Gallagher Premiership round-up: Leicester, Worcester and Northampton win | Rugby Union News

Round One of the new Gallagher Premiership saw plenty of action with the Tigers seeing off the Chiefs, while Worcester beat London Irish and Saints got past Gloucester.

Leicester, Worcester and Northampton got their Gallagher Premiership campaigns off to winning starts.

Leicester Tigers 34-19 Exeter

Leicester registered their first Gallagher Premiership victory over Exeter for four years as Ellis Genge’s reign as club captain began in triumphant fashion at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Genge was at the helm for a 34-19 win against last season’s league runners-up as Freddie Steward, Harry Potter and Matt Scott ran in tries before Nic Dolly added two more.

Leicester were comfortable winners as Exeter were toppled on the opening weekend of the campaign for the first time since 2017 with Dolly’s first touch down in the 60th minute taking the game beyond their reach.

Leicester Tigers’ Nic Dolly scores for the Tigers

The Tigers showed greater enterprise throughout and possessed more strings to their bow than an underpowered Exeter, whose pack struggled to convert opportunities close to the line.

George Ford efficiently directed operations while full-back Steward and wing Nemani Nadolo were a handful all afternoon, but Leicester’s attacking flourishes were matched by the commitment in defence where Genge, George Martin and Dan Cole were prominent.

They led 20-5 at half-time and while Exeter briefly threatened a fightback in the third quarter, it never materialised on a disappointing afternoon for the two-time champions.

Northampton 34-20 Gloucester

Northampton got their Premiership season off to a winning start over an injury-ravaged Gloucester in a lively game at Franklin’s Gardens.

Tom Collins offloads for Saints

Depleted Gloucester contributed fully to the entertainment but two yellow cards and a high penalty count against them proved costly.

Saints took advantage to score four tries from George Furbank, Nick Auterac, Tom Wood and James Grayson, with the latter adding two penalties and three conversions.

Ollie Thorley, Jordy Reid and Jonny May scored Gloucester’s tries, with Lloyd Evans kicking a penalty and a conversion.

Worcester 36 -24 London Irish

England international Willi Heinz scored a try on his Gallagher Premiership debut for Worcester as the Warriors beat London Irish 36-24 at Sixways.

The former Gloucester number nine is among more than a dozen newcomers to Worcester’s squad this season.

And he wasted little time making an impact, claiming Worcester’s second touchdown and then creating Worcester’s bonus-point try for number eight Matt Kvesic as they recorded a first on-pitch Premiership win since beating Irish in November last year.

All of the Warriors’ other league victories last term were coronavirus-related forfeits and head coach Jonathan Thomas could not have asked for a better opening weekend display.

Flanker Sam Lewis, full-back Melani Nanai and wing Perry Humphreys also crossed for Worcester, with Wales international fly-half Owen Williams kicking four conversions and a penalty.

Irish replied through tries for wing Ollie Hassell-Collins, number eight Albert Tuisue and a double by substitute prop Ollie Hoskins, but Paddy Jackson had an off-day from the goalkicking tee, landing two conversions, and they never seriously threatened to halt Worcester’s momentum.