Summary

  • Full-time: Northampton 20-19 Exeter

  • Mallinder kicks late penalty to win it for Saints

  • Full-time: Bristol 0-39 Saracens

  • Two tries for Saracens from Alex Lozowski

  1. Goodnight from uspublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    That otherwise concludes our coverage of tonight's Premiership rugby.

    We'll be back with more live text and radio commentary at about 14:15 BST tomorrow - so, until then, it's goodnight from us.

  2. Still to come...published at 21:52 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Saturday's rugbyImage source, Getty Images

    Tonight's two games may well be done and dusted, but that's not the end of our coverage for the weekend.

    Here's what's else is on the agenda...

    Saturday:

    • Sale v Leicester (14:30 BST)
    • Gloucester v Bath (15:00 BST)

    Sunday:

    • Wasps v Harlequins (14:30 BST)
    • Worcester v Newcastle (15:00 BST)
  3. RECAP: Saracens ease to victory at Bristolpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol 0-39 Saracens

    Chris WylesImage source, Getty Images

    Defending champions Saracens returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion against still winless Bristol. 

    Fly-half Alex Lozowski scored a try in either half, while Chris Wyles and Jamie George made sure of a bonus point with two more for Mark McCall's side.

    England second row George Kruis added a fifth score before full-time on his return to action.

    Bristol failed to put a point on the board and have now lost all five of their opening Premiership matches.

  4. RECAP: Northampton come back to beat Exeterpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton 20-19 Exeter

    Harry MallinderImage source, Getty Images

    Wales wing George North starred as Northampton came back from 13-0 down to beat Exeter at Franklin's Gardens.

    The 24-year-old scored his third try in four games before teeing up debutant Rory Hutchinson to edge Saints ahead at half-time, after Olly Woodburn had crossed to put the visitors in command.

    Exeter retook the lead after the break, Gareth Steenson passing 2,000 points for the club to put Exeter 19-14 up.

    But Harry Mallinder kicked two late penalties snatch victory for the hosts.

  5. FT: Northampton 20-19 Exeterpublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton Saints fly-half Harry Mallinder tells BT Sport:

    "We just wanted to convert those chances we've been creating. It was a bit scrappy but we got there in the end.

    "I'm pleased to have got the late kick to win it - it's one I should've got too."

  6. Full-timepublished at 21:38 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol 0-39 Saracens

    Time up at Ashton Gate and a tough night is over for Bristol...

    Quote Message

    You can't get on an emotional rollercoaster after a result like that as the games come thick and fast in this league. Bristol's main focus has got to be improving the performance. I'm sure if they do that, the results will start to come. But, they can't just turn up and assume it will click for them.

    Alan Martinovich, Bristol Rugby head of recruitment on BBC Radio Bristol

  7. try

    Try (Kruis, con Lozowski)published at 21:36 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol 0-39 Saracens

    George Kruis tryImage source, Rex Features

    And there's still time for one more try from Saracens.

    More sloppy mistakes from Bristol are punished and it's a very simple score for the returning George Kruis.

    Alex Lozowski adds the conversion with the final kick of the evening.

  8. Bristol 0-32 Saracenspublished at 21:36 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Closing couple of minutes meanwhile at Ashton Gate, but it's all rather academic.

    George Perkins thought he'd added a fifth try for Saracens but it was adjudged not to have been grounded properly by the TMO.

  9. Full-timepublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton 20-19 Exeter

    Harry MallinderImage source, Getty Images

    Harry Mallinder's late penalty has given Northampton Saints victory over Exeter Chiefs, meaning they avoid a third straight home defeat.

    A really decent watch at Franklin's Gardens.

  10. Penalty (Mallinder)published at 21:29 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton 20-19 Exeter

    Harry Mallinder lands the kick - just!

    Northampton Saints, who trailed 13-0 in the first half and again by five points in the second, are one point up with a couple of minutes to go.

  11. Northampton 17-19 Exeterpublished at 21:29 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    And now Northampton have a penalty! Harry Mallinder calls for the tee, a huge opportunity for the hosts...

  12. Northampton 17-19 Exeterpublished at 21:27 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton are on the charge here though, knocking hard on the Exeter door, five metres from the line, phase after phase...

  13. try

    Try (George, missed con Lozowski)published at 21:26 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol 0-32 Saracens

    Bonus point in the bag for Saracens as Jamie George is the man to force their fourth try of the night.

    Rolling maul finds the hooker on the end of it and Saracens had ruthlessly worked themselves up the field with five penalties.

    First kick of the night missed though off the tee. Nine minutes to play.

  14. Northampton 17-19 Exeterpublished at 21:24 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Gareth SteensonImage source, Getty Images

    We're into the final seven minutes at Franklin's Gardens, where Gareth Steenson's 14 points - during which time he has passed 2,000 for Exeter Chiefs - has the visitors edging towards victory.

  15. Bristol 0-27 Saracenspublished at 21:21 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol finally get the chance to go deep into Saracens' 22, but as they try to find a final phase from three metres out, it goes loose in the hands.

    Groans from the crowd at Ashton Gate and Saracens can clear their lines once more. Into the last 14 minutes.

  16. Penalty (Mallinder)published at 21:18 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton 17-19 Exeter

    Ah, but that's cancelled that out. A penalty straight from the restart allows Harry Mallinder to drag Saints back to within two points once more.

  17. Penalty (Steenson)published at 21:17 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Northampton 14-19 Exeter

    Gareth Steenson splits the sticks and Exeter's advantage is five points, even though they've not had too much of a sniff in this second period. 

  18. Northampton 14-16 Exeterpublished at 21:15 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Ollie DevotoImage source, Getty Images

    I tell you what, Exeter are growing into this second half now, working their way into a 12th phase to move to about seven or so metres from the Northampton line.

    And now Exeter have a penalty too - time for tee?

  19. try

    Try (Wyles, con Lozowski)published at 21:12 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Bristol 0-27 Saracens

    Chris Wyles tryImage source, Rex Features

    It's all sadly getting away from Bristol now as some missed tackles are being punished by Saracens.

    Chris Wyles manages to fly through one of them to get their third try of the night on 59 minutes.

    Alex Lozowski takes over kicking duties from Ben Spencer to add the conversion.

  20. Northampton 14-16 Exeterpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 30 September 2016

    Yet another Saints attack comes to nothing - this time because of a knock on deep inside the Chiefs 22.

    Director of rugby Jim Mallinder will be keen to make one of these moves count soon, needless to say.