Premiership Rugby roundup: Bristol extend lead, Sale edge out Wasps

Bristol have extended their lead at the top of the Premiership Rugby table to 12 points after a late victory over Harlequins.

Kyle Sinckler crossed with the clock in the red to level the game before Callum Sheedy’s conversion with the last kick of the game handed Bristol a 35-33 win.

The teams had gone in at the break with Bristol four points ahead but 16 points without reply put Quins in control.

A penalty try five minutes from time brought Bristol to within a try of their opponents before Sinckler’s late winner sealed the victory.

The result sees Bristol extend their lead at the top after second-placed Exeter slipped up at Gloucester on Friday.

Sale Sharks moved ahead of Harlequins into third place and it was another late winning try that gave them a 20-19 win over Wasps in the later kickoff.

A Malakai Fekitoa try and 14 points off the boot of Jimmy Gopperth had looked to give Wasps the win but Josh Beaumont crossed in the 77th minute and Robert du Preez’s conversion edged Sale ahead.

Elsewhere, London Irish moved into a Champions Cup place with a 36-33 win over 13-man Bath.

Red cards for Tom Dunn and Charlie Ewels enabled Ben Loader and Curtis Rona to put Irish 13 points ahead going into the closing stages.

Irish were nearly made to pay late on though as sin-bins for Jack Cooke and Ben Donnell saw the match finish 13-a-side.

Josh McNally and Jack Walker both crossed in the final 10 minutes but Irish were able to hold on to the win.

Worcester’s struggles continued as they were thrashed by Northampton Saints.

The relegation battlers were no match for Saints, who ran in eight tries on the way to a 62-14 win.

Cover Photo: Wanderers by Emma used under license by CC BY-SA 2.0.