Our rugby reporter Josh Green provides the local and national rugby roundup from the weekend.
Local - Hampshire Premier
Ellingham and Ringwood RFC
Ringwood travelled over to the Isle of Wight on Saturday afternoon to play Sandown and Shanklin looking to keep their unbeaten start to the season. It wasn’t to be though as Sandown and Shanklin ran out 48-3 winners. This leaves Ellingham and Ringwood in 6th with two wins and one loss from the opening three games of the season. Next up is Chichester II at home next Saturday at 14:30
Fording Bridge RFC
After the first three 3 games of the season, Fording Bridge sit bottom of the table with a points difference of -138. They travel to Havant II who are third in the league. But it wasn’t to be as they lost heavily on Saturday afternoon after being defeated 68-23 and still sit bottom of the table after 4 losses from 4.
New Milton and District RFC
New Milton were another team who went into the weekend still unbeaten after winning their first two games and they played Chichester who were yet to win this season. But they narrowly lost 25-24 and their unbeaten streak was over. They face Eastleigh next weekend who themselves are yet to win.
National - Gallagher Premiership
Sale Sharks V Harlequins
Harlequins could not keep up their unbeaten start to the season on Friday night as they were beaten away at Sale. Young Sale scrum half Raffi Quirke crossed the try line twice throughout the game to help beat the defending champions. Quins scrum half Danny Care also crossed for the away side, but Quins were not up to their mesmerising best and were punished for that. This win puts Sale up to seventh but only two points off Harlequins in second. Final Score: Sale 28 Harlequins 22.
Newcastle Falcons V Bristol Bears
This may not have been the game of the weekend, but it was a huge result for Newcastle who beat last year’s semi-finalists. The first points of the game were scored just before halftime through a Falcons try. Callum Chick barged over the line and Brett Conon converted on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts the lead. The only other try of the game was scored by the visitors. Harry Randall quick tapped a penalty and broke through the defence and found Alapati Leiua on the left wing who scored. The other points of the game were two penalties from the boot of Conon which sealed the victory for the home side. This moved them into fifth and left Bristol second from bottom after a torrid start to the season. Final Score, Newcastle 13 Bristol 5.
Wasps V Exeter Chiefs
A much needed win for Exeter at the Ricoh arena on Saturday afternoon pulled themselves into the top four by a point. Tries from Slade and Cordero gave Exeter the lead, but Wasps hit back with two of their own before half-time through Frost and Young. Exeter held on for the win though with the help of two more tries in the second half from England internationals Sam Simmonds and Jonny Hill to give Rob Baxters men the win in the midlands. This ended Wasps unbeaten home record so far this season, but they played well and earned a losing bonus point for their troubles. Final Score: Wasps 23 Exeter 27.
Worcester Warriors V Leicester Tigers
Leicester continued their unbeaten start to the season after brushing past Worcester with a convincing win. Eight tries in all for the Tigers with eight different scorers. Worcester could only score a Billy Searle penalty early in the first half and with this Worcester’s dismal form continues. Leicester play Sale next week and then two weeks from now the East Midlands derby against fierce rivals Northampton. Their great start to the season also sees the away side 7 points clear at the top of the table. Final Score: Worcester 3 Leicester 48
Bath V Saracens
Bath were completely dismantled on Sunday afternoon as Mark McCall’s men ran in 10 tries at the Rec and completed their biggest away victory in the premiership. Bath scored two of their own, both coming in the second half through Tom De Glanville and Tom Ellis. But a hattrick for Max Malins along with tries from Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Eroni Mawi, Rotimi Segun, Dom Morris and two for Jamie George completed the demolition. Next up for Bath is a trip to Harlequins which will not be any easier, and Saracens are back at home to Wasps on Sunday. Final Score: Bath 17 Saracens 71.
London Irish V Gloucester
A brace of tries for Ben Morgan along with another for Louis Rees-Zammit wasn’t enough for Gloucester to beat London Irish at the Brentford Community Stadium. Irish had already drawn at home this season against Sale 31-31 in round two and it was the same in round 5. The home side were 14-6 up at halftime scoring twice. One from Agustin Creevy and the other Isaac Curtis-Harris. Gloucester came back in the second half though but Irish got the draw with 14 minutes to play through a Matt Rogerson try. The draw leaves both teams in mid table with Gloucester ending the weekend in 8th and London Irish in 10th. Final Score: London Irish 25 Gloucester 25.