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Bristol had a score to settle, Gloucester refused to let Harlequins score at all, and Bath discovered that a comfortable half-time lead is only comfortable until Immanuel Feyi-Waboso gets involved. Elsewhere, Leicester survived a testing trip to Newcastle and Sale won at Saracens despite spending part of the afternoon making life considerably harder for themselves. Round 2 had plenty beyond the scorelines.
C. Redpath (11'), van der Linde (17'), D. Preez (30'), F. Russell (40'), Penalty Try (61'), T. Hill (68')
Tries
S. Varney (24'), J. Yeandle (33'), J. Iosefa-Scott (45'), I. Feyi-Waboso (48', 54')
F. Russell (12', 18', 41', 69')
Conversions
H. Slade (46', 49', 55')
Penalties
H. Skinner (79')
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso did just about everything except drag Exeter over the finish line. Having helped create Stephen Varney’s first-half try, the winger scored twice as the Chiefs wiped out Bath’s 26–10 half-time lead and moved in front. He went through the tackles for one and benefited from former Bath centre Will Butt slicing open his old side for the other. Bath had looked comfortable when Finn Russell’s dummy secured their fourth try before the break, but comfortable soon went out of the window. Varney’s deliberate knock-on brought a yellow card and penalty try, then replacement Ted Hill powered over to restore some breathing space. Exeter still left with two bonus points, but Bath will be happier with the response than with the tackling that made it necessary.
G. Oghre (6'), L. Rees-Zammit (35', 60'), T. Jordan (42'), H. Randall (51'), Penalty Try (81')
Tries
G. Hendy (9', 40+1'), A. Mitchell (63'), J. Kemeny (67')
J. Williams (36', 43', 52')
Conversions
F. Smith (10', 40+2', 63')
J. Williams (15')
Penalties
Bristol had not forgotten the 94 points Northampton put on them last season. This was a much healthier way of dealing with it. Louis Rees-Zammit scored twice, borrowed Henry Pollock’s pulse-check celebration and was denied a potential hat-trick by Tommy Freeman’s bodycheck, which conceded a late penalty try. The showmanship was backed by proper substance: Fitz Harding made the breakdown uncomfortable, Pedro Rubiolo brought bite in defence and Harry Randall kept the attack moving. Saints threatened a recovery through Alex Mitchell and Josh Kemeny, but had left themselves too much to repair. Bristol’s attacking talent was never really the question. Producing it alongside this sort of physical edge was the more encouraging part, especially against opponents who had embarrassed them so comprehensively a few months earlier.
B. Loader (10'), J. Morgan (17'), W. Trenholm (29'), C. Atkinson (34'), S. Atkinson (41'), C. Englefield (44'), W. Joseph (51'), G. Barton (56')
Tries
G. Barton (30', 35', 42', 52')
Conversions
Eight tries will fill the highlights reel, but the most revealing moment came with the result long settled: Gloucester were still chasing back to stop Quins getting on the board. George Skivington singled that out afterwards, and rightly so. Charlie Atkinson supplied the craft, picking out Ben Loader with a crossfield kick for the opener and later creating George Barton’s finish, while Jac Morgan’s carrying helped give Gloucester control up front. Will Joseph added a sharp break and offload for Caolan Englefield before scoring himself. Quins kept surrendering territory through penalties and offered precious little in possession. Jason Gilmore called the performance unacceptable. With two Gloucester tries arriving in the first four minutes after half-time, whatever repair work was discussed in the away dressing room did not last long.
O. Ene (2'), G. McGuigan (56'), C. Jordan (73')
Tries
S. Moli (11'), A. Radwan (21'), W. Hurd (66')
B. Connon (56'), Z. Henry (74')
Conversions
B. Searle (11', 22', 67')
Penalties
B. Searle (28')
Adam Radwan scoring on his return to Kingston Park was the obvious storyline. Will Hurd’s quick thinking was the decisive one. With Newcastle back within five points, the replacement prop took a quick tap and powered over, giving Leicester enough room to survive the late surge. Radwan had earlier finished Freddie Steward’s grubber, but Tigers also owed plenty to Will Wand’s try-saving tackle on Obi Ene. Newcastle’s debutant winger had scored inside three minutes and gave them a genuine threat, while Cameron Jordan’s late try kept the contest alive. There was more here than a routine losing bonus point for the hosts, but missed chances hurt. Leicester were hardly polished; this time, unlike against Saracens, they got the job finished.
E. Mawi (33'), S. Va'enuku (45'), C. Bracken (72')
Tries
N. Jibulu (6'), T. O'Flaherty (41'), B. Bamber (64')
F. Burke (72')
Conversions
G. Ford (6', 42'), A. Lozowski (65')
Sale spent part of the first half with 13 men and still reached the break in front. That says plenty about their resolve, and not much for Saracens’ ability to cash in. Alex Lozowski’s yellow and Jacques Vermeulen’s 20-minute red could have wrecked the afternoon, but Nathan Jibulu’s forceful display gave Sale far more than his opening maul try. Then Tom O’Flaherty collected George Ford’s high kick and tore through the defence early in the second half, turning awkward ball into the game’s standout individual moment. Tom Curry’s defensive work helped keep Sale on course before Ford put Ben Bamber through for a crucial score. The Bracken brothers combined to make the finish uncomfortable, but Saracens had wasted too many earlier opportunities. Sale earned this one the hard way.
Bristol and Gloucester delivered the most eye-catching wins, but Sale’s ability to absorb setbacks and still leave Saracens with the points deserves just as much attention. Bath and Leicester banked victories without disguising everything that needs work, while Exeter and Newcastle had enough good moments to make defeat frustrating rather than dispiriting. Northampton have a defensive response to find, Saracens will rue opportunities wasted, and Quins face the least enjoyable review meeting of the lot. It is only Round 2, but there is already plenty to get into.
