Premiership round 3: Northampton and Bath light it up

After three rounds, five teams are separated by one point at the top of the table.

Gloucester lost for the first time this season at Leicester, but the two bonus points taken in the final seconds keep them top. Northampton, Saracens, Leicester and Bath are one point behind. Harlequins prop up the table with two points and three defeats.

Round 3 results

119 points at Franklin’s Gardens

Bath led 29-26 at the break, driven by Finn Russell and two tries from Arthur Green. Northampton won the second half 45-19, with an Ollie Sleightholme hat-trick and eight conversions from Fin Smith. Only Northampton v Bristol (94-33) in May has produced more than the game’s 119 points, and Bath’s 48 is the highest total by a beaten side in the Premiership since at least 2005-06.

Saracens smother Bristol

Back from wrist surgery, Noah Caluori opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Saracens led 11-0 at half-time through two penalties from Owen Farrell, also making his return, then Alex O’Driscoll, a penalty try and Jack Bracken secured the bonus point (30-7). Bristol, who won their first two games with bonus points, have lost all nine of their Premiership visits to Saracens since 2017.

Wade hat-trick, Exeter win

Christian Wade scored three tries for Newcastle, taking him to 100 Premiership tries in 155 games, and Zack Henry kicked all four conversions, but Exeter won 34-28 at Sandy Park. Ross Vintcent scored in the first minute and again in the 10th. Trailing 19-21 at the break, the Chiefs went back in front with a Henry Slade penalty (64′) before Bachuki Tchumbadze’s try (75′). Newcastle take two bonus points but are still without a win.

Sale turn it round against Harlequins

Marcus Smith, back from injury, scored twice in the first half and Harlequins led 17-14 at the break. Sam Riley scored two tries, but Sale came back through Ben Bamber and a penalty try in the 73rd minute (28-24). A week after their 48-0 defeat at Gloucester, the Londoners take their first two points of the season with attacking and losing bonuses.