| Saturday will see three Guinness Premiership games with the match up between Leicester Tigers and London Wasps being televised live on Sky Sports. Worcester Warriors will also be looking to improve on their impressive winning streak this season by going four games without defeat for the first time in the same season.
The remaining two games will be played on Sunday, London Irish will be looking to insure that they do not succumb to a fourth successive defeat this season. Whilst Leeds Carnegie travel to Vicarage Road to face Saracens.
ROUND 18 FIXTURES
Friday 28th March
Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby (Edgeley Park, 7.45pm)
Saturday 29th March
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps (Welford Road, 2.45pm). Live on Sky Sports.
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons (Twickenham Stoop 3pm)
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby (Sixways 3pm)
Sunday 30th March
London Irish v Bristol Rugby (Madejski Stadium, 3pm)
Saracens v Leeds Carnegie (Vicarage Road, 3pm)
ROUND 18 PREVIEWS
Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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S
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B
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Sale Sharks scorers
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Bath Rugby scorers
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Mon 27 Dec 04
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Edgeley Park
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19
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10
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Chris Mayor(T) Mark Cueto(T) John Carter(T) Charlie Hodgson(2C)
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Ryan Davis(T) Chris Malone(C/P)
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Mon 2 Jan 06
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Recreation Ground
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21
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9
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Charlie Hodgson(C/3P) Elvis Seveali'i(T) Magnus Lund(T)
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Olly Barkley(3P)
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Fri 28 Apr 06
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Edgeley Park
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38
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12
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Charlie Hodgson(T/3C/4P) Chris Mayor(T) Mark Cueto(T) Chris Jones(T)
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Chris Malone(T/C) James Hudson(T)
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Fri 22 Dec 06
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Recreation Ground
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16
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18
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Chris Bell(T) Lee Thomas(C/3P)
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Chris Malone(D/5P)
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Fri 13 Apr 07
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Edgeley Park
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25
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23
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Selorm Kuadey(T) Jason Robinson(T) Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe(T) Lee Thomas(2C/2P)
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David Barnes(T) Nick Walshe(T) Olly Barkley(2C/3P)
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Sat 29 Sep 07
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Recreation Ground
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19
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21
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Oriol Ripol Fortuny(T) Charlie Hodgson(C/D/3P)
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Matthew Banahan(T) Shaun Berne(C/3P) Pieter Dixon(T)
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Sale Sharks ended a two game losing run in the Guinness Premiership with their 22-16 victory over Gloucester last time out. The Sharks’ only home defeat since April was 15-22 to Worcester on 29 February.
Following their 19-16 win over London Irish at the Rec on Saturday Bath Rugby now top the Premiership table after a full round of games for the first time since season 2003/04.
The last four meetings between the two clubs in the Guinness Premiership have gone the way of the home side on the day. Sale won 25-10 when the two sides met at Edgeley Park in the EDF Energy Cup on 2 November, whilst Bath have not won at Edgeley Park in the Premiership since 26 September 2003.
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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LT
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LW
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Leicester Tigers scorers
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London Wasps scorers
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Sat 14 May 05
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Twickenham (Final)
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14
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39
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Andy Goode(3P) Scott Bemand(T)
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Mark Van Gisbergen(T/3C/5P) Tom Voyce(T) Alex King(D) Rob Hoadley(T)
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Sat 10 Sep 05
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Adams Park
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29
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29
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Tom Varndell(T) Harry Ellis(T) Andy Goode(2C/5P)
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Tom Rees(2T) Mark Van Gisbergen(2C/5P)
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Sat 22 Apr 06
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Welford Road
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20
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19
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Tom Varndell(3T) Andy Goode(C/P)
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Jeremy Staunton(D) Mark Van Gisbergen(C/3P) Paul Sackey(T)
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Sun 26 Nov 06
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Adams Park
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19
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13
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Ian Humphreys(C/4P) Shane Jennings(T)
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Alex King(T/D) Jeremy Staunton(C/P)
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Sat 28 Apr 07
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Welford Road
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40
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26
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Dan Hipkiss(T) Andy Goode(3C/4P) Lewis Moody(T) Sam Vesty(C) Alesana Tuilagi(T) Penalty Try(T)
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Ayoola Erinle(T) James Haskell(T) Dave Walder(C) Mark McMillan(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(3P)
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Sun 30 Sep 07
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Adams Park
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20
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17
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Andy Goode(4P) Ollie Smith(T) Johne Murphy(P)
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Danny Cipriani(P) Tom Voyce(T) Dave Walder(D/P) Mark Van Gisbergen(P)
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Leicester Tigers and London Wasps clash for a second successive week following their meeting in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final at Millennium Stadium on Saturday, where the Tigers won 34-24. Leicester have won three of their last four games in all competitions and have won ten of their last eleven matches at Welford Road.
