Round 13 of the Gallagher Premiership brought serious fireworks—with title contenders flexing their muscles, dramatic finishes, and rising stars stealing the spotlight.
Gloucester and Bath both impressed with dominant, high-scoring wins, while Saracens edged a bruising battle in Leicester to re-enter the playoff race. Sale clinched a vital win over Saints in Salford, Exeter escaped a Falcons upset at the death, and Angus Hall announced himself on the big stage with a dream first start.
Here’s how all the Round 13 action unfolded:
ROEBUCK DOUBLE HELPS SALE EDGE NORTHAMPTON IN BONUS-POINT THRILLER
Sale 27 – 24 Northampton (HT: 17-12)
Tom Roebuck’s brace helped Sale Sharks secure a vital 27-24 win over Northampton Saints in a pulsating Premiership clash in Salford. The winger scored twice in the first half—either side of Tom O’Flaherty’s opener and a Saints fightback through Emmanuel Iyogun and Tommy Freeman. The visitors briefly went down to 13 men but still managed to stay in the contest, with Henry Pollock’s brilliant solo effort levelling the score early in the second half. Bevan Rodd’s try from a driving maul on his 100th appearance and a George Ford penalty gave Sale breathing room, but a late score from Fraser Dingwall brought Saints within three. Despite two bonus points, Northampton remain eighth, while Sale jump to fourth in the heated battle for playoff spots.
SALE
- Tries: O’Flaherty (9’), Roebuck (16’, 21’), Rodd (47’)
- Conversions: Ford (17’, 48’)
- Penalties: Ford (65’)
NORTHAMPTON
- Tries: Iyogun (18’), Freeman (29’), Pollock (40’), Dingwall (75’)
- Conversions: Mitchell (30’, 76’)
FISILAU’S LAST-GASP TRY SNATCHES WIN FOR EXETER IN SCRAPPY BASEMENT BATTLE
Exeter 17 – 15 Newcastle (HT: 12-15)
Greg Fisilau powered over in the final minute to rescue Exeter from a shock home defeat and secure a hard-fought 17-15 victory over Newcastle in a tense Premiership bottom-of-the-table clash. The Chiefs struck early through Will Rigg, but were stunned when debutant Joe Davis intercepted and sprinted in under the posts. Max Clark then finished a patient Newcastle attack to give the Falcons a surprise lead. A yellow card to Richard Palframan gave Exeter an opening, and Martin Moloney leveled the scores before Brett Connon’s penalty edged Newcastle ahead at the break. The second half was scrappy, with the visitors defending doggedly and Exeter struggling to execute. But with time running out, the Chiefs finally broke through—Kane James and Harvey Skinner combining before Rusi Tuima released Fisilau to score the match-winner. The Falcons claimed a losing bonus point but remain rooted to the bottom, while Exeter’s third win of the season keeps them in touch with the mid-table pack.
EXETER
- Tries: Rigg (6’), Moloney (36’), Fisilau (78’)
- Conversion: Slade (7’)
NEWCASTLE
- Tries: Davis (12’), Clark (27’)
- Conversion: Connon (13’)
- Penalties: Connon (40’)
BATH RUN IN SEVEN TRIES TO BRUSH ASIDE HARLEQUINS AND STAY TOP OF THE TABLE
Bath 47 – 28 Harlequins (HT: 33-14)
Bath produced a clinical attacking display at The Rec to overpower Harlequins 47-28 and cement their position at the top of the Premiership table. The hosts ran in seven tries, four in a blistering first half, as they built a 33-14 halftime lead and never looked back. Joe Cokanasiga opened the scoring with a powerful finish from a lineout move, before tries from Ted Hill, Ross Molony, and a brace from Will Muir earned the bonus point before the break. Harlequins briefly threatened through scores from Luke Northmore and Titi Lamositele, but Max Ojomoh’s length-of-the-field interception and Francois van Wyk’s finish off a Will Butt break put the game to bed. Despite a late try from Sam Riley securing a bonus point for Quins, the visitors had no answer to Bath’s tempo and physicality. There was concern for the home side as Charlie Ewels left the field injured, but with a 10-point cushion at the top and five rounds to go, Bath continue to look like title frontrunners.
