Saracens and Exeter stay unbeaten in Premiership to continue their dominant hold on the league

Last season's Premiership finalists Saracens and Exeter Chiefs maintained their unbeaten starts to the new campaign with wins on Saturday.

Champions Sarries were big 50-27 winners against Bath, who were playing for the first time since announcing director of rugby Todd Blackadder had signed a contract extension and would eventually be succeeded by Stuart Hooper.

Liam Williams was the star performer as he crossed three times, with the hosts scoring eight tries in all to ensure they remain top by a point.

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Exeter are hot on Saracens' heels, though, with their fifth win of the season a 28-11 defeat of Worcester Warriors.

Jack Yeandle and Harry Williams scored either side of Dave Ewers' first-half double.

Elsewhere, Danny Cipriani's 15 points were not quite enough to lift Gloucester to victory against Harlequins as they went down 27-25.

Cipriani scored the opening try and kicked well, but Nathan Earle's brace and a series of second-half penalties meant that the efforts of Cipriani and Charlie Sharples, who crossed twice, counted for little.

And a thriller in Bristol saw the Bears marginally beaten by Northampton Saints, a late home rally falling short as the visitors won 45-40.