Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons kick things off on Friday night, with their game on Sky Sports, and the Yorkshire club will be looking to close the gap at the bottom on Worcester Warriors who are not in action.
Bath will have a similar situation at the top of the table – with a bonus point win over London Irish at the Rec. letting them leap-frog both Gloucester and Leicester Tigers to the top of the table.
Sunday’s game is also in the westcountry with Harlequins at Bristol and looking to extend their recent fine form. A win over Richard Hill’s side would put them above Sale and into the play off places.
ROUND 17 FIXTURES
Friday 21st March
Leeds Carnegie v Newcastle Falcons (Headingley Carnegie, 7pm) Live on Sky Sports
Saturday 22nd March
Bath Rugby v London Irish (Recreation Ground, 2:15pm)
Sunday 23rd March
Bristol Rugby v Harlequins (Memorial Stadium, 3pm)
ROUND 17 PREVIEWS
Leeds Carnegie v Newcastle Falcons
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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L
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N
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Leeds Carnegie scorers
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Newcastle Falcons scorers
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Sun 28 Mar 04
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Headingley Carnegie
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30
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30
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Andre Snyman(T) Tom Palmer(T) Tristan Davies(T) Gordon Ross(3C/3P)
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Tom May(T) Michael Stephenson(T) Dave Walder(C/D/5P)
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Sun 14 Nov 04
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Kingston Park
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16
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29
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Diego Albanese(T) Tim Stimpson(C/3P)
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Matt Burke(3T) Jamie Noon(T) Dave Walder(3C/P)
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Mon 27 Dec 04
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Headingley Carnegie
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11
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15
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Mark Regan(T) Gordon Ross(2P)
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Dave Walder(P) Jonny Wilkinson(D/3P)
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Tue 27 Dec 05
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Headingley Carnegie
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10
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13
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Andre Snyman(T) Gordon Ross(C/P)
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Mathew Tait(T) Matt Burke(C/2P)
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Sat 6 May 06
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Kingston Park
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19
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54
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James Isaacson(T) Chris Murphy(T) Danny Care(T) Gordon Ross(2C)
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Mathew Tait(T) Ben Woods(T) Tom May(T) Anthony Elliott(3T/C) Mike McCarthy(T) Ollie Phillips(T) Jonny Wilkinson(6C)
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Fri 5 Oct 07
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Kingston Park
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19
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21
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Joe Bedford(T) Leigh Hinton(3P) Erik Lund(T)
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Matt Burke(C/D) Steve Jones(D) Andy Long(T) Tom May(T/D)
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Leeds Carnegie are winless in any competition since a 25-18 victory over Bath in the European Challenge Cup on 11 January. Leeds did however draw 10-all at Sixways on Sunday – their first tie in the Premiership since the 30-all draw with Newcastle in March 2004.
Newcastle Falcons have lost their last three encounters in the Guinness Premiership, and have won just once away from home in the competition since November 2006: 22-19 at Saracens on 30 December 2007.
Leeds’ only victory over the Falcons in 13 previous encounters in all competitions was 28-25 at Kingston Park in the Premiership in February 2004. Newcastle’s last loss at Headingey was 15-17 to Leinster in the European Cup in January 2002 in a game that was moved from Kingston Park due to poor weather.
