Gallagher Premiership Round 14: Highlights and reports

One of the most captivating, unpredictable Gallagher Premiership seasons in years continued with round 14.

Read on, or jump to the game of your choice, for highlights and match reports from all six matches.

Friday 19 March

Newcastle Falcons 18-20 Wasps

Saturday 20 March

Bath 47-22 Worcester Warriors

Harlequins 59-24 Gloucester

Exeter Chiefs 47-31 Leicester Tigers

Sunday 21 March

Northampton Saints 21-28 Bristol Bears

Sale Sharks 41-13 London Irish

Friday 19 March

Newcastle Falcons 18-20 Wasps

Match replay

Wasps launched a second-half comeback at Newcastle to go level on points with the Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership.

Marco Fuser and George Wacokecoke's tries saw Newcastle storm into an 18-6 advantage at half-time.

But the visitors came storming back with Brad Shields and Tom West tries securing a huge victory on Friday evening. 

Saturday 20 March

Bath 47-22 Worcester Warriors

Match replay

Bath Rugby secured a resounding win over Worcester with seven tries seeing the home side ease to a comfortable victory.

Tom Dunn and Will Muir both went over twice as an inexperienced Warriors side struggled to live with the hosts.

Muir's first, after just 90 seconds of the match, set the tone and the same man scored a bonus-point try in only the 23rd minute.

Zach Mercer, Ben Spencer and Max Clark also went over for Bath while Warriors responded through Perry Humphreys' double and Joe Batley.

Harlequins 59-24 Gloucester

Match replay

A nine-try display saw Harlequins thrash Gloucester at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday afternoon.

Quins flew into a 24-0 lead when Luke Northmore, Mike Brown, Cadan Murley and Danny Care all went over to secure the bonus point.

But Gloucester launched a stunning fightback through two Charlie Chapman tries and a Freddie Clarke effort.

However it was short lived. Care sent Quins clear once again before Tyrone Green grabbed one of his own. 

Things went from bad to worse for Gloucester as Matt Banahan was sent off and Quins punished them further with efforts from Alex Dombrandt (two) and Northmore's second.

Exeter Chiefs 47-31 Leicester Tigers

Match replay

Exeter edged out 14-man Leicester on Saturday afternoon as the Chiefs secured a narrow victory over the visitors.

Harry Williams' early try gave Exeter the advantage and Tigers saw Cobus Van Wyk dismissed by the referee on 14 minutes.

The home side then scored through Tom O'Flaherty, Dave Ewers and Harvey Skinner tries inside the half-hour mark but Tomas Lavanini and Jack Van Poortvliet hit back for Tigers.

The second-half try fest saw Sam Simmonds, Olly Woodburn and Jacques Vermeulen go over while Leicester responded with three of their own - from Matt Scott, Charlie Clare and Hanro Liebenberg.

Sunday 21 March

Northampton Saints 21-28 Bristol Bears

Match replay

Leaders Bristol picked up a bonus-point win over Northampton Saints thanks to two late scores from Luke Morahan and Andy Uren.

The Bears looked to be easing their way to another Premiership win when Henry Purdy and Siva Naulago crossed in the first half.

But Nick Isiekwe reduced the lead just before the interval before the Franklin’s Gardens clash swung in the hosts favour when George Furbank crossed after a fortunate bounce of the ball.

But Pat Lam’s men don’t know when they’re beaten and came storming back to secure not only the win but also the bonus point to extend their lead at the top.

Sale Sharks 41-13 London Irish

Match replay

Sale boost their top four hopes with a comfortable six-try victory over London Irish at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Simon Hammersley, Lood de Jager and Byron McGuigan also crossed before the break, before Arron Reed’s try secured the bonus point just after the break.

Winger McGuigan was to steal the headlines however, as the Scotland international scored two second-half tries to seal his hat-trick and the emphatic win.

Ben Donnell did get the visitors on the scoreboard but they were well beaten and slumped to their eighth straight defeat in Salford.