Premier 15s: Harlequins and Saracens have second successive fixtures postponed
- Published
Harlequins and Saracens played each other in the 2019 Premier 15s final
Harlequins and Saracens have had a second Premier 15s fixture in a row postponed because of coronavirus.
Quins top the table, with Sarries second, but could not play Saturday's match against Wasps because of "ongoing Covid-19 concerns" at the club.
The postponement of Saracens v Sale was announced less than four hours before kick-off on Saturday.
The Rugby Football Union said the decision was because of the major incident declared in London on Friday.
Sarries' game was due to be played in north-west London a day after the city's mayor Sadiq Khan said the spread of Covid was "out of control".
Last weekend's match between Harlequins and Saracens was also postponed after one Quins player tested positive for Covid-19 with several other players and staff isolating as close contacts.
There is no coronavirus testing in Premier 15s and on Tuesday the RFU's head of women's performance Nicky Ponsford said the organisation was as "confident as it can be" that the season would be completed.
Exeter win thrilling derby
Three matches went ahead as planned on Saturday and a late comeback from Exeter helped them beat south-west rivals Bristol 31-27 and move up to fifth in the table in their first Premier 15s season.
Wales sevens star Jasmine Joyce scored a hat-trick for the Bears, but Exeter wing Garnet Mackinder's late score sealed the victory.
DMP Durham Sharks suffered another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Worcester.
The Warriors scored 12 tries in a 70-6 win, with Wales international Sioned Harries crossing four times.
In the day's final fixture, Loughborough Lightning strengthened their place in the top four with a 29-21 victory against Gloucester-Hartpury.
The hosts led 14-7 at half-time but two tries from England hooker Lark Davies as well as one from Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd helped Lightning turn the tide.