In a weekend filled with rugby action, Bath secured the top position in the Premiership with a bonus-point victory over Harlequins. Exeter Chiefs, unbeaten at home for over 400 days, continued their impressive streak with a bonus-point win against Leicester Tigers. Northampton edged out Gloucester after a missed penalty by Adam Hastings, handing Gloucester their seventh straight league loss. In the United Rugby Championship (URC), Ulster and Glasgow Warriors claimed derby wins against Connacht and Edinburgh respectively, with half-time scores of Ulster 14-7 Connacht and Glasgow Warriors 8-7 Edinburgh. Benetton achieved a bonus-point win over Italian rivals Zebre, leading 21-10 at half-time. The weekend's fixtures were marked by sold-out games, intense match-ups, and notable performances such as Sale's dominance at the scrum, maintaining their unbeaten home record in 11 premrugby matches, and a highly anticipated clash between Finn Russell and Marcus Smith.
π PREMIERSHIP FORM Bath showing the value of bonus points! Despite winning one fewer game than Sale, the south-west club sits top. Northampton have won their last three including back-to-back away wins. Newcastle and Gloucester are on sizeable losing streaks... https://t.co/mB6RShVvY1
Excellent day at Bath. @JonnyBFordham even put his hand in his pocket! A sold-out Rec saw home side go top of the Premiership for Christmas and JVG says thereβs even more to come. Bath have a lot going for them right now. Report from win over Harlequins on @MailSport later.
Sport Republic regard Russell Martin as possessing an ambitious edge and one of the premier young coaches in England. There is little doubt he will go on to operate in the top flight. Another excellent win for #SaintsFC today - piece behind the rebuildβ¬οΈ https://t.co/RnnKgvteTp
Henry Slade leads the way as dominant Exeter rout Leicester https://t.co/nsEiCvVdGZ
π RACE TO THE TITLE π Bath are top of the table at Christmas and the midway point through the season. π Northampton's win over Gloucester sees them move into the top 4. β Exeter also increase their gap over Tigers after their victory and enter the top 4. https://t.co/PzAukQ9FCY
Gloucester and Saints produced a wondrous match worthy of the Premiershipβs greatest traditions. Saints dominated early, Gloucester brilliant comeback, by Saints took it 31-29. @TimesSport report soon
Exeter fought hard and are rewarded with a bonus-point victory. π #EXEvLEI For all the stats and insightsπ² https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/hkFZgUgrey
A bonus point victory for Bath. #BATvHAR #GallagherPrem For all the stats and insightsπ² https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/T773MrXk0h
FT Bath 25-17 Harlequins Bath go top of the Prem with a bonus point winπ #GallagherPrem | #BATvHAR https://t.co/tDqc6QpY8e
ππ NORTHAMPTON EDGE GLOUCESTER AFTER A LATE MISSED PENALTY BY ADAM HASTINGS. #GallagherPrem #GLOvNOR https://t.co/b4UMtptlRV
FT SCORES π BATH 25 - 17 HARLEQUINS π πͺ EXETER 29 - 10 LEICESTER π― π GLOUCESTER 29 - 31 NORTHAMPTON π - Bath back into 1st! - Exeterβs home run continuesβ¦ - Adam Hastings misses a penalty to win it at the death and Gloucester lose their 7th straight league game..
Hastings missed an 80th minute kick to win the game. Gloucesterβs losing streak goes on. Seven losses on the trot in the Premiership.
β«οΈ EXETER CHIEFS CLAIM A BONUS-POINT WIN AGAINST LEICESTER TIGERS AT HOME! #EXEvCHI https://t.co/GOmNMRuF5p
π BATH TOP THE PREMIERSHIP AT CHRISTMAS AFTER A STUNNING BONUS-POINT WIN OVER HARLEQUINS! #GallagherPrem #BATvHAR https://t.co/AjFipMS4HN
Northampton retake the lead with a scorcher. Hutchinson with the hips to get around the Gloucester defence to set Litchfield and Mitchell free. Tense 15 minutes ahead π 29-31 π
What has happened at Kingsholm?! Major comeback from Gloucester! Theyβve now scored four tries of their own and have taken the lead over Northampton. π 26-24 π
π€€ THAT catch from Ben Spencer! #GallagherPrem #BATvHAR https://t.co/OJHGeFnZqR
β±οΈ Half-time scores in the #GallagherPrem: β«οΈ Exeter 21-0 Leicester π― #EXEvLEI π Bath 8-5 Harlequins π #BATvHAR π Gloucester 14-24 Northampton π #GLOvNOR π’ Follow all the action live, here. π https://t.co/s5xx2ZGhDM https://t.co/9QanS2RpWI
Henry Slade pounces! π An early gift for @ExeterChiefs as the home side extend their lead π Watch live on @rugbyontnt πΊ #GallagherPrem | #EXEvLEI https://t.co/iKgvACyiMx
Ben Spencer that is SUBLIME π What could have been for @BathRugby...but this piece of skill is stunning! #GallagherPrem | #BATvHAR https://t.co/C9x5mpv39r
Northampton score their third try in 25 mins against Gloucester. π 0-17 π If thereβs no comeback then surely this is the final nail in the coffin for Skivington. Humiliation at the Holm so farβ¦
π’βͺοΈ Benetton confirm their status as Italy best against Zebre in a thrilling derby! #ZEBvBEN π Check out the match report from the #URC action. π https://t.co/yaiyvbUWKx
Awful start for Gloucester. Two tries conceded in the first 10 minutes and now the ball has just been kicked out on the full.
