Summary

  • FT: Harlequins 21-19 Bristol

  • FT: Saracens 35-3 Worcester

  • Burger scores on Saracens debut

  • FT: Northampton 14-18 Bath

  • Bath's Faletau injured on debut

  1. Harlequins 15-19 Bristolpublished at 53 mins

    Bristol are looking the more creative team with ball in hand, as they have done all afternoon. 

    Former Leicester man Jordan Crane picks up and darts through the middle but the accuracy is not quite there from his teammates and the ball is knocked on, again.

    Bristol use the pause to make their first tactical replacements of the afternoon.

  2. Harlequins 15-19 Bristolpublished at 49 mins

    But Bristol survive. The ball is knocked on by Quins after a second scrum as conditions are making everything a little tricky on the Twickenham turf.

    Slight pause in the action as Bristol's scrum is re-set for a third time. Quins assistant coach Graham Rowntree echoes the feelings of everyone as he lets out a huge sigh.

  3. Harlequins 15-19 Bristolpublished at 45 mins

    Bristol have begun this second half with a bang but they're under pressure here as Quins bed down for the scrum right five metres out. 

    Marchant and Yarde await the ball...

  4. try

    Try (Edwards, missed con Pisi)published at 42 mins

    Harlequins 15-19 Bristol

    BathImage source, Getty Images

    The referee asks the question, but the TMO awards the try.

    A really scrappy one as Ryan Edwards gets the ball down after a kick and chase.

    Tim Visser tried to block him out but there was no stopping Edwards. Tusi Pisi takes on the kicking duties from the injured Gavin Henson but sends the conversion wide.

  5. Second half under waypublished at 41 mins

    Harlequins 15-14 Bristol

    Bristol with a huge test here in the second half. 

    Everything looked to be going their way until 35 minutes, when Harlequins showed their class and ran in two tries.

  6. FT: Northampton 14-18 Bathpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

  7. HT: Harlequins 15-14 Bristolpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Phew, what a breathless finish to the first half at Twickenham and ending at Franklin's Gardens.

    Go and grab yourself a cup of tea. Or something stronger perhaps.

    You may need it after the break!

  8. Full-timepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Northampton 14-18 Bath

    George FordImage source, Getty Images

    My goodness, two Nic Groom tries in the final few minutes made it closer than it should have been, but Bath hold on for the victory.

    George Ford was the difference - 18 points with the boot including two drop-goals.

    A winning start for new director of rugby Todd Blackadder.

  9. Half-timepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Harlequins 15-14 Bristol

    Well, what a first 40 minutes.

    Newly-promoted Bristol had all the possession for half an hour and looked to be going into the half-time oranges with a healthy lead.

    But two tries in quick succession from Quins turned the game on its head.

    A very interesting second period to come. Stay tuned....

  10. try

    Try (Marchant, con Evans)published at 42 mins

    Harlequins 15-14 Bristol

    After a long look from the TMO, there was no forward pass and the try is awarded to Joe Marchant. A conversion by Nick Evans and Quins go into the break one point ahead.

    Bristol completely unraveled in the dying moments of the first half. They'll be some strong words from Andy Robinson in their dressing room...

  11. try

    TRY FOR NORTHAMPTON!published at 17:15 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Northampton 14-18 Bath

    What on earth is happening at Franklin's Gardens?! Neither side looked close to crossing the whitewash for 75 minutes and now we have two tries in four minutes.

    It's South African scrum-half Nic Groom again. Stephen Myler adds the extras and it's just a four-point game. One minute remaining.

  12. try

    Try (Yarde, missed con Evans)published at 38 mins

    Harlequins 8-14 Bristol

    And things are hotting up at Twickenham too.

    Harlequins with a strong maul from the line-out. 

    Marland Yarde the unlikely scorer as he comes in at the back of the maul. Under the new laws, the ball is transferred to the winger at the back and he dives over the line.

  13. try

    TRY FOR NORTHAMPTON!published at 17:12 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Northampton 7-18 Bath

    Oh, things have suddenly got interesting. Saints debutant Nic Groom goes over with six minutes remaining and Stephen Myler converts.

    Is there enough time to turn this game around? Unlikely - but at least we have a try! Bath are also down to 14 men with Chris Cook in the sin-bin.

  14. Harlequins 3-14 Bristolpublished at 39 mins

    The Quins players are getting a ticking off from the referee - milking the penalty apparently.

    But let's get back to the real action as Bristol concede another penalty for sacking the maul. Quins go to the corner...

  15. Harlequins 3-14 Bristolpublished at 34 mins

    YardeImage source, Rex Features

    It's all getting a bit scrappy as conditions worsen at Twickenham. But Bristol's defence is stepping up and they've not missed a tackle so far this half.

    Andy Robinson will be a very happy man if his side can make it to the half-time hooter with this scoreline.

    Marland Yarde looks to inject some pace into the Harlequins attack but it's another spilled ball. The winger shakes his head in frustration.

  16. 'Bath have played the smartest rugby'published at 17:07 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Northampton 0-18 Bath

    Jeremy Guscott
    Ex-England centre on BBC Radio 5 live

    "It's the best start possible. They're not going to get the try bonus-point but an away victory against a side of Northampton's calibre, a side they haven't beaten home or away for at least two seasons, it's a step in the right direction.

    "Bath have played the smartest rugby and a victory it deserves to be."  

    George Ford has just slotted over his fourth penalty to make it 18-0. Less than 10 minutes to go.

  17. Northampton 0-15 George Fordpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    George Ford slots another penalty

    Northampton Saints have lost their discipline and their heads in the rain at Franklin's Gardens.

    They give away another penalty at the scrum and George Ford makes no mistake from the tee.

    The fly-half has all 15 points scored in this match.

  18. Harlequins 3-14 Bristolpublished at 30 mins

    Bad news for Bristol. After an earlier hefty collision with Joe Marler, Gavin Henson limps off to be replaced by Ben Mosses. 

    That wasn't part of the plan. 

  19. try

    Try (Pisi, con Henson)published at 29 mins

    Harlequins 3-14 Bristol

    Can you believe it? Bristol can't.

    A hint of a forward pass but Tusi Pisi skips out of the tackle and accelerates through the gap to run clear of the Quins defence.

    His first outing in a Bristol shirt and he's settled in well as Henson adds the two.

  20. Ford proving the differencepublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 3 September 2016

    Northampton 0-12 Bath

    George FordImage source, Getty Images

    The ball is slipper than a bar of soap, but George Ford is still having no problem finding his kicking range.

    The Bath fly-half finds some space and sends over his second drop-goal of the match.

    Is that the three points that seals the win for Todd Blackadder's men?