London Wasps have lost just one of their last nine games in the Guinness Premiership: 17-18 at Gloucester on 26 January. Wasps have won their last two away matches at Bath and London Irish but have not won three in a row away from home since season 2004/05.
Leicester have won five of the last six matches they have played against Wasps in all competitions, whilst Wasps have visited Welford Road on 17 previous occasions for a league match and lost them all!
Harlequins 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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H
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N
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Harlequins scorers
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Newcastle Falcons scorers
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Sun 4 Jan 04
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Kingston Park
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29
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25
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Ugo Monye(T) Gavin Duffy(T) Jim Evans(T) Ceri Jones(T) Andy Dunne(2C/P) Adrian Jarvis(C)
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Jamie Noon(T) Epi Taione(T) Dave Walder(2C/D/P) Michael Stephenson(T)
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Sun 19 Sep 04
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Kingston Park
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21
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22
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Jeremy Staunton(C/3P) George Harder(T) Gavin Duffy(T)
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Jonny Wilkinson(C/5P) Penalty Try(T)
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Sun 13 Mar 05
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Twickenham Stoop
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39
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23
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George Harder(T) Jim Evans(T) Tani Fuga(T) Tom Williams(T) Jeremy Staunton(2C/5P)
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Semo Sititi(T) Mark Mayerhofler(T) Jonny Wilkinson(C/2P) Dave Walder(C/P)
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Fri 10 Nov 06
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Kingston Park
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14
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3
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Nick Easter(T) Adrian Jarvis(2C) David Strettle(T)
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Matt Burke(P)
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Mon 1 Jan 07
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Twickenham Stoop
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42
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15
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Aston Croall(T) Adrian Jarvis(2C) Andrew Mehrtens(2C/D/2P) David Strettle(3T) Mike Brown(T)
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Toby Flood(C/P) Tom May(T) Russell Winter(T)
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Sat 29 Sep 07
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Kingston Park
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12
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19
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Chris Malone(4P)
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Matt Burke(T/2C) Tom May(T) Geoff Parling(T)
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Harlequins are the form team in the Guinness Premiership having picked up 23 league points from their last six encounters. At Twickenham Stoop Quins have won their last three matches overcoming Worcester, Gloucester and Bath.
Newcastle Falcons have slipped to four straight defeats in the Guinness Premiership but have not lost five in a row in the competition since season 2002/03.
Newcastle won 19-12 when the two sides met in the Premiership on 29 September, and the Falcons are in search of a first league double over Harlequins since season 1997/98.
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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W
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G
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Worcester Warriors scorers
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Gloucester Rugby scorers
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Sat 29 Jan 05
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Kingsholm
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16
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28
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Matt Powell(T) James Brown(C/3P)
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Seti Kiole(T) Andy Gomarsall(T) Terry Sigley(T) Henry Paul(2C/2P) Duncan McRae(D)
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Sun 4 Sep 05
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Sixways
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15
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15
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James Brown(5P)
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Ludovic Mercier(D/4P)
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Sat 15 Apr 06
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Kingsholm
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16
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27
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Andy Gomarsall(T) Shane Drahm(C/3P)
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James Simpson-Daniel(T) Mark Foster(2T) Mike Tindall(2P) Ryan Lamb(2P)
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Fri 13 Oct 06
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Sixways
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24
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33
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Shane Drahm(T/3C/P) Dale Rasmussen(T) Thomas Lombard(T)
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Jack Adams(T) Anthony Allen(T) Iain Balshaw(T) Ryan Lamb(3C/4P)
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Sat 24 Feb 07
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Kingsholm
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19
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33
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Lee Best(T) James Brown(C/D/3P)
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James Bailey(T) Mark Foster(T) Peter Buxton(T) Ludovic Mercier(C/2P) Ryan Lamb(2C/2P)
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Sat 29 Sep 07
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Kingsholm
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7
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29
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Shane Drahm(C) Gavin Quinnell(T)
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Mike Tindall(T) Olivier Azam(T) James Simpson-Daniel(T) Ryan Lamb(C/D/3P)
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Worcester Warriors are unbeaten in their last three matches in the Guinness Premiership, and have never before gone four games without defeat in the Premiership in the same season. In 2008 the Warriors have been beaten just once at Sixways in any competition: 11-12 by London Irish in the Premiership on 22 February.
