Premiership Rugby Round Three: Highlights and match reports

Another fascinating weekend of Gallagher Premiership action across Round 2 has teed us up nicely for a brilliant slate of fixtures over the next few days.

Read on for all the information you need to know about all six games, including highlights, reports and how to watch on BT Sport.

Friday 1 October

Bristol Bears 25-20 Bath

Saturday 2 October

Northampton 23-21 London Irish

Leicester Tigers 13-12 Saracens

Worcester Warriors 23-31 Gloucester

Newcastle Falcons 18-14 Wasps

Sunday 3 October

Sale Sharks 15-25 Exeter Chiefs

Friday 1 October

Bristol Bears 25-20 Bath - Watch replay

Bristol came from behind to earn their first win of the Gallagher Premiership season against Bath in the West Country derby at Ashton Gate.

The visitors were rewarded for their first-half dominance with tries from Will Muir and Fijian Semesa Rokoduguni with captain Steven Luatua responding for the hosts.

Pat Lam’s side improved markedly after the break and capitalised on Tom Ellis and Tom Dunn’s yellow cards to complete a superb comeback in a memorable match. 

Saturday 2 October

Northampton Saints 23-21 London Irish

Northampton extended their perfect start to the season with a hard-fought win over London Irish at Franklin’s Gardens.

The Exiles came close to snatching victory after a much-improved second-half display but it was the home side who snatched the win when Dan Biggar kicked a decisive late penalty to make it 23-21.

Saints scored early tries through Tom Collins and Matt Proctor before Irish replied through Agustin Creevy, a penalty try and Tom Parton in an entertaining encounter.

Leicester Tigers 13-12 Saracens - Watch replay

Leicester maintained their lead at the top of the Premiership with a dramatic 13-12 stoppage-time victory over Saracens having been outplayed for most of the match.

Sarries led from the eighth minute and thought they had won when home centre Guy Porter was tackled into touch just after the countdown clock had reached zero.

As Saracens celebrated, referee Christophe Ridley asked for a check on the challenge on Porter by Saracens scrum-half Aled Davies. He ruled that the forward had made the tackle off his feet and awarded Leicester a penalty which they kicked to touch five metres out.

The Tigers drove the line out and were almost at the Saracens line when the maul collapsed and the referee awarded a penalty try. He identified Billy Vunipola as the culprit, showing the No 8 a yellow card.

Worcester Warriors 23-31 Gloucester

Gloucester earned their first win of the season with a 31-23 win over Worcester at Sixways thanks to an impressive second-half display.

Ben Morgan, Jason Woodward and Chris Harris went over for the away side after the break and Scotland international Adam Hastings marked his debut for the club by kicking 16 points.

“Our half-backs Ben Meehan and Adam Hastings were brilliant,” said Gloucester head coach George Skivington. “They managed the game really well. Our wingers chased hard and our dominant maul was a key feature.”

Newcastle Falcons 18-14 Wasps

14-man Newcastle Falcons held on to beat Wasps in an attritional encounter at Kingston Park on Saturday afternoon.

Carl Fearns’ try and a penalty from Will Haydon-Wood gave the home side an early lead but Tom Cruse hit back for the visitors and they took the lead through Tom Willis after the Falcons were reduced to 14 men.

But Callum Chick responded for the hosts late on and Wasps had to settle for only a losing bonus point.

Sunday 3 October

Sale Sharks 15-25 Exeter Chiefs - Watch replay

Exeter beat 14-man Sale 25-15 to get a first Premiership win of the season.

Sale were 10-0 up after 10 minutes thanks to Ross Harrison's try and Rob Du Preez's penalty, but Henry Slade's late score made it level at half time after Sale's defence had impressed.

A Slade penalty put Exeter ahead before Rohan Janse van Rensburg was sent off for a high tackle on Harvey Skinner.

Slade and Will Witty went over in quick succession to kill the game off before Ewan Ashman got a late try for Sale.