Summary

  • Exeter inflict first defeat of season on Saracens

  • Chiefs earn bonus-point 31-13 win to top Premiership

  • Leicester end losing run against Harlequins

  • Sale beat Bristol to climb Premiership table

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    #bbcrugby

    That is it for our live text coverage of today's Premiership action.

    Exeter are the big winners of the day, going top of the table after beating previous leaders Saracens.

    Join us again tomorrow as Newcastle host Gloucester and Wasps entertain Bath - both those games kick-off at 15:00 GMT.

  2. Leicester end losing run against Quinspublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    FT: Leicester 35-24 Harlequins

    Leicester Tigers ended an eight-match losing streak in all competitions as they secured a bonus-point win over Harlequins.

    Leicester end losing run against Quins

    Leicester Tigers end an eight-match losing streak in all competitions as they secure a 35-24 win over Harlequins.

    Read More
  3. Du Preez stars as Sale beat Bristolpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    FT: Sale 27-10 Bristol

    Elsewhere, Sale fly-half Rob du Preez kicked five penalties to help steer Sale to a win over Bristol Bears.

    Du Preez stars as Sale beat Bristol

    Rob du Preez kicks 17 points to help steer Sale to a 27-10 Premiership win over Bristol Bears.

    Read More
  4. Exeter end Saracen's unbeaten startpublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    FT: Exeter 31-13 Saracens

    If you've only just joined us you have missed a massive result in the Premiership,

    Exeter ended Saracens' unbeaten start to the season with victory over the Premiership champions at Sandy Park.

    Click the link below to read Brent Pilnick's report from Sandy Park.

    Exeter end Saracens' unbeaten start

    Exeter end Saracens' unbeaten start to the season with a 31-13 victory over the Premiership champions at Sandy Park.

    Read More
  5. Full-timepublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Leicester 35-24 Harlequins

    Quins have the ball in their own 22 but are pushed into touch and that's it.

    Leicester end their eight-match losing streak.

    Leicester winImage source, .
  6. try

    Try - Leicester 35-24 Harlequinspublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Alex Dombrandt

    With one second left on the clock Alex Dombrandt gets over for a consolation score for Harlequins.

    The visitors pass up the conversion attempt in a bid to get another score and secure a losing bonus point. But there isn't much time left...

  7. Chiefs 'wanted a performance'published at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    FT: Exeter 31-13 Saracens

    Quote Message

    The last time we played here at Sandy Park we let ourselves down in the European Champions Cup. We wanted to put in a performance that everybody could be proud of. We feel we have got a good game and whenever we implement it, we are very strong. There were moments we made mistakes but we bounced through it. We have a quick turnaround before we face Saints, but we will have a few drinks tonight.

    Gareth Steenson, Exeter fly-half on Channel 5

  8. Postpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    FT: Exeter 31-13 Saracens

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    That is a massive win for Exeter, and the bonus point tops off the evening for Rob Baxter’s men.

    Saracens' players have come off the field looking dejected, while the home fans rendition of Sweet Caroline has been joined in by their overjoyed heroes.

  9. Full-time - Sale 27-10 Bristolpublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Sale winImage source, .

    All over at the AJ Bell Stadium and it's Sale who take the four points.

    They also leapfrog Bristol in the Premiership table in the process.

  10. Full-time - Exeter 31-13 Saracenspublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    The final whistle goes.

    Exeter have a massive win, and inflict Saracens' first defeat of the season and end their 22-match unbeaten run.

    The Chiefs leapfrog Sarries at the top of the table, and are now three points clear of the north London side.

    Exeter winImage source, .
  11. try

    Try - Sale 27-10 Bristolpublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Will Cliff, con Rob du Preez

    There's the deciding score for Sale as Will Cliff capitalises on a Bristol error to score against his former club - although it needed the TMO to give the try.

  12. try

    Try - Exeter 31-13 Saracenspublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Matt Kvesic, con Joe Simmonds

    There it is!

    In the final minute, Exeter get their fourth try and tie up the bonus point as Matt Kvesic goes over from a driving maul.

    The Chiefs will be the new Premiership leaders - it has been a near-perfect afternoon for Rob Baxter's men.

  13. try

    Try - Exeter 24-13 Saracenspublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Ben Spencer, con Owen Farrell

    Saracens pull one back with five minutes left despite being down to 14 men - as Ben Spencer races over following a great line-break by Christian Judge.

    Owen Farrell's conversion clips the upright but goes through regardless.

  14. try

    Try - Leicester 35-19 Harlequinspublished at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Jonny May, con George Ford

    Leicester get their fourth try, and the bonus point, as Jonny May goes over.

    That should be enough to see Tigers home.

  15. Postpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Exeter 24-6 Saracens

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    Exeter fans had been questioning their repeated decisions to kick to the corner rather than take the points as this half wore on.

    But the pressure has finally told and it seems unlikely that Saracens will get back into it from here.

  16. try

    Try - Leicester 28-19 Harlequinspublished at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Cadan Murley, con James Lang

    A sniff of a comeback at Welford Road?

    Quins get their first try through winger Cadan Murley, who dashes over after picking up an offload from Mike Brown.

    James Lang adds the conversion.

    Sixteen minutes remain.

  17. Sin-binpublished at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Schalk Burger

    The game is up for Sarries as Schalk Burger is sent to the sin-bin for dragging down that maul.

    Sarries will play with 14 men for 10 of the final 12 minutes.

  18. try

    Try - Sale 20-10 Bristolpublished at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Steve Luatua, con Callum Sheedy

    Hope for Bristol?

    The Bears keep the ball tight in the forwards and Steve Luatua goes over from close range.

  19. try

    Try - Exeter 24-6 Saracenspublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Penalty try

    Exeter are awarded a penalty try by referee Thomas Foley as a maul is pulled down right in front of the Saracens line.

    The Chiefs players race back to halfway - they want a fourth try and a bonus-point win.

    Either way, the Devon side are going top of the Premiership table.

  20. Postpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2018

    Exeter 17-6 Saracens

    Exeter come close to a third try as they spread the ball across the field from a line-out.

    But a last-gasp intervention from Matt Gallagher stops it.

    We go back for an advantage for the Chiefs, and they kick to the corner again.

    The hosts look the more likely to get the next score, and are piling on the pressure.