Summary

  • FT: Exeter 31-17 Wasps, Lon Irish 25-40 Northampton

  • Exeter and Northampton both earn bonus points before half-time

  • Victory sends champions Exeter back to the top of the Premiership

  • Northampton climb to third, level on points with Saracens

Live Reporting

Alex Winter

  1. Goodbye

    Exeter 31-17 Wasps, London Irish 25-40 Northampton

    Not quite the games to follow yesterday's thrillers with Exeter easy winners against Wasps and Northampton cruising to a third-straight win at London Irish.

    It sees Exeter return to the top of the table. Early days but the champions going well again.

    Can they take this form to Leicester next weekend? Wasps have some thinking to do before they host Bath next Sunday.

    Northampton at are also at home to Harlequins next weekend. Until then, take care.

  2. Full-time

    Exeter 31-17 Wasps

    Smart performance from the champions, they have dominated this game.

    Wasps never got going at all and fall to a second defeat on the spin.

  3. Exeter 31-17 Wasps

    Eddie Jones would have hung his head as Billy Vunipola limped off yesterday.

    But he is still awash with potential back-line combinations. Will he look to Henry Slade for the autumn?

    The Exeter centre has showed a number of fine touches today and dominated the contest with Elliot Daly.

    He's beaten seven seven defenders, set up two tries and is named man of the match.

    Henry SladeGetty Images

  4. Full-time

    London Irish 25-40 Northampton

    That proved to be the final act of the game as Northampton make it three wins from three in the Premiership.

  5. try

    Try (McNally, con Tonks)

    London Irish 25-40 Northampton

    Credit to London Irish, they have refused to lie down and end the game with a third try.

    Josh McNally is the scorer as the forwards rumble over the try line with the clock having gone red.

  6. Exeter 31-17 Wasps

    This game has lost any fluency - rain drifting in off the Exe estuary hasn't helped.

    Wasps a get a penalty and a line-out 30 yards from the Exeter line and they work a good set of phases along the 22 but they over-play and a pass behind Jimmy Gopperth is knocked-on and the chance is gone.

  7. try

    Try (Reinach, con Mallinder)

    London Irish 18-40 Northampton

    Cobus ReinachRex Features

    It's certainly all over now as a knock-on by Topsy Ojo is pounced on by Northampton's replacement scrum-half Cobus Rainach, who canters in.

  8. London Irish 18-33 Northampton

    Only six minutes left in Berkshire now and you sense time is running out for the Exiles.

    Northampton have kept them at arms' length since Bell's score and it would seem that Saints have done enough to make it three straight Premiership wins.

  9. try

    Try (Bassett, con Gopperth)

    Exeter 31-17 Wasps

    Lovely move from 60 yards out this and maybe the game isn't done yet.

    Brendan Macken has only just arrived on the field but he sends a pass wide to Elliot Daly to break up the left-wing. He feeds Joe Simpson inside him and Josh Bassett is on hand to take the pass and go over.

    Jimmy Gopperth finds a touch-line conversion.

  10. try

    Try (Bell, missed con Bell)

    London Irish 18-33 Northampton

    Tommy BellRex Features

    There's 15 minutes left at the Madejski Stadium but the home crowd are believing again.

    The Irish forwards do the groundwork from a line-out, the ball is spun wide and Tommy Bell dots down.

  11. try

    Try (Malton, con Steenson)

    Exeter 31-10 Wasps

    Took a while but Exeter are over again.

    They drift across the try line before replacement hooker Shaun Malton finds the space to score.

    Easy conversion from Jimmy Gopperth and Exeter surely have the points secured now.

    Shaun MaltonRex

  12. Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Exeter kick a penalty into the corner and pick-and-drive towards the line before being held up just short.

    They win successive penalties at the scrum and Wasps are creaking.

  13. Missed Penalty (Gopperth)

    Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Oh dear. Exeter penalised at a ruck and a chance for Jimmy Gopperth from bang in front of the sticks but he pushes it wide.

    Sums up the malaise Wasps have been in all afternoon.

  14. Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Exeter make three fairly early substitutions - perhaps with next week's trip to Leicester in mind.

    Wasps also ring the changes - James Haskell makes way - and have had more ball and possession so far in this second half but have nothing to show for it.

  15. try

    Try (North, con Mallinder)

    London Irish 13-33 Northampton

    George NorthRex Features

    Quite a response from Northampton as they stretch their lead back to 20 points.

    Saints bide their time as they go through the phases but, with the overlap on, they take their chance as good hands from Rob Horne sends George North in.

  16. try

    Try (Lewington, con Bell)

    London Irish 13-26 Northampton

    Out of nothing, London Irish have their first try of the afternoon.

    Alex Lewington is faced with three defenders but puts on the after burners to power past them and touch down. Game on?

  17. London Irish 6-26 Northampton

    The game has drifted in the opening minutes of the second half, with Irish walking slowly to each set-piece.

    Northampton prop Alex Waller had one charge into the Irish 22 but ran out of support before he was pounced upon.

  18. Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Not a bad start for Wasps, good phases after hooker Tom Cruse strips Olly Woodburn.

    Juan De Jongh makes good ground but his pass to try and find Josh Bassett is poor and the chance goes begging.

  19. Kick-off

    Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Jimmy Gopperth gets us back under way at Sandy Park. What can Wasps do to try and turn this around?

  20. Kick-off

    London Irish 6-26 Northampton

    We're back under way at the Madejski Stadium where Northampton are in control, with a bonus point already in the bag.