, God, they are tedious.

According to my notebook, they made just one attack worthy of the name when Justin Marshall took a quick tap penalty and Andy Saull ran and chipped the Leicester defence. Elsewhere it was grind and bash and bump until they forced Leicester into conceding penalties. It wasn’t very edifying.

Not that Leicester were a whole lot better. Lote Tuqiri was exceptional all match, full of purpose and pace, and there was some deceptive pushes from Scott Hamilton from full back, but Leicester, like Saracens, made hard work of creating space and opportunities.

That, though, is the nature of much of the Premiership this season. Decent players like Jordan Crane and Dan Hipkiss discover it is safer and easier to bash and bosh, that by taking the cautions, risk-averse approach they can get over the gain line to set up the next static breakdown, so that is what they do.

To be fair to the players they weren’t helped by the officiating which was disappointing. Match referee David Rose was initially too lenient at the pinch points – offside and the breakdown – and he created an environment where players tried to get away with as much as possible.

A more prescriptive approach in the first quarter would have avoided the penalty lottery at the end of the encounter, during which the lead changed three times in 7 minutes. That might have made for exciting watching but Brendan Venter, Saracens’ director of rugby, was still fuming at the topsy-turvy nature of officiating in the Premiership hours after the game has ended.

“Something happened to this poor referee because there was a 12-point penalty swing,” Venter said. “Whether someone said something to him I don’t know, but I can tell you one thing. I didn’t say to my players, ‘Look boys we’re leading so let’s cheat more.’ I don’t know what happened. The referee walked through a maze and came out a different official.”

If Venter is over-exaggerating the circumstances of the match, there is no doubt that his general point is sound. But it is not just referees who should be shouldering the blame. Rugby has always been a game which is open to a multiplicity of interpretations.

Each breakdown, collision or phase normally contains at least five offences and all the referee can do is pick the one he considers most heinous. If players cheated less, if coaches didn’t encourage sharp practice, if referees got their collective houses in order earlier, then the game wouldn’t be in such a mess.

No doubt Venter will also be having a word with his captain Steve Borthwick at some time this week because Borthwick was sin-binned for “lazy running” at a critical point in the match.

It’s an old pros trick of getting in the way of a scrum-half’s pass off quick ball while returning slowly to position, but Borthwick was spotted and sent to the cooler. Without the calming influence of their captain, also an important scrummager for them, Saracens stuttered badly.

Still, at least they are hanging on to their lead at the top of the Premiership. But the gap has narrowed to a single point. Interesting times lie ahead.

Match details

Saracens: A Goode; R Penney, K Ratuvou, B Barritt, C Wyles; G Jackson (D Hougaard 40), J Marshall (M Rauluni 61); M Aguero (R Gill 52), F Ongaro S Brits 61), C Nieto, S Borthwick (capt), T Ryder (M Botha 54), W van Heerden, A Saull (J Melck 60), E Joubert.
Leicester: S Hamilton; J Murphy (A Tuilagi 48), D Hipkiss, A Allen (J Staunton 23), L Tuqiri, T Flood, B Youngs; B Stankovich (M Ayerza 48), G Chuter, D Cole, L Deacon (capt), G Parling, B Deacon (M Ayerza 43-48), B Woods (C Newby 49), J Crane.
Referee: D Rose (Devon).
Attendance: 14,013

Gloucester 13 Worcester 13

The Guinness Premiership match between Gloucester and Worcester at Kingsholm on Saturday Jan 2, 2010.

The collective sigh of relief from The Shed at 4:45 could not hide the genuine disappointment felt by another bumper crowd at Kingsholm.

Although Dave Attwood's try from the final move of the game saved Gloucester's blushes and duly earned the Cherry and Whites a valuable point in their bid to stave off the possibility of relegation, it was an all too sobering New Year performance from the hosts.

Totally on top for 70 per cent of the game and having given up two of the most gilt-edged try scoring opportunities you are ever likely to see, they somehow allowed Worcester to leave with a share of the points.

In fact, had it not have been for Attwood's intervention 10 seconds from time, it would have been the perfect start to 2010 for one of the Guinness Premiership's perennial strugglers.

