Weekend Review

After a huge weekend of rugby action, we take a look back at some of the biggest results from across the globe.

Pro 12

We begin our round up at the Sportsground, where Connacht hosted bitter rivals Leinster for a typically tight Irish derby. As is so often the case in Galway, rain was pouring from the heavens on Friday night, turning the game into a dog fight from the outset. Leinster got out of the blocks the quickest, leading 9-3 at half time courtesy of the boot of Ian Madigan. The visitors may well have been out of sight by the break, having had two tries disallowed by referee Peter Fitzgibbon. Leinster again dominated the second half in terms of possession, but could not find a way past the dogged Connacht defence. The pivotal play of the match came in the 55^th minute, as Kieran Marmion burst past Ian Madigan before side stepping Rob Kearney wonderfully to score in the corner. Young out half Jack Carty nailed the pressure kick from the touchline to leave the score 10-9. For the remainder of the game Leinster tried to find a way to the line, but in truth were poor against a determined Connacht side who were not to be denied.  

Glasgow continued their impressive early season form with a convincing 33-13 victory away to the Dragons. Travelling to Rodney Parade is never easy, but the leagues form team made it look so with an exhibition in clinical finishing. This despite being down to 14 men for the majority of the second half following Tyrone Holmes’ sending off for a stamp. On second inspection the decision looked harsh, but it made little difference as Glasgow went on to score three second half tries to secure a bonus point.

Aviva Premiership

The premiership stayed to script this weekend, with the season’s early pace setters Saracens and Northampton both securing bonus point victories. Saracens victory on Saturday was far from straight forward, relying on a stoppage time try from Billy Vunipola to claim the spoils. In an immensely entertaining game, Sarries looked like winning easily early on, coasting to a 20-7 lead after 20 minutes following tries by Streather and Wigglesworth. A try on the stroke of half time for Irish, scored by Lewington got them back in the game, and after the break it was the home side who kicked on. Geraghty began to slot his kicks, and Lewington crossed the whitewash again to leave the score 32-29 as time ran out. However, Sarries showed real grit to keep the ball tight as the game drew to its conclusion, allowing Billy Vunipola crash over from close range to steal victory away from the impressive Irish side.

Northampton found the going far easier on Sunday against a poor Newcastle Falcons. In truth the home side never looked capable of troubling Northampton, and the game was over as a contest by halftime after an early Northampton blitz. With the scoreline at 28-3 at the break, it was really a case of damage limitation for the home side in the second half, but Northampton were not to be denied the bonus point,  with a late George North try securing the fifth point to send the Saints back to the top of the table.