Sio helps Exeter to victory over Newcastle
FORMER Wallabies prop Scott Sio has crossed as Exeter keep in touch with the top of the ladder thanks to a 25-16 win over Newcastle.
Sio crossed in the 38th minute as one of four first-half tries for the Chiefs, recovering after conceding a try in the first minute of the game.
It’s just his second try of the season as Exeter sealed the win with a penalty to fullback Josh Hodge.
Meanwhile, it was the Falcons’ 13th defeat from as many league games this season and left them firmly rooted to the foot of the table.
“Taking Newcastle from where they have been in the doldrums, not really being competitive -- I thought we were competitive today against a good side who don’t lose many at home,” Newcastle’s new consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond said.
“With a little bit more skill and knowledge we’ll be able to pick up some wins during the remainder of the season, and the lads are working hard.”
Exeter sit four points behind table-toppers Northampton after they were hammered 52-21 by Bristol on Friday.
It was Northampton’s first league defeat since November and they could have no complaints after Bristol stormed clear through tries from Joe Batley and Harry Randall in the early stages.
Fly-half AJ MacGinty added two conversions and a penalty before second-half scores from Kyle Sinckler, James Dun, Gabriel Ibitoye, Max Malins and Fred Davies.
Meanwhile, Saracens sit second and will have a chance to leapfrog into first after a 52-7 win over London rivals Harlequins.
In a match played in front of more than 60,000 spectators at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home of the Premier League football club, Saracens managed four tries in each half as they leapfrogged Harlequins into second place.
Saracens surged into a 24-0 lead before half-time, with Sean Maitland scoring two tries while Alex Lewington and Theo Dan also crossed Harlequins’ line.
Dan crossed again early in the second period and Saracens led 31-0 before Harlequins managed a consolation try through Alex Dombrandt.
But the Argentina duo of Lucio Cinti and Juan Martin Gonzalez added to Quins’ agony before Alex Goode scored Saracens’ eighth try.
Owen Farrell, the former England captain, marked his 250th appearance for Saracens with six conversions as a Quins team featuring England fly-half Marcus Smith were overwhelmed.
“We weren’t expecting the scoreline and weren’t expecting the performance to be quite at that level,” said Saracens boss Mark McCall, with the side to face the table-topping Saints next weekend.