Handre Pollard enjoyed an eventful first start of the Premiership season, helping Leicester Tigers stun the defending champions, while Jaco Coetzee’s try wrapped up a big win for Bath.
– Sale sent hapless Newcastle crashing to a 25th successive defeat with a bonus-point 43-10 victory. Robert du Preez started at flyhalf and kicked four conversions for Sale, while younger brother Dan du Preez made a return from a long-term injury in the second half. Sale also had Ernst van Rhyn at flank and Hyron Andrews at lock at they stayed in touch with league leaders Bristol.
– Bristol staged a thrilling fightback to beat Exeter 40-35 and keep hold of first place in the Premiership. The Bears were in trouble after Exeter opened up a 32-12 ahead with 18 minutes left, but took full advantage of a yellow card, scoring 28 points in a 10-minute period. Benhard Janse van Rensburg started at inside centre for Bristol, while Exeter had Jacques Vermeulen at flank.
– Johann van Graan‘s Bath also had to come from behind to grab a 55-31 victory over Gloucester, after trailing 24-17 at half time. Former Stormers loose forward Jaco Coetzee came off the bench and scored his second try of the season to wrap up the win. Springbok prop Thomas du Toit and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder were also in action for Bath. Ruan Ackermann played off the bench for Gloucester.
– Handre Pollard made a welcome return as Leicester Tigers made it three wins from four Premiership games under Michael Cheika by beating Northampton 24-8. Pollard enjoyed an eventful first start of the season as the Bok flyhalf kicked three conversions and a penalty, but was also yellow carded after half time for a head-on-head collision in a tackle. Hanro Liebenberg was at flank for Leicester, while Northampton were without No 8 Juarno Augustus.
– Harlequins ruined Saracens’ 100 per cent start to the season with a 17-10 win over their London rivals at the Twickenham Stoop. Saracens had won their first three games of this campaign and had not lost to Harlequins in the league since January 2020. Lock pair Irne Herbst and Stephan Lewies helped Harlequins see out a memorable win. Scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl played 70 minutes for Saracens.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
