Denny Solomona scores first-half hat-trick for Sale in victory over Wasps
Sonatane Takulua gets one of his own for Newcastle in win over Northampton
FT: Newcastle 46-31 Northampton
FT: Sale Sharks 34-28 Wasps
Sale 10-6 Wasps
There's absolutely no stopping Denny Solomona!
They say that it takes a while to cross codes but Solomona is making it look effortless. From nothing he creates his own space around the fringes and then leaves Wasps' defenders standing. Will Addison steps up and nails the conversion and this is a big start from Sale.
Newcastle 10-17 Northampton
Points aplenty in the opening 20 minutes at Kingston Park. A poor exit from the restart by Northampton is punished.
It's Sonatane Takulua again on the scoresheet for Falcons after a succession of pick and drives. He gets the points with both the try and the conversion.
Newcastle 3-17 Northampton
Three from three attempts for Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler.
A penalty after Newcastle deliberately knock-on adds to his two conversions to keep the board rolling for Saints and they are back out to 14 points ahead after 17 minutes.
Sale 3-6 Wasps
As you'd expect from the Premiership's leading points scorer Jimmy Gopperth has packed his kicking boots today and he fires over a second penalty to nudge Wasps ahead.
Image source, Rex FeaturesNewcastle 3-14 Northampton
Newcastle miss the chance for a try from a knock-on, but then win the following scrum against the head.
It's their scrum-half Sonatane Takulua on kicking duties today and he slots one over to get Falcons on the board.
Sale 3-3 Wasps
The visitors give us a first look at their intent by coupling strong carries from their forwards and with lightning quick ball to the backs from Dan Robson.
Sale are pinged and Jimmy Gopperth doesn't mess around with the kick at goal. We're level again.
Newcastle 0-14 Northampton
Image source, Getty ImagesNot the greatest of starts from Newcastle as they look for a second successive home win.
Director of rugby Dean Richards will be wishing he could do his team-talk all over again...
Sale 3-0 Wasps
A sweet strike from Will Addison makes sure that his side's endeavour is rewarded and we're up and running on the scoreboard at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Newcastle 0-14 Northampton
And the good times keep on coming early on for Northampton. Jamie Gibson is the scorer of their second try and we've only played five minutes.
Newcastle penalised for going off their feet and then the Saints pack pounce from a quick set piece.
Conversion kicked by Myler once again.
Sale 0-0 Wasps
Both sides are just feeling their way into this game with the early exchanges being played in the middle of the park.
A mini-break from Will Addison sees Wasps pinged for holding on and Sale have their first shot at goal.
Newcastle 0-7 Northampton
A lightning start for Northampton up in the north east inside the opening 90 seconds.
Ken Pisi rushes over for the first try but it was engineered by a lovely arching run by Ben Foden to find him in space.
Kingston Park silenced by the visitors. Stephen Myler successful with his first attempt off the tee for the conversion.
...and we're under way in our two matches this afternoon.
Don't forget - you can have your say via #bbcrugby
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Just a reminder that a win for Wasps today could see them command a very handsome lead at the top.
Are they your tips to take the title come May or is someone else saving themselves for a Spring offensive on the crown currently held by Saracens?
Send us your tips via #bbcrugby
Image source, .Our colleagues from BBC local radio have all of today's action covered for you.
Make your listening choice at the top of the page through the live coverage tab to hear every kick, ruck and maul from the AJ Bell Stadium and Kingston Park this afternoon.
Newcastle v Northampton (15:00 GMT)
Image source, Rex FeaturesOld England muckers Dean Richards and Dorian West share a joke in the sunshine before kick-off at Kingston Park...
Newcastle v Northampton (15:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle's Sinoti Sinoti returns to make his first Premiership appearance in three months following a knee injury.
Nili Latu and Dominic Waldouck replace Opeti Fonua and Chris Harris respectively, while Kyle Cooper comes in for his first Premiership start.
Northampton make two changes after their narrow 32-30 defeat by Bath.
Lock Api Ratuniyarawa and flanker Calum Clark both start with Ben Nutley and Juan Pablo Estelles on the bench.
Newcastle: Tait; Goneva, Waldouck, Socino, Sinoti; Hodgson, Takulua; Vickers, Cooper, Welsh, Green, Robinson, Wilson, Welch (capt), Latu.
Replacements: Lawson, Harris, Wilson, Fonua, Olmstead, Egerton, Delany, Watson.
Northampton: Tuala; K.Pisi, Tuitavake, Mallinder, Foden (capt); Myler, Groom; A.Waller, Haywood, Brookes, Ratuniyarawa, Day, Gibson, Clark, Harrison.
Replacements: Clare, E.Waller, Hill, Paterson, Nutley, Dickson, Hutchinson, Pablo Estelles.
Referee: Greg Garner
Sale v Wasps (15:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesSale old boys Danny Cipriani and Tommy Taylor return to the AJ Bell Stadium this afternoon for the first time since leaving for Wasps last summer.
Sale v Wasps (15:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesSale club captain Josh Beaumont returns from his shoulder injury at number eight but Will Addison remains skipper.
Lock George Nott, 21, makes his first Premiership start for the Sharks with Byron McGuigan keeping his place on the wing after his late call-up last week.
South Africa full-back Willie Le Roux could make his Wasps debut after being named among their replacements.
Forwards Tommy Taylor, Matt Mullan, Jake Cooper-Wooley and James Gaskell return to the starting line-up.
Sale: Haley; Solomona, Addison (capt), Jennings, McGuigan; James, Phillips; Harrison, Webber, Aulika, Evans, Nott, Ioane, Lund, Beaumont.
Replacements: Nield, Flynn, Longbottom, T Curry, B Curry, Stringer, MacGinty, Leota.
Wasps: Beale; Wade, Gopperth, Eastmond, Bassett; Cipriani, Robson; Mullan, Taylor, Cooper-Woolley, Symons, Gaskell, Johnson (capt), Young, Rieder.
Replacements: Festuccia, McIntyre, Moore, Rowlands, Willis, Simpson, Leiua, Le Roux.
Referee: Matthew Carley.
So, that's what's been and gone so far in this round.
Time to look ahead to today's two games...
Image source, Rex FeaturesFriday:
Saturday: