The kicking theme from the first half already very much on show so far.

Stephen Myler turns the Saracens back three with a huge kick but they recover well and eventually win a penalty.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Myler restarts the game for Northampton.

Can the Saints make their forward dominance count this half?

Bath have extended their advantage over London Irish right at the start of the second half, with forward Alafoti Faosiliva doing the damage and former Exile Tom Homer adding the extras.

And straight from the restart they've grabbed another - this time it's Kyle Eastmond with the score to make it 31-7 in Reading.

Image source, Getty Images

There's not been a huge amount to tell you about in the opening 10 minutes of the second half at Sixways - though Falcons fly-half Mike Delany has just kicked the first points of the second 40.

We should be just about to get under way again between London Irish and Bath, too.

After we are done with the games in the middle of the afternoon, the attention turns to Sandy Park where third faces fourth as Exeter take on Leicester.

A rugby lovers delight today!

What did you make of that first half at Franklin's Gardens? Are Newcastle favourites for relegation given they've conceded four tries already to newly promoted Worcester? Are Bath back on track?

Any of your thoughts are welcome by using #bbcrugby.

Northampton certainly having more of the territory and are on top in the forwards, but two late Owen Farrell penalties see them go into the break behind.

Neither side has had a sniff of the whitewash of the try-line with kicking and territory high up in terms of priorities so far.

Owen Farrell vs Tom Wood is bubbling away nicely but the game could do with some spark.

A huge kick this from Owen Farrell as it just about has the legs to get over the crossbar to give Saracens an unlikely lead.

And that's the last action of the first half.

Image source, Getty Images

Northampton really appear to be targeting Owen Farrell. 

First Tom Wood flies through on him as he kicks and then George Pisi dumps him on the floor with a big hit.

However the Saracens keep the ball and have themselves a deep penalty which Farrell will kick...

A bad miss from the Northampton number 10.

He slices across the ball from the left hand side and it drifts wide of the upright.

A deep Northampton break after stealing the ball at the breakdown.

It comes to George North who kicks the ball through and then Saracens fail to release the ball in the tackle and Stephen Myler can give Saints the lead again from the penalty.

A quick update from the Madejski Stadium, where Bath lead London Irish 17-10 at half-time.

And, oddly considering the two matches kicked off at the same time, the second period has begun at Sixways...

Boos ring around Franklin's Gardens as Owen Farrell strikes the ball through the posts.

The England fly-half had two goes at international colleague Tom Wood, but he is perfectly cool to slot the ball home and bring his side level.

A penalty to Saracens.

Northampton captain Tom Wood chops down England team-mate Owen Farrell late and the visitors will have a kickable penalty.

We are just checking with the TMO as Farrell then pushes the head of Wood in retaliation...

A sniff of an opportunity for Northampton. 

Saracens overthrow the line-out and Tom Wood just spills it from 8 metres out when gathering at the back.

Schalk Brits, on his 150th outing for Sarries, just stops the clock for treatment on his leg.

Image source, Getty Images

There is a real Test match feel about this game, which you would expect given the number of internationals on the field.

It's not been the greatest of spectacles so far in terms of running rugby but it has been an intriguing tactical battle.

It's half-time at Sixways, where Newcastle sneaked themselves a try back with the final play of the period through Tom Catterick to leave the score 28-17 at the break.

Brilliant bit of inventive skill from Saracens full-back Alex Goode to get himself out of trouble.

He's thrown a low pass by Alistair Hargreaves and, Dimitar Berbatov-esque, controls it with his foot, before unleashing a deep kick into Northampton territory.

Image source, Rex Features

Well that didn't last long.

Saracens' repair work at the last scrum is undone as Northampton win another penalty after the 'crouch, bind and set.'

Can they begin to turn this forward dominance into some points?