Wasps beat the Northampton Saints 38-22 to snap a four-game losing streak, while there were also English Premiership wins for the Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins, Saracens, Leicester Tigers and Gloucester.
A self-converted try from speedster Christian Wade – which was perfectly set up by Ashley Johnson – and three penalties from Jimmy Gopperth, gave Wasps a 16-11 lead at half-time at Franklin’s Gardens.
Not bad for a hooker ��@ashj1605 sets up @ChristianWade3 with this superb kick for @WaspsRugby yesterday#NORvWAS #AvivaPrem pic.twitter.com/wwiwjRGvdE
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) October 29, 2017
But it was their surging second-half display that left Northampton reeling. Two quick tries, including one from Johnson, pushed the visitors further ahead.
The South African hooker then set up his compatriot Juan de Jongh with a brilliant offload to score the bonus-point try for Wasps.
While Saints did add two penalties in between and crossed for a late try, their efforts just weren’t enough against an inspired Wasps outfit.
In other results, the Exeter Chiefs pipped the Sale Sharks 10-6, and teenager Marcus Smith contributed 18 points via a try, five conversions and a penalty to guide Harlequins to a thrilling 41-35 victory against the Worcester Warriors.
Flyhalf Owen Farrell showed his class with a 19-point haul to lift Saracens to a 44-13 bonus-point triumph against city rivals London Irish, the Leicester Tigers scored 13 points in the last 15 minutes to secure a 30-13 win over the Newcastle Falcons, and in the final game of the round a converted try in the fourth minute of stoppage time saw Gloucester stun hosts Bath 22-21 at the Rec.
Round 7 results:
Northampton Saints 22 Wasps 38
Sale Shark 6 Exeter Chiefs 10
Harlequins 41 Worcester Warriors 35
Saracens 44 London Irish 13
Newcastle Falcons 13 Leicester Tigers 30
Bath 21 Gloucester 22
Photo: @WaspsRugby/Twitter