Gutsy throughout, if not a little fortuitous at times, going into the final moments they led through tries from Rico Gear and Jonny Arr and a penalty from the boot of former Gloucester outside half Willie Walker.

Still, despite having their pockets picked by one of the more unlikely candidates, they can have no real complaints on a day when both sides highlighted the reasons why they occupy two of the bottom five slots.

Ironically, Gloucester had looked anything but a bottom half side in the opening minutes as they suggested this, their first game in 2010, could be the turning point of the season.

The Fijian openside flanker Akapusi Qera intercepted a stray pass from the base of a scrum by Jonny Arr to touch down for a seventh minute try and after Nicky Robinson had twice carved open the Warriors' defence, centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu was denied only by a wonderful jackal tackle from the 34-year-old Australian full-back Chris Latham.

Walker's penalty trimmed the lead and with Gloucester beginning to doubt themselves, Worcester made hay and led 13-5 at half time courtesy of Gear's first league try since May 2008 and Arr's darting dash and touchdown with the final move of the opening period.

Robinson kicked his only points of the game from a penalty, a minute into the second half and though Walker had a chance to make the game safe with a penalty 10 minutes from time, which he missed, it was Attwood who grabbed the headlines when he appeared in the final minute to save the day.

Match details

Glloucester: O Morgan; C Sharples (T Molenaar 36), J Simpson-Daniel, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, L Vainikolo; N Robinson (C Spencer 75), D Lewis (A Williams 70); N Wood (A Dickinson 40), S Lawson (O Azam 61), G Somerville, A Eustace (D Attwood 53), A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, G Delve (capt. L Narraway 61)
Worcester Warriors: C Latham; R Gear, A Grove, D Rasmussen, M Benjamin; W Walker, J Arr; A Black (M Mullan 52), C Fortey (A Latui 52), O Sourgens (J Gilding 72), G Rawlinson, C Gillies, T Wood, P Sanderson (capt), K Horstmann
Referee: D Richards (RFU)
Attendance: 16500

Northampton 24 London Irish 22

The Guinness Premiership match between Northampton and London Irish at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday Jan 2, 2010.

Chris Ashton, the man of the moment with nine tries in his last five games, delivered a dramatic last-minute victory for Saints with sharply taken try under the posts.

Better still he produced the rabbit out of the hat in front of England coaches Brian Smith and John Wells and a call-up for the Six Nations squad - to be announced on Jan 13 - draws ever closer.

As the final scrum of the game formed close to the right touchline, Ashton drifted in unobtrusively and caught replacement fly-half Shane Geraghty's eye.

Words were not exchanged but something was cooking and so it proved with Geraghty heading back infield and finding Ashton cutting a dangeorus line. The ball bobbled agonisingly but Ashton hung on and plunged over close to the posts. All that was required was for Geraghty to complete the formaliities and Northampton were home and hosed.

That was excitement enough but the entire second half was a terrific spectacle, bristling Premiership rugby at it best. All of which was in marked contrast to a turgid opening 40 minutes as a much anticipated game threatened to disappoint.

The Northampton groundstaff produced an absolutely immaculate surface despite a wintry fortnight or so but the first half, at very best, could be described as gritty with the two respective fly-halves - Stephen Myler and Chris Malone - taking centre stage with their kicking, out of hand and at goal.

Just briefly, in the opening ten minutes, the game flared promisingly but soon settled down into the kick fest we have grown accustomed to this season. Both teams possess an "all-court" game and are capable of so much better but it was Premiership points not public approval they were after so we just had to strap in and ride it out.

Three penalties to Malone, two from Myler and thankfully the half-time whistle. As if flicking a switch marked "Go" Northampton immediately upped the intensity after the break and the crowd suddenly got involved which is always part of the equation at Franklin's Gardens.

Phil Dowson forced his way over from a line-out and suddenly they were pouring forward and Irish replied in much more animiated fashion. Game on.

Ashton set off on a probing run down the right, Paul Diggin produced two clever kicks into the corner but it was the Irish who struck next with a dramatic 80-yard interception try from Peter Hewat.

