Sarries go nine from nine
England pair Jamie George and Nick Isiekwe scored second-half tries as Saracens made it nine wins from nine and moved to the top of the Premiership table with a 29-6 victory over Wasps.
Exeter Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season on Friday and Sarries took full advantage the following day with a hard-fought success at Allianz Park.
Saracens were leading 12-6 in the 59th minute when hooker George, who scored a hat-trick of tries against Wasps last season, proved their nemesis again when fed by Brad Barritt as constant pressure from the home side finally told.
Isiekwe then capitalised on Elliot Daly's loose pass to add another score as the defending champions preserved the only remaining unbeaten record in the league.
Kyle Eastmond's red card proved costly for Leicester Tigers as Bristol Bears scored 20 unanswered second-half points to claim a 41-10 victory - just their third in the Premiership this season.
Eastmond was dismissed for a high tackle in the 24th minute when his shoulder smashed into Ian Madigan's head.
At that stage the Bears were only three points ahead - Harry Thacker and Manu Tuilagi crossing at either end - but Thacker dotted down again before the break, and Luke Morahan and Harry Randall scored tries early in the second half to give Bristol a bonus-point win.
Newcastle Falcons moved off the foot of the table with a dramatic 16-14 win over Northampton Saints as Toby Flood added the extras to Mark Wilson's try in the 88th minute.
Despite leading 6-0 through two Flood penalties, Newcastle appeared on course for a defeat when Cobus Reinach went in either side of the interval for Northampton.
Yet the TMO awarded Wilson a dramatic late try and Flood kept his nerve to deliver the victory with the subsequent conversion.
Gloucester moved up to third as they ran in six tries in a 36-16 victory over Worcester Warriors.
Ollie Thorley provided two of those scores, with James Hanson, Charlie Sharples, Freddie Clarke and Jaco Visagie the others to dot down.
Duncan Weir converted three first-half penalties for the Warriors but Gloucester were already home and hosed by the time Bryce Heem provided a consolation try for Worcester.
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Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
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