TRY OF THE SEASON
Billy Twelvetrees for Gloucester against Worcester at Kingsholm, spectacularly engineered by the flying Henry Trinder on a long-range break. It was a sublime, slick demonstration of attacking brilliance.
BEST MATCH
Harlequins beating Saracens 20-19 at The Stoop in December when England scrum-half Danny Care conjured a stunning comeback win for the hosts by creating two late tries for Charlie Webster and Tim Visser.
BEST ONES WHO GOT AWAY
Vereniki Goneva was allowed to leave Leicester to join Newcastle and returned to haunt the Tigers at Welford Road, denying them a play-off place. Leicester signed Gloucester’s Sione Kalamafoni and the No 8 was their Player of the Season.
FONDEST FAREWELLS
Matt Banahan ended his 12-year stint as a Bath hero with a hat-trick. Ben Foden called time on his Northampton career but his next stop is unclear. Saracens hooker Schalk Brits retired as the greatest Premiership import ever.
WORST ORDEALS
Every time Northampton faced Saracens this season it was carnage. In the league, the Saints were thrashed at Twickenham 55-24 on day one and seven months later were crushed 63-13 at home — a record defeat.
BEST CELEBRATION
Goneva wanted to mark the occasion in fitting fashion when Newcastle played Northampton at St James’ Park. He worked on his Alan Shearer salute in training and then showcased it to the crowd after he touched down.
DAMP SQUIB
Premiership Rugby, desperate to tap into a new market in the USA, have been far from convincing. Newcastle met Saracens in Philadelphia and, officially, drew just 6,271 fans — a generous figure. It was a PR flop.
TOP TACKLE
When Dan Robson burst down the left wing for Wasps at Welford Road, a try seemed inevitable. Tigers’ Mathew Tait had other ideas, producing a stupendous cover tackle to prevent what would have been a decisive try.
COACH OF THE SEASON
No contest. Dean Richards. Rob Baxter is doing a fine job at Exeter but the Chiefs are already champions. Richards has turned Newcastle into title contenders and is now being touted for the England job.
BEST NEW IMPORT
Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk has been Sale’s heartbeat all season. He has started every match and been hugely influential — scoring tries, kicking goals and generally wreaking havoc. He may soon add to his Test caps tally.
WORST KITS
Some of the alternative strips worn by clubs are breathtakingly bad but the grey-and-green hoops sported by Newcastle and Northampton’s luminous green kit are the pick of the bunch for this unwanted prize.
BIGGEST LET-DOWN
Harlequins. Until their last-day defiance against Exeter, they had stopped playing for a month or two. Given the calibre of their players, this hints at grave problems.
MAN OF STEEL
Saracens have had their ups and downs but captain Brad Barritt has been an inspiration. His commitment was exemplified when he broke a cheekbone, had a metal plate inserted and played the next weekend!
BEST COMMENTARY SOUNDBITES
On BT Sport, Alastair Eykyn likened Tigers prop Ellis Genge to ‘a baby rhino with a dart up its backside’, while Nick Mullins hailed Trinder’s magic in setting up Twelvetrees’ epic try for Gloucester by saying: ‘Henry Trinder, playing like Harry Potter . . . ’