Saints had been pressing hard when Ben Foden launched a long, possibly try-scoring, pass to Ashton which Hewat read beautifully to race upfield, doing well to shrug of the attentions of the covering Diggin. Malone improved the situation by adding the extras and then slotted a penalty in front of the posts and a sharply taken dropped goal.

Myler clawed three points back before departing to accommodate Geraghty who missed one long range effort but recovered his poise with a nicely struck effort from the right touchline. The clock was kicking but Northampton were swarming all over the game and their endeavours were eventually rewarded with Ashton's timely effort.

Leeds Carnegie 15 Bath 20

The Guinness Premiership match between Leeds Carnegie and Bath at Headingley on Saturday Jan 2, 2010.

Bath's proud record of being one of only four clubs never to have played outside the top flight since leagues were introduced in 1987 looks a little more secure after they chiselled out a valuable win in this grim relegation dogfight.

Five penalties from Nicky Little and a scrambled first half try from Michael Stephenson denied Leeds their first home Premiership win since March 2008 and the opportunity to clamber off the foot of the table and above Bath.

It was probably the right result because Leeds, for all their forward commitment and aggression and a mature display from rookie fly-half Joe Ford, lacked an obvious cutting edge in attack.

If Leeds were to have any realistic chance of avoiding relegation this was a game that Leeds needed to win but they had to rely on Ford, a young man with a big boot for all their points with five penalties from six attempts.

With so much at stake this was never going to be a classic and Bath, who appeared surprised by the ferocity of Leeds' early tackling, were forced into a .succession of basic errors.

Lock Erik Lund and the dynamic back-row trio of Hendre Fourie, Kearnan Myall and Alfie To'oala all tore into Bath's defence, dispossessed them at the early breakdowns and allowed Ford to apply the punishment when the visitors infringed.

Ford has been developing his game on loan at Wharfedale in National One and the 19-year-old son of England assistant coach Mike looked entirely at ease as a replacement for the injured Ceiron Thomas.

Leeds also used Seru Rabeni, the Fiji and former Leicester centre, as a midfield battering ram, a tactic which worked for a time but which became predictable and helped Bath to marshall their defence more effectively and regroup.

But it was Rabeni who was found wanting in defence when he missed an important tackle on Luke Watson which allowed the former Springboks number eight to wriggle free and for Stephenson to follow up for the opening try.

But Bath found little space to unleash their backs on a pitch that Leeds narrow by about five metres from the one used by their rugby league counterparts, a deliberate ploy aimed at cramping the style of visiting teams.

Revived by some clever box kicking from former England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, Leeds turned around only two points adrift when Ford kicked his fourth penalty. The youngster's fifth early in the second half reclaimed the lead.

Bath continued to surrender too much of their hard-won possession in contact but Little was able to kick them out of danger and back in front with his fourth penalty midway through the second half.

Little held his nerve again to stroke the deciding penalty four minutes from time as Leeds became more desperate in attack and their challenge fizzled out.

Match details

Leeds: L Hinton; S Armstrong (H Fa‘afili 71), S Rabeni, H Paul, L Blackett; J Ford, A Gomarsall (S Mathie 60); M Macdonald, R Rawlinson, J Gomez (T McGee 60), E Lund, M Wentzel (captain), K Myall (C Clark 55), H Fourie, A To'oala.
Bath: J Maddock; M Stephenson, M Carraro, S Hape, M Banahan; N Little, M Claassens (captain); D Flatman (D Barnes 60), L Mears (P Dixon 72), D Wilson (D Bell 68), S Hooper, D Grewcock (P Short 68), A Beattie, J Salvi (B Skirving 56), L Watson.
Referee: Mr D Pearson (Ashington)
Attendance: 7,593

Sale 21 Harlequins 16

The Guinness Premiership match between Sale and Harlequins at Edgely Park on Friday Jan 1, 2010.

Harlequins must be relieved that they are not scheduled to meet Sale again after this season after they suffered their third defeat against them in four weeks at Edgeley Park.

Back-to-back defeats in the Heineken Cup were followed by another narrow reverse, though Harlequins had only themselves to blame.

