Leading try scorer Tom Varndell will be looking to increase his tally as Tigers look for a top four finish

80 minutes will decide the fate of the Guinness Premiership seven

8 May 2008, 2:33 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Seven clubs go into round 22 of the Guinness Premiership knowing that their whole season could rest on 80 minutes of high pressure rugby.

London Wasps' victory last night means that although Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby are guaranteed a semi-final place, neither is guaranteed a home semi-final, but instead first and second must go head-to-head at Kingsholm on Saturday.

Bath Rugby must win to be sure of a home semi-final, whereas Gloucester would return to Kingsholm next weekend if Wasps fail to secure a try bonus point at Headingley Carnegie or Gloucester claim a losing bonus point.

However, the most fascinating battles are arguably at Edgeley Park and Welford Road.

Sale Sharks know that a win would guarantee them a semi-final place two years after they last appeared in one in their Guinness Premiership winning season.

Their opponents, London Irish still have all to play for as they know that a win for them could see them claim a place in next season's Heineken Cup.

A win for the Exiles and defeat for Leicester Tigers would see Irish leapfrog Leicester into sixth place, which would qualify them for the Heineken Cup should Bath Rugby beat Worcester Warriors in the European Challenge Cup Final.

Defeat would almost certainly see Sale Sharks slip out of the semi-final places with the sides just below them, Leicester Tigers and Harlequins, playing at Welford Road.

The reigning champions are in the unusual position of trying to claim a semi-final place in the final match of the season.

Even now, things are out of Leicester's hands. They need to secure a bonus point victory to have any chance of overhauling Sale Sharks, but Harlequins will definitely overtake Sale if they win their first ever Premiership match at Welford Road and Sale lose at home.

The match at Welford Road is however a winner-takes-all match for the fifth guaranteed Heineken Cup place.

London Wasps must win their match at Headingley Carnegie to be sure of a semi-final place, but with all the six matches kicking off at the same time, Wasps must also chase a bonus point if they want to have a chance of a home semi-final.

England and British and Irish Lions back row Richard Hill plays the final match of his exceptional professional career for Saracens against Bristol Rugby at stadiummk on Saturday, whilst Worcester Warriors warm up for their European Challenge Cup Final against Bath Rugby with a match at Sixways against Newcastle Falcons.

ROUND 22 PREVIEWS

Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	G	B	*Gloucester* *Rugby scorers*	*Bath Rugby scorers*
Sat 19 Feb 05	Kingsholm	17	16	Terry Fanolua(T) Henry Paul(3P) Brad Davies(D)	James Scaysbrook(T) Chris Malone(C/3P)
Sat 15 Oct 05	Recreation Ground	16	18	Rob Thirlby(T) Ludovic Mercier(C/3P)	Olly Barkley(5P) Chris Malone(D)
Sat 25 Feb 06	Kingsholm	15	18	James Bailey(T) Mark Foster(T) Ludovic Mercier(C/P)	Andy Beattie(T) Lee Mears(T) Chris Malone(C/D/P)
Sat 2 Sep 06	Kingsholm	24	19	Jack Adams(T) Olly Morgan(T) Willie Walker(C/4P)	Danny Grewcock(2T) Olly Barkley(3P)
Sat 7 Apr 07	Recreation Ground	21	21	James Bailey(T) Will James(T) Ryan Lamb(C/3P)	Olly Barkley(7P)
Fri 4 Jan 08	Recreation Ground	5	10	Chris Paterson(T)	Olly Barkley(C/P) Joe Maddock(T)

Gloucester Rugby will be out to extend their record of gaining a league point in their last 33 Guinness Premiership encounters since New Year's Day 2007. If they do so they will definitely be at home in the Guinness Premiership semi-finals. Gloucester have won their last three Premiership games since losing 14-17 at Worcester on 29 March, whilst their only home defeat in their last 22 Premiership matches was to Leicester on 9 February.

Bath Rugby require just two match points to secure a home tie in the Guinness Premiership semi-finals (less if Wasps drop any points from either of their remaining two fixtures). Bath have won their last five games in all competitions since a 6-22 reversal at Sale on 28 March.

Gloucester have beaten Bath just once in their last five encounters in the Premiership: 24-19 at Kingsholm on 2 September 2006.

