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That is it for our coverage of this New Year's Day Premiership rugby.

The first fixtures of 2017 have given us plenty to talk about, with the battle at the bottom looking increasingly tight following Bristol's recent revival.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon - we'll be back with live text and radio commentary of round 13 next weekend, starting with Newcastle v Bath on Friday.

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Tom Varndell became the Premiership's joint top try scorer of all time to help bottom side Bristol overcome Sale for a second consecutive league win.

Varndell equalled Mark Cueto's record of 90 tries to edge Bristol back into the contest at half-time, after a penalty try and a Denny Solomona score helped put Sale 15-10 up at the break.

A James Mitchell penalty and Johnny Leota's try extended Sale's lead.

However, tries from Rhodri Williams and Max Crumpton won it for Bristol.

Click here to read the full report.

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Owen Farrell scored all of Saracens' points against Leicester, but victory was not enough for the Premiership champions to return to the top of the table.

In a tense first half, which saw Leicester's injury-plagued England winger Manu Tuilagi limp off, the scores were locked at 6-6 as Farrell traded penalties with Owen Williams.

Farrell grabbed and converted the only try after adding a further penalty.

Williams kicked two penalties to ensure Leicester picked up a losing bonus point.

Read the full report by clicking here.

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George North made a successful return by helping Northampton fight back to win 13-12 at Gloucester.

The Wales winger was playing for the first time since suffering a head injury on 3 December and enjoyed an incident-free return.

Four Billy Burns penalties and two from Stephen Myler saw Gloucester lead 12-6 with seven minutes left.

But David Halaifonua conceded a penalty try with a deliberate knock-on which Myler converted to win it.

Read the full report by clicking here.

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Worcester got just their second win of the season as they upset Harlequins, who have now lost all six away games.

An early converted try from Dean Hammond and three penalties from Ryan Mills saw Worcester go in 16-0 at half time.

Ben Te'o's score early in the second period increased the lead as Quins failed to show any attacking impetus in the opening 60 minutes.

Charlie Matthews got a try back for Quins, but Mills' fourth penalty sealed it before Alofa Alofa's late try.

Tim Swiel's late penalty form in front of the Worcester posts ensured a bonus point for Quins.

Click here to read the full report.

After 12 rounds of action it’s Wasps that lead the way, they’ve notched up seven try-scoring bonus points and that has contributed to their single-point lead at the top.

Behind them Saracens, Exeter and Bath continue to occupy the remaining play-off spots. 

It remains a congested mid-section with three points separating Northampton in sixth and Gloucester ninth.

At the other end of the table Sale's home loss means that they are now sucked into a three-way bun fight with two sides that delivered good victories in Round 12 - Worcester and Bristol. 

Click here for the full table.

Simian Swoleman: Tom Varndell - man on a mission! Great milestone to hit, congrats!!    

Nick Hughes: What has happened to Sale this year? Cipriani & Taylor leaving does not have that big an impact on a squad. Dumbfounded.

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Bristol's Tom Varndell scored his 90th Premiership try in the 23-24 win at Sale, equaling Mark Cueto's all-time record. Click here for the match report.

Varndell told BBC Radio Bristol:

"It's great to get the win and keep the winning mentality up, that changing room is buzzing.

"I'm definitely confident and enjoying my rugby again, the last six to eight weeks have been good for me.

"Obviously I love scoring tries and it is what I'm in the team to do. To do it at Cueto's home is a bit bad, but oh well."

It's a vital victory for Worcester Warriors given the disappointment that they felt on Boxing Day and the fact that Bristol won at the AJ Bell Stadium.

On the flip side Harlequins’ travel sickness and their quest for an away Premiership win this season continues after a performance that they won't have been happy with. 

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Harlequins' pack gain a penalty from the last scrum of the match and Tim Swiel ensures that they do take a losing bonus-point away from Sixways.

In the end, the Tigers are denied a late score.

Leicester keep searching, but the Saracens defence is able to deal with everything the hosts try.

Eventually Sarries turn over the ball and Neil de Kock kicks for touch, securing the win.

The champions remain second in the table, but are now a point behind leaders Wasps.

The clock is well into the red. Leicester have the ball in the Saracens half, around the 10-metre line.

Can they set up a grandstand finish?

Stephen Myler's conversion, on his 300th appearance for Northampton, sealed their victory a Kingsholm. 

The visitors were behind on the scoreboard from the tenth minute to the 74th and yet they take home the spoils. 

Just over a minute left, and we are bogged down in a scrum which is repeatedly being re-set just outside the Tigers 22.

This is not where the hosts want to be, but they have the put-in at least.

Three minutes remain, and Owen Williams kicks into the Saracens half.

Leicester have a line-out around the 10-metre line and are looking to finish with a flourish - but they are forced back into their own half.

They still have the ball, but are struggling for momentum.

With two minutes to go Northampton's Jamie Gibson wins a penalty as Gloucester are penalised for holding on. 

The visitors kick for a spot of territory and will look to keep the possession and run the clock down. 

Ryan Mills has extended Worcester's lead at Sixways with another long-range penalty.

Less than 10 minutes remain and it looks like the Warriors will win this one.

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