They had plenty of possession in the first half but failed to turn it into tries and then allowed Sale to make the most of their own attacking opportunities with some dozy defending.

Lock James Gaskell powered over from long range in the first half and former Engladn winger Ben Cohen was waved through for the decisive second midway through the second period.

Those lapses proved costly as Charlie Hodgson, not renowned for his defensive resolve, managed to cover across to bundle Ugo Monye into touch for what would have been an equalising try right on the stroke of time.

Sale had to wait for the television match official to study replays and decide that Monye had put a foot in touch before they could celebrate another win.

The game was in doubt until an hour before kick-off because of frozen patches in the in-goal area at the Railway End of the ground.

The pitch had been under frost covers for almost two weeks and Sale had used hot air blowers to de-frost frozen patches but referee Chris White was still concerned enough to summon Harlequins’ management from their nearby hotel to inspect the worst affected areas.

After a series of inspections and meetings between White, Sale’s director of rugby Kingsley Jones and Harlequins’ head coach John Kingston the game was given the all-clear and the gates were finally open to spectators.

Having agreed to play their Heineken Cup game on a snow covered pitch last month Harlequins again won plaudits for their positive attitude though their players , having spent a sober New Year’s Eve in a Manchester hotel, were probably reluctant to make a another trek to Stockport.

Ironically the only try of the first half was scored in the patch that had given officials most concern with Gaskell rounding off a superb attack started by hooker Neil Briggs who powered through some ponderous tackling when Dwayne Peel gathered the re-start kick after Charlie Hodgson had levelled with his second penalty for Sale.

Gaskell’s try came against the run of play as Danny Care and Nick Evans tested sale with some deft kicks and Evans twice nudged Harlequins in front with penalties only for Hodgson to wipe out the lead from Sale’s infrequent attacks.

Hodgson and Evans traded further penalties at the start of the second half before the Quins’ defence again parted obligingly to allow Cohen cut through.

Peel and Mathew Tait made the initial breaks but Cohen found little in his way until Care put in last-ditch tackle over the line. It was not enough to prevent the try, however, which was awarded by the television match official.

Replays were also required to determine that Tom Guest had grounded the ball for Harlequins’ try and Rory Clegg conversion from an acute angle.

But the drama was not over. Harlequins laid siege to Sale’s line for the final ten minutes, winning a succession of scrums and then finally spreading the ball wide for the final play of an intriguing game.

Tosh Masson’s floated pass found Monye unmarked but the England man could not quite make the line before Hodgson and Cohen muscled him into touch right by the corner flag.

Harlequins 20 London Wasps 21

The Guinness Premiership game between Harlequins and London Wasps at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

The record 76,716 crowd at Twickenham needed more than kitsch and glitz, X-Factor acts and swirling, giant sea eagles to warm their cockles. They wanted quality rugby.

However, rather like the giant bird of prey which lost its bearings and landed in the stands rather than mid-pitch to deliver the ball before kick-off, Harlequins struggled to locate their

A-game until it was far too late. They gifted Wasps a try in the third minute and were on the back foot thereafter. Quins really ought to have got the present-giving out of their system before kick-off.

Harlequins’ last-quarter rally yielded well-deserved tries for the scrum-half Danny Care, looking far more at home at Twickenham for his club than he has done for England, and the wing David Strettle but Wasps, scoring a try of their own in that period through flanker John Hart, had that bit more control, that bit more composure. They also had the colossal figure of Simon Shaw, whom age cannot wither.

There is nothing like an unhelpful guest to spoil a party and Wasps took great delight in playing the role of the ingrate, recording a double over their London rivals. Their joy was tempered by an injury to scrum-half Joe Simpson, a suspected dislocated shoulder, early in the second half and he had to be given oxygen as he was led from the field. Simpson scored Wasps’ first try, taking advantage of a galloping upfield surge from lock George Skivington and a defensive howler from Strettle.

If the rugby was mixed, with splendid bookends to a stodgy middle, the occasion was never less than admirable. In a year in which Harlequins’ name has been dragged through the mud – entirely of their own making it has to be said – this was a venture for which they deserve the utmost praise. Their recent past is bleak, but their prospects look to be in good shape.