A bonus point victory for Benetton. #BKTURC #URC | #ZEBvBEN For all the stats and insightsπ² https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/CBgwXxNS6R
Another win for Benetton who have lost just one of their eight @URCOfficial matches this season and move up to third in the table. https://t.co/FF9DBNrvP3
π’ BENETTON CLAIM A BONUS-POINT WIN OVER THEIR ITALIAN RIVALS! #ZEBvBEN #URC https://t.co/QDjRVSNAQJ
3 Converted tries put Benetton in front at the break. #BKTURC #URC | #ZEBvBEN Follow the 2nd half action liveπ² https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/yw0obEgCeu
β±οΈ Half-time in the #URC: π¦ Zebre 10-21 Benettonπ’ #ZEBvBEN π’ Follow the second half, live. π https://t.co/bNvkW41gwz https://t.co/mWhJyNZLVq
π¦π’ It's almost time for Zebre Parma v Benetton! #ZEBvBEN π’ Catch the #URC action, live. π https://t.co/DCniRVdDd7 https://t.co/mEkF1RMQSY
Bath-bound for their Christmas cracker with Harlequins at The Rec today. Finn Russell against Marcus Smith the headline attraction. Game one of a number of Premiership ties sold out this festive period. Positive numbers for the league. https://t.co/ArUUntYV4E
Some excellent games on todayβ¦ πͺ Exeter vs Leicester π― - Chiefs havenβt lost at home in over 400 days π Bath vs Harlequins π - 2nd vs 3rd in the league + Russell vs Smith! π Gloucester vs Northampton π - Gloucester favourites despite the Saintsβ ridiculous formβ¦ βοΈβ¦
To Exeter and a sold-out Sandy Park, where Leicester could earn their sixth successive victory in all competitions against an in-form Chiefs. Really looking forward to the scrummaging head-to-head of Ehren Painter against James Whitcombe and Dan Cole against Scott Sio.
βͺοΈ Ulster and Glasgow Warriors claim wins in their derby matches against Connacht and Edinburgh. π Check out the match reports from Friday's #URC action. π https://t.co/i7e83l434Y
That one meant a lot! Sale beat Saracens to head into Christmas on a high. #GallagherPrem #SALvSAR https://t.co/8BT9sshH7U
π¦ FULL TIME π« Sale get revenge for the Premiership final. It was a close fought win but ultimately Sale's dominance at the scrum proved too much for Saracens. Impressive 80 minute performance from Ross Harrison and impact from the bench from Asher Opoko-Fordjour. https://t.co/XTmuQag4CA
β«οΈ Glasgow Warriors claim an impressive win over Edinburgh at Scotstoun! #GLAvEDI #URC https://t.co/W6WOgk3d7J
βͺοΈ Ulster just hold on to claim a narrow win over Irish rivals Connacht! #ULSvCON #URC https://t.co/8rBYoNIhPY
HALF-TIME |t's still all to play for in the second half as only one point separates the two sides! βπ‘8 - 7 π° π² Follow the game live: https://t.co/kVnDzjGKQD https://t.co/fOToxwip9f
β±οΈ Half-time in the #URC: β«οΈ Glasgow Warriors 8-7 Edinburgh π° #GLAvEDI βͺοΈ Ulster 14-7 Connacht π’ #ULSvCON π’ Follow the second half action, live. π https://t.co/Edc9IRGYg3 https://t.co/smC0fv5lkb
Just heading to @SaleSharksRugby v @Saracens for @rugbyontnt - Sale unbeaten at home in 11 in @premrugby but win for Sarries and they could go top. Looking forward to this one. @MartinBayfield @EmilyScarratt @andNickMullins
πͺ Two magicians battle it out. #BATvHAR π Leicester Tigers load up for Exeter Chiefs. #EXEvLEI π Check out the lineups for the #GallagherPrem this weekend. π https://t.co/Z4BsGwIIgJ
πͺ Two magicians battle it out. #BATvHAR π Leicester Tigers load up for Exeter Chiefs. #EXEvLEI π Check out the lineup for the #GallagherPrem this weekend. π https://t.co/Z4BsGwIIgJ