BATH
- Tries: Cokanasiga (3’), Hill (8’), Molony (19’), Muir (21’, 37’), Ojomoh (52’), Van Wyk (64’)
- Conversions: Russell (9’, 20’, 22’, 38’, 53’, 65’)
HARLEQUINS
- Tries: Northmore (24’), Lamositele (34’), Baxter (46’), Riley (76’)
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Conversions: Benson (25’), Smith (35’, 47’, 77’)
ATKINSON AND WADE HAT-TRICKS INSPIRE GLOUCESTER TO NINE-TRY ROUT OF BRISTOL
Gloucester 53 – 28 Bristol (HT: 34-21)
Gloucester put on an attacking masterclass at Kingsholm, running in nine tries in a 53-28 demolition of Bristol to leap back into third place in the Premiership. Hat-tricks from Seb Atkinson and Christian Wade headlined a sensational attacking display, with the Cherry and Whites claiming a bonus point inside 17 minutes. Wade opened the scoring after a clever Carreras chip, followed by rapid-fire tries from Hathaway, Chris Harris, and Atkinson—his first of three. Despite Bristol responding through Fitz Harding and James Williams, Gloucester always looked in control. Max Lahiff briefly narrowed the deficit before Wade’s second made it 34-21 at the break. Atkinson completed his hat-trick just after the restart, exploiting a quick-tap penalty, before Wade chased down his own kick to seal his treble. Billy Twelvetrees replacement Charlie Barton added Gloucester’s ninth. Williams’ late try gave Bristol a consolation bonus point, but Gloucester’s clinical finishing and relentless pace proved too much in a thrilling West Country derby.
GLOUCESTER
- Tries: Wade (4’, 41’, 45’), Hathaway (7’), Harris (13’), S. Atkinson (17’, 30’, 42’), Barton (51’)
- Conversions: Carreras (14’), C. Atkinson (17’), Williams (43’, 46’)
BRISTOL
- Tries: Harding (19’), Williams (27’, 62’), Lahiff (35’)
- Conversions: Byrne (20’, 28’, 36’), MacGinty (62’)
HALL HITS IN STYLE AS SARACENS SINK TIGERS TO BOOST PLAYOFF PUSH
Leicester 22 – 29 Saracens (HT: 15-17)
Teenager Angus Hall marked his first Premiership start with a sensational try as Saracens edged Leicester 29-22 in a bruising encounter at Welford Road, reigniting their push for the top four. Saracens raced into a 14-0 lead with early tries from Jamie George and Juan Martin Gonzalez, but the Tigers clawed their way back through Freddie Steward and a brace from Hanro Liebenberg, taking the lead shortly after the break. Hall’s dazzling finish in the corner pulled Sarries level before Theo Dan pounced on a botched line-out to give the visitors the lead again. A late try from Cameron Henderson was ruled out for offside after a TMO review, denying Leicester a final twist. The result lifts Saracens to sixth, just two points behind the Tigers, as both teams battle for playoff qualification.
LEICESTER
- Tries: Steward (18’), Liebenberg (40’, 41’)
- Conversions: Pollard (19’, 42’)
- Drop-goals: Pollard (26’)
SARACENS
- Tries: George (3’), Gonzalez (10’), Hall (45’), Dan (62’)
- Conversions: Lozowski (4’, 11’), Burke (63’)
- Drop-goals: Lozowski (37’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13
With just five rounds to go, the Premiership playoff race is heating up fast. Bath and Gloucester continue to set the pace, while Saracens and Sale picked up crucial wins to stay in the hunt. Meanwhile, Newcastle remain winless—but proved again they won’t go down without a fight. Expect more twists, big moments, and playoff reshuffling in the weeks ahead.
Who impressed you most in Round 13? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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