In Guinness Premiership terms, Wasps keep up the pressure on Leicester, who are just ahead of them in the all-important play-off position, with a game in hand to boot. They might even have been able to head down the tunnel with nerves less frayed if Dave Walder had been there kicking goals rather than Danny Cipriani.

Walder has kept the celebrity icon out of the side since Cipriani’s recovery from injury, but yesterday Wasps opted to start with Cipriani. His all-court game was in decent order but his goal-kicking was lamentable, the fly-half landing just two from seven attempts. Those 14 points would have allowed Wasps to stretch clear much earlier.

Cipriani gave way to Walder in the 57th minute and the Premiership’s most potent kicker, who has an 80 per cent return this season, made no mistake with his two efforts.

“Danny looked dangerous and Dave did what he does for us, driving us round the pitch, kicking the crucial goals and he had a big part in that last try,” said Wasps head coach Tony Hanks. “They’re both pretty good, eh?”

Hanks said he was confident that the club could keep hold of Cipriani, who has been linked with a move to Stade Français. Reports in France suggest that contact has been made between the respective parties. Wasps, though, are bullish about retaining Cipriani’s services. “Dialogue has reopened and is positive,” said Hanks. “We’ve got a plan in place and know where we’re headed. The key for us is retention of players.”

Cipriani himself appears settled. “I’m happy here and am just focusing on my rugby,” said Cipriani, who signed a

one-year deal last year. “If England come calling, that would be amazing because I would love to be involved.”

He found his rhythm after a dodgy beginning, playing flat and occasionally causing uncertainty. At his best, there is zip in almost every movement. At the moment there are tantalising glimpses, but he will have enjoyed his taste of Twickenham.

Wasps had a decisive nudge in the scrum until Tim Payne departed from the front-row action around the hour mark, at which point Harlequins suddenly shed their inhibitions and gave it a blast. Care had been impish but unable to really threaten without a foundation. He became a prominent figure in that frantic, engaging last quarter, playing with more devil and belief than he had shown here in the autumn for England. He was the catalyst for the Harlequins’ revival.

The crowd, who had been chilled and subdued as Wasps took control, were brought to life. They roared their approval as Quins came right back into contention.

Notably, it was Care’s tapped penalty that created the position from where he was able to burrow through for a try in the 68th minute. The conversion brought Quins back to within one point, only for Hart to round off a quite remarkable length-of-the-field riposte from Wasps.

Strettle’s last-minute try caused momentary twitches, but Wasps deservedly closed out the game.

Newcastle 15 Leeds 16

The Guinness Premiership game between Newcatle and Leeds at Kingston Park on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

They might still be bottom of the Guinness Premiership, but Leeds Carnegie director of rugby Andy Key is now willing to put money on the Yorkshire club not being there at the end of the season.

Key backed his players to avoid relegation after they overcame Henry Paul's 71st-minute sin-binning to grind out a second league win this term amid snow and sleet to keep second-bottom Bath in touching distance ahead of their showdown at Headingley on Saturday.

"We may not have the best squad or the deepest squad but what we do have is one that hugely believes in what its objectives are and the way they are playing, bet on us staying up, I would," Key said.

"We have huge belief in ourselves and we feel very strongly that we will be staying up. When it stays up it will be a squad effort so our unity is massive for us. We are huge believers that you have to say what you believe in. We know we have the ability in the side and the right temperament."

Key was understandably optimistic because his charges withstood Newcastle's second-half barrage at Kingston Park that intensified after Paul was penalised for deliberately obstructing Jimmy Gopperth.

At that point, Leeds had been in command thanks to Ceiron Thomas's hat-trick of penalties and No8 Alfie To'oala's close-range try that was converted by Joe Ford just before-half-time.

Henry's infringement allowed Gopperth to score a fifth penalty to set up a nerve-jangling finale but Leeds held firm despite his absence at a ground only made playable by volunteers' snow-clearing efforts.

