Saturday 24 February 2018 20:54, UK
Exeter go top of the Premiership after win against Saints while Newcastle beat Harlequins away for the first time in almost 18 years.
Joe Simmonds converted Thomas Waldrom's last-minute try to cap a dramatic comeback from Exeter, who rallied from 13 points down to edge out Northampton 31-30 at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs were staring at a fourth consecutive Aviva Premiership defeat when they trailed 30-17 with 10 minutes remaining but Don Armand and then Waldrom touched down.
Simmonds kept his cool to add the extras to both tries to seal a nail-biting win and one which took the defending champions above Saracens to the top of the standings.
Unfortunate Northampton could drop to 11th if rejuvenated Worcester defeat rock-bottom London Irish at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.
Alec Hepburn was Exeter's other try-scorer. There was also a penalty try award with Gareth Steenson kicking a penalty and a conversion.
Rob Horne, Ben Foden and Harry Mallinder scored Northampton's tries, all of which Piers Francis converted. Francis (two) and Stephen Myler both added penalties.
Sinoti Sinoti celebrated his new contract by scoring Newcastle's fourth and final try in a 28-10 win over Harlequins, their first Aviva Premiership victory at the Stoop in almost 18 years.
There was nothing to separate the sides at half-time as an early James Horwill try was cancelled out by Callum Chick at the other end.
But shortly after the restart, Kyle Cooper and Chris Harris went over in quick succession for the visitors before Sinoti followed them over the whitewash, sealing a first league victory in south-west London for the first time since September 2000.
Zach Mercer's late try and a nerveless conversion from James Wilson clinched a 33-32 home victory for Bath against Sale.
The hosts had trailed for much of the topsy-turvy contest and were six points down in the final minutes before blindside flanker Mercer struck for his brace.
After more than 20 phases of attack and quick hands from Ben Tapuai, Mercer dummied over in the 78th minute to make it 32-31 to the visitors.
Versatile Kiwi Wilson was starting his first match at fly-half for Bath due to injuries and his crucial conversion was by no means simple, but he held his nerve to slot his seventh goal of the game.
Jimmy Gopperth held his nerve to kick a last-gasp conversion and land a 25-25 draw for Wasps against Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership.
The match seemed to be swinging Gloucester's way as they led 18-6 at half-time through tries from hooker Richard Hibbard and wing Charlie Sharples, with centre Billy Twelvetrees adding two penalties and a conversion.
Centre Gopperth booted two penalties during that period, but Wasps hit back to level via tries from scrum-half Dan Robson and flanker Thomas Young, Gopperth converting one.
Wing Henry Trinder's try, converted by Twelvetrees, nudged Gloucester back ahead. But wing Christian Wade raced over for the crucial third try for Wasps which gave Gopperth his late conversion chance.
