Rugby Union

Gallagher Premiership round 12 review: Leicester Tigers edge London Irish, while champions Exeter Chiefs thrash Bath

by
Guest Writer
8 March 2021

Twitter/@LeicesterTigers

Round 12 of the Gallagher Premiership did not disappoint, giving out three different thrillers across the six matches this weekend.

Here, TIBS News reviews the contests.

Leicester Tigers 33-32 London Irish

The action started at Mattioli Woods Welford Road as Leicester Tigers beat London Irish 33 points to 32. Leicester Tigers finished the game with 13 men as Jack Van Poortvliet and Joe Heyes both received yellow cards in the closing moments. London Irish also had their fair share of disciplinary troubles as Matt Rogerson received a yellow within the first five minutes. They also had to play the last 20 minutes with 14 men due to a red card that was issued to inside centre Terrence Hepetema.

The game was hard fought, and Leicester controlled the game during the middle period. Irish started fantastically and finished in the same suit with a first minute try scored by Paddy Jackson and an 86th-minute try scored by Matt Cornish. Although it wasn’t enough as Leicester answered all of Irish’s questions to win a thrilling game.

Sale Sharks 31-16 Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons only managed to put one try past a solid Sale Sharks. Sale had WillGriff John sent to the sin bin in the 55th minute but the Falcons didn’t manage to score a point during those 10 minutes.

The scoreline would have been a lot worse for Newcastle if it wasn’t for Sale’s lack of discipline with nine of their points coming from penalties. The visitors scored their try in the 74th minute through Joel Matavesi. Sale looked calm and calculated like usual with scrum-half Faf de Klerk controlling the game.

Bath Rugby 16-38 Exeter Chiefs

Exeter enjoyed a demolition of Bath on Saturday, showing the world why they’re the defending champions. It started nicely for Bath with two penalties, scored by Rhys Priestland, and a try from winger Ruaridh McConnochie putting them up by 13 points.

Although they couldn’t stop the Chiefs’ march for long. For the remaining 60 minutes of the game Exeter started ticking the points over and in the second half Bath could only manage a penalty. Throughout the course of the game Exeter managed to score six tries and convert five of them. They left the Recreation Ground as worthy winners.

Wasps 19-20 Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester took home the win on Saturday in a nail-biting game against Wasps. They were a man down from the 27th minute after poor conduct left Ollie Thorley seeing red. Gloucester managed to keep up their momentum from an early try and score again before half-time, making the score 0-17 at the break.

Wasps fought their way back into the game taking the lead in with nine minutes left. However, Gloucester managed an amazing last 10 minutes and instead of letting the game get away from them the 14 men left on the pitch attacked Wasps believing they deserved more than a losing bonus-point. Three minutes from time they won a penalty and Billy Twelvetrees slotted it home giving Gloucester Rugby the lead and subsequently the win.

Worcester Warriors 23-24 Bristol Bears

Worcester were left heartbroken at home against top of the table Bristol Bears in another tense clash at Sixways. The game was impossible to call from start to finish and made for incredible viewing considering the Bears were expected to run away with it.

Worcester had their first win since November ripped away from them in the last 10 minutes of the game with a fantastically worked try from Ratu Naulago and the all-important conversion scored by high flying Callum Sheedy. Overall, it was an incredible performance from Naulago who scored three of Bristol’s four tries.

Harlequins 37-19 Northampton Saints

Harlequins managed a smooth win over Northampton Saints in the last game of the weekend. They scored two tries inside the first 10 minutes of the game through Tyrone Green and Stephan Lewies. Marcus Smith converted both and scored a first-minute penalty too.

Saints fought back in the 20 minutes either side of half-time but Quins upped their level, after an early second-half wobble, using brutality to close the game off. In doing this Quins received two yellow cards to Jack Kenningham and Alex Dombrandt within three minutes of each other. However, the game was already won and Quins saw out the game from there while also scoring a last-minute try to secure the bonus point.