Saints and Gloucester triumph again, Irish thrashed

Last season’s Premiership semi-finalists Northampton Saints and Gloucester continued strong starts to the new campaign with wins on Saturday.

Northampton claimed an impressive victory over champions Saracens last time out but had to wait until the second half against Worcester Warriors this week to move clear and claim a 35-16 bonus-point success.

Saints were 9-6 down at half-time and went over five times in the second period to triumph, with George Furbank crossing twice.

At Gloucester, on the day England beat the All Blacks to reach the Rugby World Cup final, Joe Simpson, a one-cap Red Rose international, and Tom Marshall, a New Zealander, were each at the double for the hosts.

The duo each crossed in both halves as Gloucester cruised to a 25-9 victory over Wasps, who had Malakai Fekitoa sent to the sin bin early in the second period.

Simpson was facing former club Wasps for the first time since his move at the start of this season.

Gloucester and Northampton sit level on nine points at the top of the Premiership as the only undefeated sides after two games.

FULL TIME

25 – 9 | #GLOvWAS pic.twitter.com/Xp3gELXsRK

— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) October 26, 2019

London Irish, who won at Wasps on their return to the top flight last week, were given a reality check in going down 41-7 at home to Sale Sharks.

There were six tries for visitors Sale, as Akker van der Merwe, Denny Solomona, Marland Yarde, Josh Beaumont, Robert du Preez and Rohan Janse van Rensburg making hay.

Bristol Bears also failed to follow up an opening victory, with Harlequins getting their first win of the campaign 22-17.

England centre Joe Marchant crossed for Quins’ only try, as Marcus Smith crucially kicked 17 points.

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