Summary

  • Leaders Exeter go seven points clear with win over Saracens

  • Wasps go second with hard-fought win over bottom side London Irish

  • Leicester climb to fifth with bonus-point win at Worcester

  1. Penalty: Harlequins 10-5 Bathpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Catrakilis

    Bath are pulled up for not rolling away in the tackle and Demetri Catrakilis slots over the penalty from 35m.

  2. Penalty: Exeter 9-0 Saracenspublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Joe Simmonds

    Not the best of days for George Kruis so far.

    Penalised for a neck roll at a ruck and now deliberately knocks-on on his 22. A huge case for a yellow card but penalty only is the call.

    Nonetheless, Joe Simmonds kicks Exeter further ahead.

  3. Postpublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 6-0 Saracens

    Henry SladeImage source, Getty Images

    Henry Slade back today for Exeter and his orange boots slice through the Saracens defence on half-way.

    But Jackson Wray comes up with a superb turnover - superb in the eyes of referee Matt Carley anyway - and Ben Spencer clears with a splendid box-kick.

  4. Postpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 6-0 Saracens

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    A big let off there for Exeter.

    A lovely kick through and Chris Wyles should have put Saracens ahead - despite all these players missing Sarries are no pushovers.

    You get the feeling we are entering a key period of the game - the visitors have a strong wind in their faces, but if they can keep on Exeter’s coattails until the break they will feel confident about their chances in the second period.

  5. try

    Try: Harlequins 7-5 Bathpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Visser, con Catrakilis

    Bath hadn't looked in any danger since taking the lead but hand Harlequins an easy route back into the game.

    Wing Tim Visser intercepts a pass and races 70m to go in under the posts and give Demetri Catrakilis the simplest of conversions.

  6. try

    Try: Worcester 5-5 Leicesterpublished at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Fa'osiliva, missed con Pennell

    Worcester scoreImage source, Rex Features

    Brute forward power gets Worcester on the board.

    They win their own line-out ball 5m out and drive over, with Alafoti Fa'osiliva coming up with the ball.

    For the second time this afternoon at Sixways a conversion attempt hits the post as Chris Pennell's attempt fails to go over.

  7. Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 6-0 Saracens

    Finally Saracens put together a flowing attack and Alex Goode sends a deft kick down the left wing for Chris Wyles to chase.

    The winger gathers, touches down but has a clear foot in touch.

    Better from Saracens though.

  8. Exeter in charge early onpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 6-0 Saracens

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    Joe Simmonds with the ball for ExeterImage source, Getty Images

    It’s all Exeter so far here. Joe Simmonds may been the headline grabber in the opening period of this game, but Exeter’s defence has been excellent.

    But Saracens have some dangerous runners in the backs and look calm and collected right now - despite having 18 players unavailable.

  9. try

    Try: Harlequins 0-5 Bathpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Banahan, missed con Wilson

    Matt Banahan scoresImage source, Getty Images

    The visitors also hit the front at The Stoop where Taulupe Faletau and Kahn Fotuali'i break down the blind side to send Matt Banahan in unopposed at the corner.

    James Wilson has a difficult conversion attempt from the touchline and his kick drifts wide.

  10. Postpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 6-0 Saracens

    Saracens enjoying some possession and work space up the right wing through Nathan Earle.

    He kicks ahead and his pressure on the Exeter covering defence forces a knock-on and the visitors get an attacking scrum inside the host's 22.

    But Saracens are penalised at the scrum and Exeter can clear.

  11. try

    Try: Wasps 7-0 London Irishpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Cruse, con Cipriani

    Hooker Tom Cruse with the opening score in Coventry, driven over from a rolling maul.

    London Irish with David Paice in the sin-bin too.

  12. try

    Try: Worcester 0-5 Leicesterpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Holmes, missed con Toomua

    It's been an attrtional start at Worcester but in a flash Leicester are in front.

    It owes much to the mazy running of full-back Telusa Veainu, whose break puts the Tigers on the front foot.

    Worcester try to slow the ball down by Leicester recycle is and spin it wide left to send Jonah Holmes in unchallenged in the corner.

    Matt Toomua's conversion attempt comes back off the upright.

  13. Penalty: Exeter 6-0 Saracenspublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Simmonds

    Here's why Joe Simmonds was handed the 10 shirt today, half a gap, a little dummy and he darts into the Saracens 22.

    The visitors are penalised for offside and it's a second kick at goal for Simmonds, this from sightly wider out but again no mistake and the lead doubles.

  14. Postpublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 3-0 Saracens

    Saracens box kickImage source, Getty Images

    A high tackle gives Exeter the chance of a line-out on the Saracens 22.

    But the defence is excellent, the visitors turn the ball over and box-kick away.

  15. Simmonds starts as he means to go onpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Exeter 3-0 Saracens

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport

    What a great way to begin your first Premiership start.

    Joe Simmonds takes less than two minutes to get on the scoresheet with a well-struck penalty from a fair way out.

    That will settle any nerves he may have had - just 78 minutes to go.

  16. Penalty: Exeter 3-0 Saracenspublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Simmonds

    Jackson Wray is pinged at the breakdown and an early chance for Joe Simmonds on his first Premiership start.

    It's a relatively straightforward chance from 35-yards out, just off the right-hand post and over it goes.

    Nerve settler for the 22-year-old.

  17. Under waypublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Harlequins v Bath, Worcester v Leicester, Wasps v London Irish (15.00 GMT)

    Away we go in all our other games...

  18. Snow. What snow?published at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    Sandy ParkImage source, BBC Sport

    Two days hours ago parts of Devon were cut off and players and staff were sweeping snow off the pitch.

    But you would never know it now, it's a relatively balmy March afternoon and the spare sweater I've brought probably won't be needed.

    And it will hot up even more in the next few minutes as arguably the two best sides in England for the past couple of years lock horns here at Sandy Park.

  19. Another thriller at Sandy Park?published at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    Sam Simmonds scores late winning try for ExeterImage source, Getty Images

    Who can forget the last time these two sides met here in the Premiership?

    It was May and Exeter got the better of Saracens in a dramatic Premiership semi-final.

    Mike Ellery's 76th-minute try looked to have sent Sarries to Twickenham, but in the final seconds, Henry Slade kicked a mighty penalty from his own half to five-yards from the Saracens line and Sam Simmonds went over to put Exeter into a second successive final and ultimately their first title.

    Away we go again...

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2018

    #bbcrugby

    Rugby union being played in the snowImage source, Getty Images

    As ever, we'd love to hear from you this afternoon - it's just not the same if you don't join in.

    So let us know what you think about this afternoon's action as it unfolds, or tell us about the worst conditions you've ever played in.

    Get in touch using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

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