Leeds Carnegie v London Wasps

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	LC	LW	*Leeds* *Carnegie scorers*	*London* *Wasps scorers*
Sun 18 Apr 04	Headingley Carnegie	7	11	Colm Rigney(T) Duncan Hodge(C)	Trevor Leota(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(2P)
Sun 19 Sep 04	Headingley Carnegie	9	13	Gordon Ross(3P)	Will Green(T) Alex King(C/P) Lawrence Dallaglio(D)
Sun 13 Mar 05	Adams Park	15	30	Matt Holt(T) Mike Shelley(T) David Doherty(C/P)	Tom Voyce(T) Ayoola Erinle(T) Tom Rees(T) Trevor Leota(T) Alex King(C/P) Mark Van Gisbergen(C/P)
Sun 18 Sep 05	Headingley Carnegie	23	47	Iain Balshaw(T) Stuart Hooper(T) Roland De Marigny(C/3P) Gordon Ross(C)	Tom Voyce(T) Raphael Ibanez(2T) John Hart(T) Paul Sackey(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(5C/4P)
Sun 26 Mar 06	Adams Park	0	28		Tom Voyce(2T) Paul Sackey(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(T/4C)
Sat 5 Jan 08	Adams Park	17	25	Joe Bedford(T) Alberto Di Bernardo(2C) Leigh Hinton(P) Mike MacDonald(T)	Danny Cipriani(2C/2P) Fraser Waters(T) Joe Worsley(T) Josh Lewsey(T)

Leeds Carnegie have lost their last four games in the Guinness Premiership since a 16-15 victory at home to Newcastle on 21 March.

London Wasps play at Newcastle Falcons on Wednesday evening in a rearranged game.

Leeds have never beaten Wasps in a dozen previous Premiership clashes, although the two sides did draw 27-all at Adams Park in November 2002.

Leicester Tigers v Harlequins

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	L	H	*Leicester* *Tigers scorers*	*Harlequins scorers*
Sat 27 Mar 04	Twickenham Stoop	23	20	Henry Tuilagi(T) Austin Healey(T) Andy Goode(C/2P) Neil Back(T)	Ben Willis(T) Mel Deane(T) Andy Dunne(2C/2P)
Sat 16 Oct 04	Twickenham Stoop	15	9	Andy Goode(5P)	Jeremy Staunton(3P)
Sat 29 Jan 05	Welford Road	32	17	Austin Healey(T) Henry Tuilagi(T) Andy Goode(2C/6P)	Jon Dawson(T) Ugo Monye(T) Jeremy Staunton(2C/P)
Sat 23 Sep 06	Twickenham Stoop	21	15	Tom Varndell(T) Scott Bemand(T) Paul Burke(C/3P)	Adrian Jarvis(5P)
Sat 3 Mar 07	Welford Road	27	22	Dan Hipkiss(T) Andy Goode(C/5P) Seru Rabeni(T)	Adrian Jarvis(C/5P) Jordan Turner-Hall(T)
Sun 6 Jan 08	Twickenham Stoop	42	13	Tom Croft(2T) Andy Goode(4C/2P) Geordan Murphy(D) Tom Varndell(3T)	Adrian Jarvis(C) Chris Malone(2P) David Strettle(T)

Defending Guinness Premiership champions, Leicester Tigers, have only won one of their last five matches in all competitions and secured just a dozen league points from their last six games in the Guinness Premiership.

Harlequins have now slipped to back to back defeats in the Guinness Premiership to London Irish and Sale . ‘Quins are still in with a chance of achieving their best ever Premiership finish – 4 th in season 1998/99.

Leicester have won their last nine matches with Harlequins in all competitions since ‘Quins won 26-23 at the Stoop in the Wildcard playoff 1 st leg on 14 May 2003. Harlequins have not won at Welford Road in the Premiership – their last win there being 13-12 in the old Division One on 26 April 1997.

Sale Sharks v London Irish

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	S	L	*Sale* *Sharks scorers*	*London* *Irish scorers*
Sun 6 Feb 05	Madejski Stadium	9	6	Mike Hercus(D/2P)	Mark Mapletoft(2P)
Fri 16 Sep 05	Edgeley Park	29	3	Jason Robinson(T) Daniel Larrechea(T) Sebastien Chabal(T) Mark Cueto(T) Charlie Hodgson(3C/P)	Barry Everitt(P)
Sat 25 Mar 06	Madejski Stadium	29	21	Andy Titterrell(T) Steve Hanley(2T) Charlie Hodgson(C/4P)	Sailosi Tagicakibau(T) Riki Flutey(T) Delon Armitage(T) Mike Catt(2P)
Sun 15 Oct 06	Madejski Stadium	31	14	Mark Cueto(T) Mark Taylor(T) Oriol Ripol Fortuny(2T) Charlie Hodgson(4C/P)	Sailosi Tagicakibau(T) Steffon Armitage(T) Barry Everitt(2C)
Fri 23 Feb 07	Edgeley Park	9	14	Lee Thomas(3P)	Shane Geraghty(D/2P) Sailosi Tagicakibau(T)
Sun 6 Jan 08	Madejski Stadium	12	20	Luke McAlister(4P)	Delon Armitage(T/C) Gonzalo Tiesi(T) Eoghan Hickey(P) Sailosi Tagicakibau(T)

Sale Sharks have won five of their last six matches in the Guinness Premiership and risen two spots in the league table in the process. Sale 's only defeat at Edgeley Park this season in any competition was 15-22 to Worcester in the Premiership on 29 February.

