PREM Cup: Round 9 - Exeter top Pool A with derby win over Bath

The past nine weeks have seen Exeter Chiefs reach the summit of Pool A, whilst Leicester Tigers have clawed their way to the peak of Pool B. Whilst it was another tough weekend to be an England fan, those with an allegiance to Gloucester, Northampton, Leicester or Exeter found some positives after a crushing defeat to Ireland. Here's a recap of all the action from the latest round of the PREM Rugby Cup, as we close down on the buisiness end of the group stage.

Gloucester Rugby secured a commanding 43-17 victory over Sale Sharks at Kingsholm in Round 9 of the Premiership Rugby Cup. The Cherry & Whites raced into a 19-0 halftime lead thanks to early tries from Redshaw and Englefield, capitalising on strong carries and slick hands through Rapava-Ruskin and Trenholm.

Despite Charlie Atkinson seeing yellow early in the second half, Gloucester quickly hit back after Sale pulled one back through Alex Wills, with Danny Eite and Will Trenholm crossing the line to extend the lead. Ben Redshaw added a second try before Josh Hathaway finished with a sensational chip-and-chase score to seal the bonus-point win. Sale responded with late tries from Ethan Caine and Wills, but Gloucester’s dominance throughout the match made the result never in doubt.

Gloucester Rugby: 43
Tries: Redshaw 2, Englefield 2, Eite, Trenholm, Thorley, Hathaway
Conversions: Atkinson 5

Sale Sharks: 17
Tries: Wills 2, Caine
Conversions: Curtis 1

Northampton Saints stormed into the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals with a 49-21 demolition of Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park. The Red Bulls opened the scoring through Harrison Obatoyinbo, but Northampton responded immediately, racing to a 21-7 halftime lead thanks to tries from Luke Green, Tom James, and Charlie Ulcoq.

The second half belonged entirely to the Saints, who ran in seven tries in total. Toby Thame scored a brace, while George Hendy and Ollie Sleightholme added further scores. Newcastle managed late tries from Richard Palframan and Ollie Fletcher, but yellow cards for Sam Graham and Archie Benson left the home side down to 13 and unable to mount a comeback. Northampton’s bonus-point victory ensures they advance to the semi-finals, setting up a final pool clash against Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens next week.

Northampton Saints: 49
Tries: Green, James, Ulcoq, Thame 2, Hendy, Sleightholme
Conversions: Belleau 6, Connon 1

Newcastle Falcons: 21
Tries: Obatoyinbo, Palframan, Fletcher
Conversions: Connon / Pens: Connon 1

Leicester Tigers secured a home semi-final in the Premiership Rugby Cup with a 33-27 bonus-point victory over Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. The Tigers overcame a 17-14 halftime deficit thanks to second-half scores from Ryan Crowley, Will Wand, and a penalty try awarded following sustained pressure on the Quins’ line.

Jamie Blamire and Wand had put Leicester ahead in the first half, but Quins responded through Josh Bellamy, Luke Northmore, and Alex Dombrandt. The Tigers’ superior scrum and clinical finishing in the second half proved decisive, with Wand’s bonus-point try and the penalty try sealing the win despite Northmore crossing late for Harlequins.

Leicester Tigers: 33
Tries: Blamire, Wand 2, Crowley, Penalty try
Conversions: Bailey 2

Harlequins: 27
Tries: Bellamy 2, Northmore 2, Dombrandt
Conversions/Penalties: Benson 2

Exeter Chiefs claimed a 31-19 bonus-point victory over Bath Rugby in a penultimate round clash of the Premiership Rugby Cup at The Rec. Despite Bath taking an early lead through Will Butt, Exeter hit back with three unanswered first-half tries from Dan John (brace) and Olly Woodburn to establish a 19-7 advantage at halftime.

The Chiefs continued to dominate after the break with Zack Wimbush and Jimmy Roots crossing for tries, while Bath fought back with second-half scores from Sam Winters and Dan Frost. Bath’s late pressure was unable to overturn the deficit, leaving Exeter with a deserved bonus-point win and Bath looking ahead to a final-round showdown with Gloucester in front of a sold-out crowd.

Exeter Chiefs: 31
Tries: Dan John 2, Olly Woodburn, Zack Wimbush, Jimmy Roots
Conversions: Harvey Skinney 2, Henry Slade

Bath Rugby: 19
Tries: Will Butt, Sam Winters, Dan Frost
Conversions: Will Roue 2