Bath Rugby v London Irish
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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B
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L
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Bath Rugby scorers
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London Irish scorers
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Sun 24 Apr 05
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Madejski Stadium
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21
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19
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Frikkie Welsh(T) Chris Malone(2D) Olly Barkley(C/P) Zak Feau'nati(T)
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Barry Everitt(C/4P) Michael Horak(T)
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Sat 5 Nov 05
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Madejski Stadium
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13
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36
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Michael Lipman(T) Andy Dunne(C/2P)
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Scott Staniforth(T) Mike Catt(T) Riki Flutey(T/2C/D/P) Phil Murphy(T) Barry Everitt(2P)
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Sat 18 Feb 06
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Recreation Ground
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28
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33
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Gareth Delve(T) Lee Mears(T) Alex Crockett(T) Chris Malone(2C/3P)
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Juan Manuel Leguizamon(T) Topsy Ojo(2T) Delon Armitage(T) Sailosi Tagicakibau(T) Riki Flutey(4C)
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Sat 4 Nov 06
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Recreation Ground
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17
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21
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Chris Malone(4P) Zak Feau'nati(T)
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Juan Manuel Leguizamon(T) Barry Everitt(C/3P) Robbie Russell(T)
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Sat 17 Feb 07
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Madejski Stadium
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7
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15
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Danny Grewcock(T) Olly Barkley(C)
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Shane Geraghty(C/P) Sailosi Tagicakibau(T) Topsy Ojo(T)
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Fri 5 Oct 07
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Madejski Stadium
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22
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20
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Ian Davey(T) Daniel Browne(T) Danny Grewcock(T) Shaun Berne(2C/P)
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Eoghan Hickey(5P) David Paice(T)
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Bath Rugby’s three game winning run in the Guinness Premiership came to a halt with their 16-22 defeat at Harlequins on Sunday. Bath have lost just once at the Rec in the Premiership since November 2006: 34-42 to Wasps on 16 February 2008.
London Irish have now slipped to successive defeats in the Guinness Premiership, whilst their only two away wins in the competition this season have been over the bottom two clubs: Worcester and Leeds.
Bath won 22-20 when the two clubs met at Madejski Stadium in October and are going for a first Premiership double over the Exiles since season 2004/05. London Irish have won on their last two visits to the Rec.
Bristol Rugby v Harlequins
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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B
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H
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Bristol Rugby scorers
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Harlequins scorers
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Sun 31 Mar 02
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Memorial Stadium
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43
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27
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Phil Christophers(2T) Felipe Contepomi(T/5C/P) Andrew Sheridan(T) Andrew Higgins(T) Lee Best(T)
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Nick Greenstock(2T) Keith Wood(T) Penalty Try(T) Paul Burke(2C/P)
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Sat 4 Jan 03
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Twickenham Stoop
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17
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26
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David Rees(2T) Daryl Gibson(T) Felipe Contepomi(C)
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Ben Gollings(T) Will Greenwood(T) Paul Burke(2C/4P)
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Sun 2 Mar 03
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Memorial Stadium
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48
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41
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Agustin Pichot(2T) Saul Nelson(T) Alex Brown(T) Daryl Gibson(2T) Felipe Contepomi(3C/4P)
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Dan Luger(T) Will Greenwood(T) Tony Diprose(T) Ben Gollings(T) Nathan Williams(T) Paul Burke(5C/2P)
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Sun 15 Oct 06
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Memorial Stadium
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33
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20
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Shaun Perry(T) Alex Clarke(T) Penalty Try(T) David Lemi(2T) Jason Strange(3C) Josh Taumalolo(C)
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Ugo Monye(T) Andre Vos(T) Tani Fuga(T) Adrian Jarvis(C/P)
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Sat 24 Feb 07
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Twickenham Stoop
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8
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15
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Jason Strange(P) David Lemi(T)
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Adrian Jarvis(5P)
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Sat 6 Oct 07
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Twickenham Stoop
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18
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24
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Tom Arscott(T) David Hill(P) Jason Strange(C/P) David Lemi(T)
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Simon Keogh(T) Chris Malone(3C/D) Steve So'oialo(2T)
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Bristol Rugby have won back to back matches and are going for a third successive victory for the first time for eleven months. Bristol lost their last “home” game at Ashton Gate but have been defeated just once at Memorial Stadium in the Premiership this season: 13-26 to Leicester in September.
Harlequins are the second best side in the Guinness Premiership on current form having picked up 19 league points from their last six matches. ‘Quins only loss in their last five encounters was 25-29 at Wasps on 9 March.
Harlequins have lost on their last seven visits to Memorial Stadium, including a 7-20 reversal there in the European Cup on 16 December.
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