Super Saturday - Aviva Premiership Round 22 Review

If you can remember the last time that we witnessed 399 points scored in one day then you are doing well indeed!! This weekend the script writers delivered a corker as the domestic Super Saturday contained twists, turns and tries galore. After all of the permutations and scenarios planned, Leicester made things simple as they secured a hard fought victory at Welford Road over their East Midland’s rivals and took third position. In Oxford, Saracens' empathic win secured them fourth spot and our playoffs were decided. The final important score of the day was in Reading where Wasps’ draw with London Irish was enough to provide them with sixth position and the final automatic qualification spot for the European Champions Cup.

In the beautiful sun kissed city of Bath, The Rec enjoyed eleven tries in a pacy and bright affair between two old rivals. It was game without anything riding on it and as a result the word 'loose' springs to mind! Bath's pack was efficient and brutal in their work rate and the feet of Kyle Eastmond delighted throughout as he created and finished off opportunities that few others could do so. The Cherry and Whites' less familiar faces applied themselves well with Henry Purdy and Lewis Ludlow particularly shining and it was great to see Rob Cook back on the field after so long out with injury. At times it resembled a game of sevens with the ball being run from all over the park but it made for compelling viewing and won’t have done either side any harm leading towards their respective big games next weekend.

At the Kassam Stadium London Welsh had one last battle to get through against a Saracens side that knew that they needed points and lots of them. As we have seen many times this year Welsh’s best rugby came in the first half, Chris Elder enjoyed himself and richly deserved his 12 point contribution to their first half tally of 17, however that was it for the day from a Welsh points perspective. In the second Saracens put their foot on the gas and won the half by 42-0, a feat that included one of the Aviva Premiership fastest ever hat-tricks from Chris Ashton. The final whistle ended Welsh’s tough time in the competition and secured thanks to their try scoring endeavour secured Saracens’ place in the Aviva Premiership playoffs with their superior points difference over the Exeter Chiefs.

Wasps headed to Reading knowing that they needed a victory to be certain of their place in the top flight of Europe next season and they were pushed all the way by a determined London Irish side. The Madjeski crowd enjoyed eighty points in as many minutes and the big finish from James Short gave Irish the draw that they deserved after playing their part in a thriller. Throughout there were never more than seven points separating the two sides, Wasps' Guy Thompson filled the shoes of Nathan Hughes well and for the home side Alex Lewington signed off his breakthrough season in style. Andy Goode gave the Irish's fans as taster of what he'll bring next season with three conversions and three penalties and Joe Launchbury showed remarkable application for a man only just back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. It was an enjoyable way to finish the year for both sides and as Glenn Delaney rightly said ‘the players have earned a beer’!! 

The game that everything was riding on it took place at Welford Road in front of a capacity crowd. The Leicester Tigers’ season has been just about as turbulent as it gets and once again they were made to graft hard for their victory. The Saints’ line up was an unfamiliar one as the majority of their big guns were rested however boy did they step up to the mark. Mike Haywood’s physical performance caused Leicester all manner of issues and the experienced Phil Dowson led with purpose. Northampton’s collective resolve resulted in a single point lead at half time however Niall Morris’ second try in as many games and the boots of Burns’ and Bell pushed things back into the home side’s favour. In spite of not sparkling as they should this year, no-one can fault the character of the Tigers and they used every ounce of their spirit to weather the late Saints’ storm thanks to the beautiful feet of Tom Stephenson. The fitness of both Freddie Burns and Logovi'i Mulipola will be critical and Leicester will relish heading back to The Rec to banish some bad early season memories.

At Kingston Park the Newcastle Falcons signed off their season with a victory and said goodbye to some of their key men in style. Dean Richards' team kept their heads well and Richard Mayhew’s early score inside the first five minutes ignited the crowd. Harlequins’ young side were a little over eager to impress in the opening exchanges and it took the experienced Nick Evans to take two kicks at goal and deliver his own converted try to settle things. Marland Yarde continues to push back towards his best with every minute that he plays but the day belonged to the spirit and character of the Falcons. The home side collectively worked extremely hard for each other and when Andy Saull put the cherry on top in the final moments of the game, there were hugs all around for they had finally delivered for the full eighty and it that was great to see. 

In the final match of Round 22 the Exeter Chiefs put absolutely everything on the park against the Sale Sharks. After the high of beating Saracens last weekend the worry was that the Chiefs would have burnt out however far from it as they attacked the Sharks with purpose and Jack Nowell delighted from Full Back. Sale had dynamite of their own in the form of Josh Beaumout who is turning into a first class rugby player before our very eyes however his side’s  discipline wasn’t up to scratch for you can’t win a game with two yellow cards and a red. As the Tribe roared as one of their home grow talents, Matt Jess, produced a brilliant double and as the minutes rolled on Exeter grew in confidence and gave their fans a blistering end to what has been their best ever Aviva Premiership campaign. 

As the sun set across the country it was the most thrilling and action packed ending to the group stages that we have seen in recent times. So now just four teams remain in the hunt for the title, the Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, the Leicester Tigers and Saracens and we are in for a thrilling ending to this year's Aviva Premiership season.