Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on sport across the globe, and the top flight of English rugby is no exception as round five saw two games postponed.

Despite that, the four surviving fixtures more than made up for the disappointment of more disruption as Newcastle Falcons lost their unbeaten record and Wasps stunned champions Exeter Chiefs to exact revenge for last season's Premiership final heartbreak. 

It was another unmissable round of top-flight domestic action this weekend, featuring a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash between the Chiefs and Bristol Bears.

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Friday 8 January

Bath 44-52 Wasps

Sale Sharks 20-13 Worcester Warriors

Saturday 9 January

Newcastle Falcons 22-10 Gloucester

Exeter Chiefs 7-20 Bristol Bears

Sunday 10 January

Harlequins 27-27 London Irish

 

Friday 8 January

Bath Rugby 44-52 Wasps

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A thrilling match at The Rec ended with Wasps claiming a 52-44 victory over Bath in what was a riotous Gallagher Premiership tie from start to finish.

Bath were 13 points to the good early on but collapsed despite a Rhys Priestland masterclass in which he scored 24 of a remarkable 53 points shared by both teams.

But man-of-the-match Paolo Odogwu sparked a Wasps comeback in finding Tom Cruse – who would go on to go over twice in a sensational win.

Sale Sharks 20-13 Worcester Warriors

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Paul Deacon claimed back-to-back wins as Sale Sharks coach with a narrow victory over an out-of-sorts Worcester Warriors.

Sale went ahead through Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty’s boot saw them take a 13-3 lead over struggling Warriors at the interval.

Worcester hung around via two Duncan Weir penalties but Jono Ross’ try clinched victory for Sharks despite a late penalty try for the visitors made the score respectable.

Saturday 9 January

Newcastle Falcons 22-10 Gloucester

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Newcastle add to Gloucester’s misery as the Falcons return to winning ways to leave the Cherry and Whites rooted to the foot of the table.

Two first-half tries from Adam Radwan – who ran the length of the field to score – and Mathias Orlando put the hosts in command.

The returning Jonny May reduced the deficit for the visitors but George McGuigan’s injure-time score sealed the victory for Dean Richards’ men.

The score at the death also denied Gloucester a losing bonus point and means Newcastle will finish the weekend in the top three regardless of what happens with Exeter and Bristol meet.

Exeter Chiefs 7-20 Bristol Bears

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Defending champions Exeter fell to a second successive defeat as Pat Lam's Bristol battled to victory at Sandy Park.

The result sees the visitors leapfrog Exeter to go top of the Gallagher Premiership table as Harry Randall scooped the MoM award in front of watching England boss Eddie Jones.

Rob Baxter's Chiefs, meanwhile, are forced to confront their heaviest home defeat for more than four years.

Sunday 10 January

Harlequins 27-27 London Irish

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London Irish rescued a dramatic draw in a captivating clash against Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership.

Scores from Marcus Smith and Mike Brown put Quins 17-7 up but a late Oli Hoskins score was converted by Paddy Jackson to bring Irish level.

The visitors are ninth in the table after picking up an extra four-try bonus point while Quins stay sixth.