O’Connor shines as Sale rout Bath

LONDON: Former Australia international James O’Connor was Sale’s driving force as his side made it three successive English Premiership victories with a 32-9 demolition of Bath on Saturday.

Bath’s Rhys Priestland kicked three penalties and AJ MacGinty booted two for Sale in a scrappy first half.

Todd Blackadder’s Bath ended the period 9-6 in front, but O’Connor took over as Sale controlled the second 40 minutes.

They touched down through Josh Strauss and Byron McGuigan.

Sale remained on the front foot and deservedly sealed a bonus-point win when O’Connor and Will Cliff crossed the whitewash.

Exeter maintained their place at the top of the Premiership with a bonus point 35-14 victory as they sent Northampton crashing to their 11th defeat in 12 games in all competitions.

It was the first Premiership game for the Saints since they sacked director of rugby Jim Mallinder a week and a half ago.

The Chiefs scored tries from scrum-half Will Chudley, No.8 Sam Simmonds and replacements Thomas Waldrom and Jack Yeandle, with Irish fly-half Gareth Steenson booting three penalties and three conversions.

Saints battled hard but they were undone in the second-half.

They scored tries from wing Ahsee Tuala in the first half and replacement Cobus Reinach towards the end of the game, with fly-half Piers Francis converting both.

Wasps replaced Gloucester in second place with a bonus-point 4924 victory at the Ricoh Arena, their fifth league success in a row. - AFP