Summary

  • FT: Gloucester 16-39 Bath - Matt Garvey scores twice

  • FT: Northampton 23-19 Leicester - Dylan Hartley sent off for Saints

  • FT: Saracens 78-7 London Welsh

  • FT: Harlequins 15-7 Newcastle Falcons

  1. Trypublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Oh yes we do! You really have to give this Northampton side credit, they just will not give up. Luther Burrell makes yards when he has no right to and Saints get the ball wide to Jamie Elliott, who slides over in the same corner that Tom Wood scored the winner in when Saints beat Tigers in May's Premiership semi-final. Stephen Myler nails the conversion from the touchline and Saints have surely won this.

  2. Postpublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Maybe we are as Northampton are awarded a penalty deep inside the Leicester 22 after Geoff Parling is penalised for not releasing after making a tackle. Stephen Myler kicks for the corner and Saints have a line-out five metres out.

  3. Postpublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Five minutes to go and Northampton have a line-out on the Tigers 22. Are we in for more late drama at the Gardens?

  4. Get involved #bbcrugbypublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Graeme Hobbs:, external This game is being played wide open, could go either way, what a last ten minutes it is going to be #AvivaPrem #NORvTIG #bbcrugby

  5. Trypublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Take a bow Miles Benjamin. Niki Goneva scores the try but this is all about the former Worcester winger. Benjamin breezes past three tackles before being brought down by Ken Pisi five metres from the line. There's no time for Saints to get into any kind of defensive shape and Leicester spin the ball wide to give Goneva the simplest of scores. Freddie Burns adds the extras and Tigers lead by three.

  6. Full timepublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Tim SwielImage source, Getty Images

    Inconsistent Harlequins have wrestled their way to a hard-fought victory over Newcastle Falcons at The Stoop. South African Tim Swiel kicked all of his side's points as they completed a 15-7 win.

  7. Get involved #bbcrugbypublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    John McEnerney:, external #bbcrugby what a last 15 mins we have in store! Bodies on the line time for both sides!! Savage defending will the order of the day.

  8. Full-timepublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Chris AshtonImage source, Getty Images

    And that's a wrap for Saracens. Scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, on as a second-half replacement, has grabbed his hat-trick and given Saracens a resounding 78-7 win over poor old London Welsh.

  9. Trypublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Ben FodenImage source, Getty Images

    What a reply from Northampton's backline! Superb hands from Stephen Myler sends Ben Foden, back on again for James Wilson, racing clear from 35 metres or more out. He has George North in support but doesn't need him as he dummies his way past Mathew Tait to dive over in the corner. But's it's not proving a day for the kickers as Myler's conversion attempt this time goes across the face of the posts and wide.

  10. Trypublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    It's the first time Leicester have been in the Northampton 22 for ages and they certainly make it count. Replacement back Freddie Burns makes the crucial break and, after the ball is recycled, Owen Williams spins it out to winger Niki Goneva, who has little trouble crossing the line. Williams' conversion attempt is wayward but it's the Tigers who have the lead.

  11. Postpublished at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    What a hit by Samu Manoa! The Northampton number eight times his tackle perfectly on Julian Salvi and lays out the Leicester back-rower. That would have any retired forward drooling!

  12. Postpublished at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Chris Osborne
    BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

    "The crowd are getting edgier and edgier after every decision from the referee. Leicester boss Richard Cockerill is sat a few seats to my left and is unusually calm and quiet. Give it a few minutes though."

  13. Around the groundspublished at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Reckon Saracens have got this game wrapped up yet? Another two tries, one for Ben Ransom and a second for Richard Wigglesworth, has put them 71-7 up on London Welsh, who have had to endure another horrible afternoon in the top flight.

    Harlequins, meanwhile, have stretched their lead to 15-7 with a further two penalties from Tim Swiel.

  14. Missed penaltypublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Fly-half Stephen Myler is back on after picking up a knock in the build-up to Alex Waller's try. It's a tough kick, five metres in from the touchline and, like James Wilson's earlier conversion effort, goes just the wrong side of the posts.

  15. Postpublished at 16:36 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Saints look dangerous every time they have ball in hand. George North races at the Leicester defence but Mathew Tait produces a brilliant tackle to stop the Wales winger, who knocks on and Tigers have a scrum. Replacement Gareth Denman has an instant impact as Saints drive the visitors backwards and Northampton have a penalty just outside the 22.

  16. Around the groundspublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Replacements Richard Barrington and Richard Wigglesworth have now got themselves in on the act, both crossing for Saracens as last year's losing finalists go about improving their points difference in spectacular fashion.

    They lead 57-7 against London Welsh, while Harlequins have gone 9-7 ahead against Newcastle thanks to a pair of penalties from fly-half Tim Swiel.

  17. Trypublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Alex WallerImage source, Getty Images

    Brilliant from Northampton. After winning their line-out, Saints move the ball right and stretch the Leicester defence before bringing it back across the field. It arrives in the hands of prop Alex Waller who, calm as you like, dummies his marker to slide over the line. Stephen Myler is injured in the move that led to the try and is replaced by Ben Foden. James Wilson takes over kicking duties but puts his conversion attempt from the touchline just wide.

  18. Replacementpublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    That's the end of the afternoon for Tigers and England hooker Tom Youngs, who is withdrawn and replaced with Italy international Leonardo Ghiraldini. Noy surprising given Youngs is only just back from injury.

  19. Postpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    Northampton scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i kicks smartly and finds touch inside the Leicester 22. Tigers make a real mess of the line-out and Saints have the ball. Just when it looks like the home side might cross the whitewash, Tigers slow the ball down and turn it over, allowing Ben Youngs to clear.

  20. Kick-offpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 December 2014

    The teams are back out, and Stephen Myler gets us back under way. You feel we've got quite a second half ahead of us.