Special Juan on Irish high Just perfect for Bautista
TWO tries from Juan Martin Gonzalez ensured London Irish finished a bad week on a high as they beat Exeter Chiefs 17-14. The build-up to the game had been far from ideal for Irish, whose players were paid late as the club’s proposed takeover continues to drag on.
Tom Hendrickson looked like he had earned Chiefs the victory, only for Gonzalez and So’otala Da’aso’o to turn it around for the Exiles to secure a fifth-placed finish, their best return in
14 years.
Chris Ashton ended his rugby career on a low – sent off on his final
Leicester appearance atwelford Road in the 20-17 loss to
Harlequins.
Ollie Lawrence’s last gasp try pulled Champions Cup rugby out of the fire for Bath as they beat Saracens 61-29.
Lawrence went over with the clock in the red as Bath edged into the top eight, pipping Bristol on points difference. It capped a comeback for Lawrence, and flanker Ted Hill, who were on the rugby scrapheap whenworcester went under.
They were snapped up by Bath and a run of three league wins gave them a shot at qualification and they took it with nine tries with Tom Dunn helping himself to a hat-trick.
Hill said: “We knew this was a massive game for us but we knew the potential of this group.”
Fijian superstar Semi Radradra signed off with two tries as Bristol beat Gloucester 36-21 at Ashton Gate but Bears with left with a sore head.
Bath’s defeat of Saracens means Bristol are in the Challenge Cup next year.
Sale warmed up for next Sunday’s Premiership semi-final clash with Leicester with a 54-12
thrashing of Newcastle.
SPAIN’S Alvaro Bautista powered to another commanding victory in front of his home fans, as Toprak Razgatlioglu pipped Northern Irishman Jonathan Rea to second.
Just hours after taking pole with the fastest everwsbk lap at Catalunya, the Aruba Ducati rider crossed the line almost nine seconds clear of Razgatlioglu, taking win nine from 10 races.
Bautista said: “I am so happy because today has been a perfect day.”
His team-mate Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s hopes of fighting for a win ended in the gravel on lap two as he clattered with Italian Axel Bassani.
Turkey’s Razgatlioglu made a bold move up the inside of turn one on the last lap to secure second position.