London Irish have won four successive games in the Guinness Premiership since losing 16-19 at Bath on 22 March. The Exiles will really need another maximum from this game to give the European Cup semi-finalists any chance of qualifying for next season's competition.

London Irish have won the last two games they have played against Sale , and have been victorious on three of their last four visits to Edgeley Park .

Saracens v Bristol Rugby

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	S	B	*Saracens scorers*	*Bristol* *Rugby scorers*
Tue 29 Apr 03	Vicarage Road	17	16	Richard Haughton(T) Andy Goode(2C/D) Darragh O'Mahony(T)	Andrew Sheridan(T) Shane Drahm(C/3P)
Sun 16 Oct 05	Memorial Stadium	23	11	Ben Johnston(T) Ben Skirving(T) Glen Jackson(2C/D/2P)	Sam Cox(T) Jason Strange(2P)
Sun 26 Feb 06	Vicarage Road	13	19	Ben Russell(T) Glen Jackson(C/2P)	Marko Stanojevic(T) Jason Strange(C/4P)
Sun 10 Sep 06	Memorial Stadium	13	13	Dan Scarbrough(T/D) Glen Jackson(C/D)	Jason Strange(P) Darren Crompton(T) Shaun Perry(T)
Sun 18 Mar 07	Vicarage Road	36	5	Kevin Yates(T) Thomas Castaignede(T) Glen Jackson(2C/4P) Kameli Ratuvou(2T)	Alex Clarke(T)
Sun 6 Jan 08	Memorial Stadium	3	18	Glen Jackson(P)	Luke Arscott(T) Matt Salter(T) Jason Strange(C/2P)

Milton Keynes ' stadiummk venue becomes the 26 th different ground to host a Premiership match.

Saracens have lost their last four games in all competitions conceding 23 tries and shipping 163 points in the process.

Bristol Rugby have lost five successive matches since beating Newcastle 28-8 at Kingston Park on 16 March.

Saracens have already beaten Bristol at Vicarage Road this season: 45-15 in round 2 of the EDF Energy Cup on 4 November.

Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons

HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
*Date*	*Venue*	W	N	*Worcester* *Warriors scorers*	*Newcastle* *Falcons scorers*
Sun 10 Apr 05	Kingston Park	21	16	Giscard Pieters(T) Pat Sanderson(T) James Brown(2D/P) Tommy Hayes(C)	Cory Harris(T) Matt Burke(T/2P)
Sun 1 Jan 06	Kingston Park	15	21	Aisea Havili Kaufusi(T) Tony Windo(T) James Brown(C/P)	Matt Burke(T/C/3P) Dave Walder(T)
Sat 29 Apr 06	Sixways	35	27	Kai Horstmann(T) Gary Trueman(T) Pat Sanderson(T) Nick Runciman(T) Shane Drahm(2C/2P) James Brown(C/P)	Toby Flood(T) Matt Burke(2T/C) Mike McCarthy(T) Tom May(T)
Fri 8 Sep 06	Kingston Park	19	20	Marcel Garvey(T) Shane Drahm(C/4P)	Tom May(T) Robbie Morris(T) Tim Visser(T) Jonny Wilkinson(P) Toby Flood(C)
Fri 16 Mar 07	Sixways	23	21	Shane Drahm(C/2P) Gavin Quinnell(T) Aleki Lutui(2T)	Loki Crichton(3C) Matt Thompson(T) Ben Woods(2T)
Sun 6 Jan 08	Kingston Park	12	15	Miles Benjamin(T) Loki Crichton(C) Rico Gear(T)	Jonny Wilkinson(D/4P)

Worcester Warriors have won back to back games against Newcastle (in the European Challenge Cup) and Bristol (in the Guinness Premiership). The Warriors' have also won three of their last four games at Sixways in all competitions.

Newcastle Falcons are hosting London Wasps on Wednesday evening in a rearranged fixture. The Falcons have lost their last seven away games in all competitions since a 19-12 victory in Brive on 11 January.

The last six encounters between the two teams have gone the way of the home side on the day. Newcastle visited Sixways two weeks ago in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup, losing 16-31, whilst the Falcons last win in Worcester was 30-9 in the Premiership on 5 September 2004.