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. Half-time analysis

    London Irish 6-26 Northampton

    Ian Hunter
    Former Saints and England wing on BBC Radio Northampton

    Northampton celebrateGetty Images

    Northampton put London Irish under pressure in the first half and continued the intensity they showed in the Leicester and Bath games

    Without being horrible I want them to put Irish to the sword in the second half.

    It's hard to play without the ball and if Northampton keep possession then the gaps will open up for them.

  2. Half-time

    Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Champions Exeter utterly dominant. From the whistle, they've had all the ball and played all the rugby to already secure a bonus point.

    Wasps have been so disappointing and only have a lucky bounce for Ashley Johnson's try to take from the 40.

    Don ArmandRex
  3. try

    Try (Woodburn, con Steenson)

    Exeter 24-10 Wasps

    Bonus point score for Exeter and we're only in the first half here.

    Quick ball from just outside the 22 sees Henry Slade float around the shoulder of hooker Tom Cruse in the left-hand channel.

    It keeps Christian Wade in two-minds in defence, Slade keeps carrying before feeding Olly Woodburn for an easy run in and his second try.

    This time Gareth Steenson is on-target with the kick.

  4. Half-time

    London Irish 6-26 Northampton

    With the final kick of the half, Tommy Bell kicks a second penalty to add three more points to the London Irish score.

    They face a huge challenge in the second half as they trail by 20 points at the break.

  5. Missed penalty (Steenson)

    Exeter 17-10 Wasps

    Exeter break from their own 22 and Henry Slade's slightly-mishit kick is splendidly taken in by Olly Woodburn. He gets to his feet and takes his side up to the Wasps 22.

    The scrambling defence is pinged for going offside and Gareth Steenson has a chance from 30 yards out, just off the right-hand post.

    But he pushes the effort - can't blame the wind for that.

  6. try

    Try (Hayward, con Mallinder)

    London Irish 3-26 Northampton

    Mike Hayward scoresRex Features

    Northampton have a bonus point with barely 30 minutes on the watch.

    Saints kick a penalty to the corner and drive over from the five-metre line-out, with Mike Hayward getting the credit.

  7. try

    Try (Armand, con Steenson)

    Exeter 17-10 Wasps

    Exeter get clean ball from the top of a line-out and Ian Whitten barges into the 22 to get the Wasps defence retreating.

    They play is switched towards the right-wing and Henry Slade floats a pass wide to Don Armand.

    Plenty of work to do for the open-side but he holds off two defenders to find the corner.

    Super finish and a marvellous conversion by Gareth Steenson from the touch-line too.

  8. Exeter 10-10 Wasps

    Exeter number eight Sam Simmonds is down here and it looks nasty.

    Four tries and third on the tackle count so far this season but he's being stretchered off.

    He's taken a Nathan Hughes knee into the face it and after lengthy treatment is carried away and Exeter lose a big ball carrier.

    Sam SimmondsRex
  9. try

    Try (Horne, missed con Mallinder)

    London Irish 3-19 Northampton Saints

    Northampton have been starved of possession of late but when they do get the ball they certainly make the most of it.

    Saints carve out a two on two and Rob Horne uses his pace and power to beat a defender and force his way over the line for his second try.

    Rob HorneRex Features

  10. London Irish 3-14 Northampton

    The game has gone through something of a lull at the Madejski Stadium.

    We're midway through the first half and Northampton are in control at the moment.

  11. try

    Try (Dennis, missed con Steenson)

    Exeter 10-10 Wasps

    Jimmy Gopperth finds touch on the full having taken the ball back into the 22 so we come back for an Exeter line-out in a dangerous area.

    Sam Simmonds breaks from the back of the line-out and feeds Dave Dennis who rumbles over for Exeter's second score. Rather easy.

    The wind hauls the conversion attempt wide of the left-hand post.

    Dave DennisRex Features

  12. Penalty (Gopperth)

    Exeter 5-10- Wasps

    A Wasps scrum drives forward and even though Exeter force a turnover on the 22, JP Doyle was playing advantage and Jimmy Gopperth lines up a kick just outside the right-hand post 30 yards from goal. Simply done.

  13. London Irish 3-14 Northampton Saints

    Credit to London Irish, they have not let their heads drop after conceding that early score.

    They get on the board through Tommy Bell's penalty and pummel at the Northampton line.

  14. Exeter 5-7 Wasps

    Incredible start here with Exeter going through phase after phase.

    Jack Nowell makes a break up the left flank but Christian Wade is back to make the tackle and forces a knock-on.

  15. try

    Try (Johnson, con Gopperth)

    Exeter 5-7 Wasps

    A good chase from the re-start hands Wasps a line-out 35 yards out.

    It's overthrown but bounces up kindly for Ashley Johnson to collect and bound to the line unopposed.

    And with just 2% possession so far, Wasps have the lead!

    Ashley JohnsonGetty Images

  16. Get Involved

    #bbcrugby

    Billy VunipolaGetty Images

    The story is not just on the pitch today given the huge breaking news that England and Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola has been ruled out for four months after damaging cartilage in his knee yesterday.

    So who should be England's number eight for the autumn internationals? Is Nathan Hughes good enough?

    Get involved using the hashtag #bbcrugby.

  17. try

    Try (Woodburn, missed con Steenson)

    Exeter 5-0 Wasps

    Exeter win the scrum penalty and kick to the corner. Wasps are penalised at the line out and Exeter try to set up another maul. This is very much their forte but they are held up just short.

    No matter, there is space to the left and Henry Slade feeds Olly Woodburn for a simple finish.

    A tough conversion is pushed wide by Gareth Steenson.

  18. try

    Try (Horne, con Mallinder)

    London Irish 0-14 Northampton Saints

    Rob Horne scoresGetty Images

    There's barely five minutes on the clock and London Irish are two scores behind.

    Northampton turn a line-out over and Australia international Rob Horne holds off a posse of tacklers as he charges to the line.

  19. Exeter 0-0 Wasps

    Exeter with all the ball in the opening exchanges. Ian Whitten and Ollie Woodburn threaten down the left channel before Henry Slade glides up to the 22.

    Phase after phase then hammers the line but after 32 phases, Exeter are just held up. Scrum five.

  20. try

    Try (Groom, con Mallinder)

    London Irish 0-7 Northampton Saints

    Nick Groom scoresGetty Images

    Fabulous start for Northampton as they hit London Irish on the counter-attack.

    George North is at the heart of things before he sends Nic Groom in under the posts.

    It's an easy conversion for Harry Mallinder.