"Our players showed unbelievable character and with Worcester, Sale and Gloucester all losing and us and Bath winning we're making it tough at the bottom and hopefully others will tumble around us," Key added.

"We've had to learn some heavy lessons over the last few weeks and what we've seen is the ability to put those lessons into practice.

"We lacked a bit of composure a few weeks ago against Harlequins and Sale when (head coach) Neil Back and I were critical as regards our ability to stay in front so this was a step in the right direction - even if it wasn't pretty."

Steve Bates, Newcastle's director of rugby, played down suggestions his team could be dragged into the mire.

"If every game is played in those conditions then every team will be in a relegation scrap but we must be very careful not to over-react to what was in effect a bit of a lottery," said Bates. "We can learn lessons but should not start to push any buttons with panic written on them.

"You can't under-estimate the effect of conditions. It doesn't matter where you are in the table. They will end being a complete mess and the game pretty much was."

London Irish 23 Saracens 19

The Guinness Premiership game between London Irish and Saracens at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

It hasn't been a classic Guinness Premiership season thus far but this was a thoroughly satisfying top of the table clash in front of a near full house at the Majedski Stadium which leaves you much more hopeful for the second half of the domestic season.

Leaders Saracens demonstrated all the organisation and tenacity that have made them the team to beat but second placed Irish showed the flair and change of gear and pace that might yet see them steal off with the silverware come May.

Factor in a fiery local rivalry that simmered nicely without ever disfiguring the game and the result was a pleasing spectacle for the 19,734 fans which included England coaches Brian Smith and John Wells.

Harlequins may have styled their clash with Wasps at Twickenham as the "Big game" but in reality this was always going to be the most important Premiership contest of the weekend, the two form sides at the end of a long year.

Irish did it the hard way, coming from behind against a Saracens side that looked well in control for the first hour although you always sensed a major surge from the Exiles was just around the corner. It might just be coincidence but that major push coincided exactly with the arrival in their backrow of Geroge Stowers, a typically rumbustuous Samoan who added fresh impetus up front.

Saracens also, for the first time, lost a bit of discipline and leaked a couple of soft penalties which they will whince at if they review the match DVD at training tomorrow although the fashion these days is to take no backward glance. Onward ever onward.

Saracens, who had been practicing dropped goals for 20 minutes before the game, were quick out of the traps with...a 40 metre dropped goal from

Alex Goode in the second minute. Better still Charlie Vyvyan soon charged down a clearance kick from Alfredo Lelanne and Justin Melck reacted quickest to touchdown for an invaluable converted try.

Irish weren’t going to take that lying down and responded with a well worked converted try from Chris Hala'Ufia with Steffon Armitage providing the final pass but Saracens, playing as bit more rugby than of late, maintained the pressure and pressed on with a brace of Glen Jackcon penalties. Chris Malone pegged one back but nonetheless the visitors seemed well in charge 16-10 up at half-time.

More of the same followed in the third quarter with Jackson and Malone swapping penalties but on the hour, after a long period of Saracens pressure but no points, came a sea-change. The Saracens tide ebbed and the Irish came flooding back into contention.

Malone, in the form of his life and keeping Ryan Lamb out of the team, potted a third penalty and soon after cleverly shaped to drop a goal before launching the blindside attack which resulted in a try for Elivs Seveali'i.

Malone added the vital conversion and Irish, four points clear, battened down the hatches and held Saracens off with something to spare.

"You have to be smart to beat Saracens and we were very smart today." said a delighted Exiles coach Toby Booth afterwards. We even ended up winning the kicking battle which is probably the beauty of having three full-backs in your team. That was a good advert for the game. It was a tough contest, plenty of ambition and quite entertaining. Their bubble had to burst sometime and I am delighted it was us.

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter was philosophical about losing on his return to the club he did so much to turn around earlier this decade.:

"London Irish are the one side I don’t mind losing to. They are good people here. But I give you my word the Saracens boys will be a better side for losing this game. for that defeat, we will have learned a lot. (optional quotes)

"We gave them penalties we shouldn’t, we got sucked into some pushing and shoving have and we had decisions go against us. But we have had enough of those in our favour this season. That's life.

