Summary

  • FT: Exeter 33-17 Sale

  • Exeter go top of Premiership

  • FT: London Irish 25-23 Northampton

  • Exiles pick up first win of 2015-16 season

  • FT: Leicester 22-10 Newcastle

  1. try

    Try (K Pisi, Myler missed con)published at 37 mins

    London Irish 15-8 Northampton

    Luther Burrell almost got there for Saints, but the visitors stayed patient and worked it out to the right before George Pisi found Ben Foden who then foundKen Pisito cross in the corner.

    No conversion though as Stephen Myler drags his effort from the touchline wide.

  2. London Irish 15-3 Northamptonpublished at 36 mins

    Northampton step it up and Irish concede at the breakdown. 

    Stephen Myler goes for the corner and the five-metre line-out.

  3. Penaltypublished at 15:09

    Leicester 0-3 Newcastle

    Craig Willis kicks the first points of the game to give Newcastle an early lead at Welford Road.

  4. Sin-binpublished at 15:07

    Leicester 0-0 Newcastle

    Leicester's Fraser Balmain is sent to the bin for 10 minutes following a dangerous tip tackle. 

  5. try

    Try (Maitland, Noakes con)published at 33 mins

    London Irish 15-3 Northampton

    Well, well, well. This is not the same London Irish side that's been playing for the opening six rounds.

    David Paice almost gets through the Northampton defence before Irish spin it right and wide and Chris Noakes' floated pass finds full-backSean Maitlandfor the five points.

    Noakes kicks the conversion from the right touchline.

  6. A chance to impress?published at 15:05

    Exeter v Sale (15:00 GMT)

    BBC Sport's Brent Pilnick has also spotted the former England captain in the crowd at Sandy Park...

    Steve BorthwickImage source, BBC Sport
  7. London Irish 8-3 Northamptonpublished at 32 mins

    Scrum-half Brendan McKibbin takes over for the longer-range effort, but it's poor and bounces before reaching the posts.

    Still at five points the Irish lead.

  8. London Irish 8-3 Northamptonpublished at 31 mins

    Another penalty conceded on halfway by Northampton.

    Referee Ian Tempest says Saints were off their feet.

  9. Penalty (Noakes)published at 29 mins

    London Irish 8-3 Northampton

    And the New Zealander successfully registers three points from distance.

    Irish's lead back to five points.

  10. London Irish 5-3 Northamptonpublished at 28 mins

    Northampton penalised for not rolling away 40 metres out from their line.

    Looks like Chris Noakes will go for the posts despite the stiff breeze.

  11. Under waypublished at 15:01

    Leicester 0-0 Newcastle & Exeter 0-0 Sale

    And we're now under way in our two later kick-offs at a packed out Welford Road as well as Sandy Park. 

  12. Penalty (Myler)published at 27 mins

    London Irish 5-3 Northampton

    Stephen Myler does successfully kick for goal this time, but only just...

    Still a bit of wind around as it just stays inside of the posts to the right.

  13. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 26 mins

    First show of attacking intent from Northampton as George Pisi gets past a couple of tackles before Irish numbers thwart him and his brother Ken 10 metres out.

    George North and Michael Paterson also have a go to barge through before Irish concede the penalty for offside.

  14. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 22 mins

    Irish work through some phases and pick and drives before David Paice spills it in contact just inside the Northampton 22 to concede the scrum.

  15. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 20 mins

    Stephen Myler harshly done by as he kicks clear from inside his own 22.

    Referee Ian Tempest thought he was outside as it went out on the full and brings play back downfield to Northampton's half...

  16. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 18 mins

    Bit of impatience at scrum time from Northampton as Jim Mallinder's men give away another penalty, allowing Irish the opportunity to clear their lines.

    Jim MallinderImage source, Getty Images
  17. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 16 mins

    Another penalty goes Irish's way on the floor as Tom Court forces a turnover from the maul.

    More to please Tom Coventry. Not that you really tell from his facial expressions on the bench...

    Tom CoventryImage source, Getty Images
  18. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 15 mins

    Big up-and-under kick from Chris Noakes is caught by Ben Foden high.

    Matt Symons also catches him before he comes to ground and Northampton get the penalty despite Symons falling accidentally into the Saints full-back.

  19. London Irish 5-0 Northamptonpublished at 14 mins

    Just the start struggling London Irish would've wanted here. 

    Some early pressure on Northampton who haven't quite found their rhythm yet.

  20. try

    Try (Narraway, Noakes missed con)published at 10 mins

    London Irish 5-0 Northampton

    First score of Boxing Day goes the way of bottom-of-the-table London Irish.

    Irish took the line-out and drove over the line from the back asLuke Narrawaybundles over.

    Chris Noakes can't add the conversion though on a blustery afternoon.