Premiership Rugby Round Two: Highlights and replays

The 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season continued after a thrilling opening weekend in which last season's runners-up Exeter Chiefs were sensationally downed by Leicester Tigers and five-time winners Saracens made a triumphant return to the top flight.

Read on for all the information you need on all six games - plus how to watch BT Sport's live coverage of three matches from Friday through to Sunday.

Friday 24 September

Gloucester 26-33 Leicester Tigers

Saturday 25 September

Wasps 44-8 Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs 24-26 Northampton Saints

Harlequins 35-19 Worcester Warriors

Bath 13-20 Newcastle Falcons

Sunday 26 September

London Irish 31-31 Sale Sharks

Friday 24 September

Gloucester 26-33 Leicester Tigers - Watch replay

Gloucester set up a grandstand finish but were unable to catch Leicester Tigers in an engrossing contest at Kingsholm.

Playing in front of a packed house for the first time since February 2020, the Cherry and Whites seemed set for a heavy defeat when a pair of kicks by George Ford and a converted George Martin try put the visitors 13-0 up inside 15 minutes. 

The West Country outfit fought back though courtesy of a converted score of their own from Fraser Balmain before Kyle Moyle was sent to the sin-bin.

Moments later, Dan Cole believed he'd scored after a blistering break from Nemani Nadolo, but a Ruan Ackermann wrist prevented the ball from making contact with the grass.

However, Steve Borthwick's side were able to make their man advantage tell soon afterwards as a superb kick by Ford pinned the hosts back and after conceding a penalty for holding on, Gloucester could only try in vain to stop Ellis Genge from thundering over.

The re-introduction of Moyle came at just the right time for George Skivington's men as Ackermann showed his worth at the other end this time, latching onto Lloyd Evans' glorious looping pass to cut the deficit to six points once more.

The Tigers re-established their 13-point lead on 54 minutes thanks to Harry Potter, who capitalised on some suspect Gloucester defending to carve his way through the middle of the pitch and hold off a couple of tackles to ground. 

A 25-12 lead with roughly 25 minutes left was always going to be tough task even with the backing of a raucous Shed, but Mark Atkinson's try and Evans' conversion moved the home side back to within two scores of victory.

Ford's third penalty of the contest gave Borthwick's boys some breathing space before Nic Dolly's third try this season earned his team a bonus point and made him the Gallagher Premiership's top try-scorer so far in 2021-22.

But Jack Clement then got Gloucester the bonusir point following a formidable driving maul as the Tigers had to see out the final stages with 14 men after Ollie Chessum's yellow card. 

In the final minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty and rolled towards the opposition try-line to deafening roars, but last season's European Challenge Cup finalists weathered the storm, regaining possession to bring the match to a close. 

Leicester now have 10 points from two matches, while Gloucester are looking to get off the mark in the league after a 34-20 defeat to Northampton Saints last weekend.

Saturday 25 September

Wasps 44-8 Bristol Bears - Watch replay

Ali Crossdale scored two debut first-half tries to send Wasps on to a thumping win over Bristol Bears at the Ricoh Arena.

The new arrival from Saracens scored either side of Max Lahiff's try to give Wasps an eight-point advantage at the break but Brad Shields - later sent off - extended the lead.

Bears responded through Daniel Thomas but it was chalked off and fellow Wasps debutant Dan Frost raced through to seal a bonus-point win. Zach Willis and Zach Kibrige added two late tries and a gloss to the score.

Exeter Chiefs 24-26 Northampton Saints

Exeter Chiefs dropped a painful one as the nightmare start continued with defeat to Northampton Saints in Round Two.

Chiefs led for all but a couple of minutes in the match but Saints hung in there and George Furbank's late penalty sealed the victory.

Harlequins 35-19 Worcester Warriors

Premiership champions Harlequins secured a battling win over Worcester Warriors after a late fightback from the visitors.

Quins raced into a 21-3 lead at the half with tries scored by Louis Lynagh, Alex Dombrandt and Cadan Murphy.

But Worcester secured two late bonus points in defeat when Willi Heinz, Ollie Lawrence and Will Chudley all went over in response to Joe Marchant's Quins try.

Bath 13-20 Newcastle Falcons

Bath lost a second game on the bounce as a poor first half cost them against the visiting Newcastle Falcons in Round Two of the Gallagher Premiership.

The hosts were 20-3 down at half-time and battled back but couldn't find enough to bounce back from the opening-day defeat.

Sunday 26 September

London Irish 31-31 Sale Sharks - Watch replay

What a game we were treated to at the Brentford Community Stadium, as London Irish welcomed fans to their new home for the first time.

A depleted Sale Sharks got off to a flyer and had secured the bonus point before the interval with AJ MacGinty, Marland Yarde, Sam James and Will Cliff all crossing.

Debutant Ben White and Agustin Creevy reduced the deficit but the hosts trailed by 17 points at the interval.

Curtis Langdon added to Sharks’ lead before a remarkable comeback came into effect with two Tom Parton tries setting up a grandstand finish.

Curtis Rona crossed in the corner to draw the Exiles within two and Paddy Jackson added the conversion from the line to send the home fans into raptures.

And the fly-half almost produced another moment of magic from the tee with the final play of the game, but his penalty from within his own half agonisingly hit the post and the points were shared.