Harlequins shine bright in first victory of new season
HARLEQUINS head of rugby Paul Gustard was pleased to see some of his “old heads” shine during their 49-29 victory over Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens.
Stalwarts Danny Care and Mike Brown were among Quins’ six try scorers, as the visitors displayed some thrilling attacking rugby in their first win of the new season.
Some of the youngsters in their line-up also shone, with 20-yearold Hugh Tizard impressing on his Gallagher Premiership debut and fly-half Marcus Smith claiming a personal haul of 24 points.
Gustard said: “In any rugby team, you need a blend of experience, that have been there and done it, and there aren’t many people who have done it more than Danny Care or Mike Brown, who I thought both were exceptional today.
“Scott Baldwin, who has 30-odd caps for Wales, again was exceptional and you need that. Hugh Tizard is 20 and making his first Premiership start today and you need those kind of guys around him.”
Billy Twelvetrees scored 20 points as a superb second-half performance from the hosts secured a 40-24 victory over Gallagher Premiership rivals Wasps at Kingsholm. Gloucester’s eight were able to dominate against a Wasps’ pack missing England internationals Joe Launchbury and Jack Willis – and were rewarded with five tries.
Jack Singleton, Matt Garvey, Joe Simpson, Jason Woodward and Twelvetrees all crossed for the Cherry and Whites, with captain Twelvetrees adding three penalties and three conversions.
Paolo Odogwu scored two late tries for the visitors. Alfie Barbeary and Michael Le Bourgeois scored the others with Jimmy Gopperth kicking two conversions.
Bristol secured a hard-fought 30-13 bonus point victory over a resilient Worcester at Ashton Gate.
Tries from Piers O’conor, Bryan Byrne, Siale Piutau and a penalty try – along with eight points from the boot of Wales international Ioan Lloyd – was enough to secure Pat Lam’s side their first victory of the Gallagher Premiership season.
Reigning champions Exeter moved to the top of the Gallagher Premiership table with a six-try mauling of Bath at Sandy Park. The Chiefs’ destruction of the Bath pack was the key to their second bonus point victory in successive weekends as the hosts ran out 40-3 victors. Number eight Sam Simmonds scored another two tries, with further scores from Tom O’flaherty, Sam Hidalgo-clyne, Ian Whitten and a penalty try helping Exeter to a big win. Fly-half Joe Simmonds converted three of the tries, with replacement Jack Walsh adding the extras to another. Bath’s only score was a penalty from fly-half Rhys Priestland.