Don Armand starred for the Exeter Chiefs in their 20-14 win over the Sale Sharks, while there were also English Premiership victories for Newcastle, Saracens, Leicester, Harlequins and Bristol.
Exeter followed up last week’s 18-point triumph over the Newcastle Falcons with a hard-fought win at the AJ Bell Stadium.
In a one-sided first half, the Chiefs scored two tries, including one from Saffa flank Armand, coupled with a conversion and a penalty to take a 15-0 lead at the break.
It was all Sale in the second half, but they only got on the scoreboard in the final quarter. Two quick tries got them within range of overturning the deficit, but Exeter grabbed a late try to secure the win which keeps them top of the log, ahead of Saracens.
In other results, the Newcastle Falcons’ 17-6 half-time lead over the Worcester Warriors was enough to earn them a win as no further points were scored in the second half, Saracens returned to winning ways with a 36-17 bonus-point victory against the Northampton Saints, the Leicester Tigers scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to shock Wasps 19-14, Harlequins outlasted hosts Bath 31-29 and the Bristol Bears recorded a stunning 28-24 win over Johan Ackermann’s Gloucester.
Round 15 results:
Sale Sharks 14 Exeter Chiefs 20
Newcastle Falcons 17 Worcester Warriors 6
Saracens 36 Northampton Saints 17
Leicester Tigers 19 Wasps 14
Bath 29 Harlequins 31
Bristol Bears 28 Gloucester 24
Photo: www.premiershiprugby.com/Gallery