Bath 24 Gloucester 8

The Guinness Premiership game between Bath and Gloucester at the Recreation Ground on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

Bath claimed their first Guinness Premiership home win since April after subduing Gloucester in a dire west country derby at the Recreation Ground.

Fly-half Nicky Little guided them to victory, landing four penalties as Bath prospered from Gloucester's indiscipline before substitute Jack Cuthbert and wing Matt Banahan posted late tries.

Little added the conversion to Banahan's interception dash as the England international celebrated returning from suspension and signing a new Bath contract in style.

Wales international Nicky Robinson booted a penalty and prop Alasdair Dickinson touched down for the visitors, who have now gone almost three months without an away league success.

And they could have few complaints, being outgunned during the second period when Bath cranked up the intensity levels.

Bath scored 21 points after the break, setting them up for next Saturday's trip to face Leeds Carnegie, who are just one place below them in the Premiership and remain relegation favourites.

Gloucester must regroup for new year league appointments with Worcester at home and Newcastle away after delivering another performance that fell way below their standards of previous seasons.

Leicester 32 Sale 6

The Guinness Premiership game between Leicester and Sale at Welford Road on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

Leicester extended their unbeaten home record to 24 matches but made desperately hard work of subduing depleted Guinness Premiership rivals Sale at a packed Welford Road.

Sale made 11 changes to the side that started last week's Heineken Cup game against Harlequins but they made the home side graft for their victory.

Leicester did not claim the bonus point until the final play of the game when number eight Jordan Crane drove over after a succession of scrums close to Sale's line.

That was the only score of the final quarter, even though Leicester scored their third try through Lewis Moody after 59 minutes.

Sale - who included rookie centre Jonny Kennedy, the son of club owner Brian - defended tenaciously but could not convert their own attacking opportunities into a try and had to rely on two Charlie Hodgson penalties for their points.

Leicester led from the eighth minute when England international Toby Flood kicked a penalty after Sale went in at the side of a ruck.

The opening score might have been expected to settle the hosts, instead Johne Murphy put his team-mates under pressure by making a terrible hash of tidying up a loose ball and carelessly conceded a five metres scrum.

Leicester repelled that raid but a weak clearance kick from Flood allowed Sale to attack again but Hodgson squandered a chance to level the scores when he pushed a kickable penalty attempt wide.

It proved a costly lapse as Murphy made up for his earlier error by getting on the end of a fluent handling move and going over for the first try which Flood, whose conversion struck an upright, narrowly failed to improve.

With flanker James Gaskell outstanding in the loose and lineout, Sale competed for longer than expected but it required some desperate defensive work to keep them in the game.

Another well-worked move appeared to have created an overlap for Craig Newby but Sale scrambled back and the former All Blacks flanker was penalised for not releasing.

Newby compounded his error when referee JP Doyle caught him handling in a ruck which allowed Hodgson to open Sale's account with a long range penalty which was swiftly cancelled out by Flood's second.

Sale silenced most of a 24,000 sell-out crowd when former England winger Ben Cohen touched down after clever interplay with Oriol Ripol but the try was disallowed after touch judge Don Helme spotted a knock-on earlier in the move.

Flood put a long distance penalty attempt wide with the final kick of the first half and driving rain during the break made conditions difficult for the second period.

But a greasy surface and slippery ball did not prevent lock Ben Kay rumbling over for Leicester's second try, which Flood converted.

However, Sale would not lie down. Hodgson found gaps in Leicester's defence with a clever run from his own 22 deep into Leicester territory and Fijian full-back Marika Vakacegu also ghosted through.

But the visitors failed to finish off those attacks and Leicester made them pay when England flanker Moody, their captain for the day, was driven over from a lineout and Flood again converted.

Sale looked like denying Leicester the bonus point but their scrum came under increasing pressure and when replacement prop Rob O'Donnell was sin-binned in the last minute they were ill-equipped to deny Crane.

The biggest cheers of the afternoon were reserved for Harry Ellis and Sam Vesty, two England backs returning from long-term injuries, when they came on as second half replacements for Leicester.