Following victories from Gloucester, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks earlier in the day, Saracens came from behind against Harlequins to keep up their unblemished Premiership record.
Northampton Saints 15-23 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham
Leicester Tigers saw off Northampton Saints 23-15 at Twickenham after taking a 20-10 lead into half-time.
The game got off to a relatively even start, with Jamie Gibson forcing his way over from close range for the opening try of the game 15 minutes in following a line-out drive and George Ford slotting penalties over before and afterwards.
However, Tigers took control in the closing stages of the first-half, with Adam Thompstone’s clever flick-pass setting Jonah Holmes up for a break from around 40 metres out, which led to a 31st minute Ben Youngs try.
Within another 60 seconds of play, Leicester were in for another try, with Holmes the catalyst once again. This time, he started his run from around 75 metres out and evaded several potential tacklers before setting Jordan Olowofela up for the finish.
However, after a lengthy build-up, Saints scored their second unconverted try on the stroke of half-time, with David Ribbans getting it.
The second-half was a relatively uneventful affair, with Leicester finally scoring the first points 16 minutes in through a Ford penalty.
Saints refused to go down without a fight, with Mike Haywood peeling off a maul to score a 69th minute try, but it ultimately proved to be nothing more than consolation.
The scorers:
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Gibson, Ribbans, Haywood
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: B Youngs, Olowofela
Cons: Ford 2
Pens: Ford 3
Northampton: 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 13 Andrew Kellaway, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Dylan Hartley (cc), 1 Alex Waller (cc)
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Tom Wood, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Tom Collins
Leicester: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Guy Thompson, 6 David Denton, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 1 Greg Bateman
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 David Feao, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Valentino Mapapalangi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 Jordan Olowofela
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Roy Maybank
Television match official: Sean Davey
Sale Sharks 20-7 Newcastle Falcons
AJ Bell Stadium
Sale Sharks came back from 7-3 down at half-time to see off Newcastle Falcons 20-7.
The match got off to a relatively slow start, with 33 minutes passing before AJ MacGinty opened the scoring with a penalty.
However, Falcons drew first blood in terms of tries, with Will Welch scoring from a pick-and-go three minutes later following 20 phases on attack.
The tide turned once more when Logovi’i Mulipola was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes for an early tackle on Marland Yarde.
Sale wasted no time before capitalising on their numerical advantage, with James Phillips forcing his way over under the posts after a lengthy build-up.
Falcons lost another player to a yellow card shortly afterwards, with Micky Young receiving a 61st minute yellow card for a high tackle.
The match stayed relatively evenly-poised until 65 minutes in, when a well-worked move following an attacking line-out saw Bryn Evans go over to extend Sale’s lead beyond a converted try.
Seven minutes later, they all but sealed victory, with James O’Connor’s pass sending Rohan Janse van Rensburg through for the try.
The scorers:
For Sale Sharks:
Tries: Phillips, Evans, Van Rensburg
Con: MacGinty
Pen: MacGinty
For Newcastle Falcons:
Try: Welch
Con: Hodgson
Yellow Cards: Mulipola, Young
Sale: 15 Sam James, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Luke James, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Alexandru Tarus, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Andrei Ostrikov, 20 Josh Beaumont, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Mark Jennings, 23 James O’Connor
Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Michael Young, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 6 Gary Graham, 5 Tevita Cavubati, 4 Calum Green, 3 Logovi’i Mulipola, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Sami Mavinga, 18 David Wilson, 19 Will Witty, 20 Ryan Burrows, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Tom Penny
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Tim Wigglesworth
Television match official: Trevor Fisher
Wasps 21-35 Gloucester
Ricoh Arena
Gloucester claimed all five points away at the Ricoh Arena with a 35-21 victory over Wasps, having led 20-7 at half-time.
Wasps headed into the match in fine form, with four wins in the bag from five games. That looked set to continue early on, when Dan Robson charged through a gap at the ruck and raced away from the attempted cover tackle to score the opening try of the game.
However, it was to be the hosts’ last of the half, as Gloucester stunned them with tries from first Ben Vellacott and then Charlie Sharples.
Former Wasp Danny Cipriani, who was instrumental in the build-up to Vellacott’s try, setting him up with a great kick, converted both tries and added two penalties before the half-time break.
Wasps were in no mood to go down without a sting in the tail and started the second half off with a try from Elliot Daly.
Then, 61 minutes in, Juan de Jongh touched down from Craig Hampson’s kick, with Billy Searle’s conversion narrowing Gloucester’s lead to two points.
However, as the match headed into its closing stages, Johan Ackermann’s side took control once more, with Sharples scoring his second try of the game, diving over in the corner after an offload from Jason Woodward.
A 74th minute try from Lewis Ludlow gave Gloucester their fourth try and put the cherry on top of the cake.
The scorers:
For Wasps:
Tries: Robson, Daly, De Jongh
Cons: Searle 3
For Gloucester:
Tries: Vellacott, Sharples 2, Ludlow
Cons: Cipriani 3
Pens: Cipriani 3
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly (c), 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ben Harris
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Craig Hampson, 22 Michael Le Bourgeois, 23 Gaby Lovobalavu
Gloucester: 15 Tom Hudson, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Jake Polledri, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Ed Slater (c), 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 James Hanson, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Ollie Adkins, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Jason Woodward
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Wayne Falla
Television match official: Claire Hodnett
Harlequins 20-25 Saracens
The Stoop
Defending champions Saracens scored a 25-20 comeback victory over Harlequins, having trailed 13-9 at half-time.
The visitors came into the match with a perfect 25 points from five games, but this time they were made to sweat from the get-go.
Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell traded early penalties, but then 34 minutes in, with the score at 6-6, Danny Care stunned Sarries by running half the length of the pitch to score the opening try of the game.
The boot of Farrell kept the champions within touching distance, but then, after Smith missed a penalty kick of his own, Joe Marchant was able to gather the ball mid-air and score a comical 54th minute try to give Quins some breathing space.
However, Saracens refused to lie down, and after another Farrell penalty put them back within striking range, Billy Vunipola finally scored their first try in the corner on 68 minutes following some quick hands.
The boot of Farrell kept the scoreboard ticking and Saracens were able to hold on for a narrow win, although they now trail Exeter Chiefs on points difference at the top of the table.
The scorers:
For Harlequins:
Tries: Care, Marchant
Cons: Smith 2
Pens: Smith 2
For Saracens:
Tries: B Vunipola
Cons: Farrell
Pens: Farrell 6
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 James Chisholm, 7 Chris Robshaw (cc), 6 Renaldo Bothma, 5 James Horwill (cc), 4 Matt Symons, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Max Crumpton, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Will Collier, 19 Stan South, 20 Semi Kunatani, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Demetri Catrakilis, 23 Alofa Alofa
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Alex Lozowski, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Mike Rhodes, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 George Kruis, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Marcelo Bosch, 23 Sean Maitland
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Robert Warburton
Television match official: David Rose