Gloucester Rugby have slipped to four defeats in their last six Guinness Premiership encounters and have relinquished the lead in the table for the first time this season. Gloucester have lost their last five away games in all competitions – their poorest away trot since season 1999/2000.
Worcester have never beaten Gloucester in nine previous encounters in all competitions, although they did draw 15-all in the Premiership at Sixways in September 2005.
London Irish v Bristol Rugby
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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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B
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London Irish scorers
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Bristol Rugby scorers
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Sat 10 May 03
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Madejski Stadium
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41
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21
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Naka Drotske(T) Rob Hoadley(T) Geoff Appleford(T) Paul Sackey(T) Michael Horak(T) Mark Mapletoft(5C/2P)
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Craig Short(2T) Shane Drahm(C/3P)
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Sat 24 Sep 05
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Madejski Stadium
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24
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22
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Paul Hodgson(2T) Barry Everitt(C/D/3P)
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Brian Lima(T) Jason Strange(C/5P)
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Sun 12 Mar 06
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Memorial Stadium
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21
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20
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David Paice(T) Gonzalo Tiesi(T) Riki Flutey(T/3C)
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Mark Regan(T) Geraint Lewis(T) Jason Strange(2C/2P)
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Sat 16 Sep 06
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Madejski Stadium
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11
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23
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Kieran Roche(T) Riki Flutey(2P)
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David Lemi(T) Lee Robinson(T) Jason Strange(2C/3P)
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Sat 10 Mar 07
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Memorial Stadium
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12
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7
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Barry Everitt(2P) Riki Flutey(2P)
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Jason Strange(C) David Lemi(T)
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Sun 30 Sep 07
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Memorial Stadium
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11
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14
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Delon Armitage(2P) Steffon Armitage(T)
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Tom Arscott(T) David Hill(3P)
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London Irish have suffered three straight defeats in the Guinness Premiership but have not succumbed to four successive reversals in the competition since season 2004/05. The Exiles’ eight game winning run at Madejski Stadium fell to London Wasps on 16 March.
Bristol Rugby were defeated 15-28 at home to Harlequins on Sunday – their second successive loss at Memorial Stadium – but away from home Bristol have won their last two games at Leeds and Newcastle.
Bristol won 14-11 when the two sides met at Memorial Stadium in the Guinness Premiership on 30 September, and are going for a first league double over the Irishmen since season 1993/94.
Saracens v Leeds Carnegie
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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Date
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Venue
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S
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L
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Saracens scorers
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Leeds Carnegie scorers
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Thu 1 Jan 04
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Vicarage Road
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27
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3
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Penalty Try(T) Thomas Castaignede(T/2C/2P) Raphael Ibanez(T) Robbie Kydd(C)
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Gordon Ross(P)
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Sun 26 Sep 04
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Vicarage Road
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23
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29
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Paul Bailey(T) Nicky Little(T/2C/3P)
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Tom Biggs(T) Andre Snyman(T) Gordon Ross(2C/5P)
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Fri 25 Feb 05
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Headingley Carnegie
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14
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5
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Raphael Ibanez(T) Glen Jackson(3P)
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David Rees(T)
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Sun 11 Sep 05
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Vicarage Road
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34
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16
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Thomas Castaignede(T) Kevin Sorrell(T) Dan Scarbrough(T) Matt Cairns(T) Glen Jackson(4C/2P)
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Chris Murphy(T) Gordon Ross(P) Roland De Marigny(C/P) Iain Balshaw(D)
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Fri 7 Apr 06
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Headingley Carnegie
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17
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13
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Mark Bartholomeusz(T) Glen Jackson(T/2C/P)
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Tom Biggs(T) Iain Balshaw(T) Gordon Ross(P)
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Sun 30 Sep 07
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Headingley Carnegie
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31
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7
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Noah Cato(T) Richard Haughton(T) Glen Jackson(C) Gordon Ross(3C/P) Hugh Vyvyan(T) Rodd Penney(T)
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Leigh Hinton(C) Stuart Hooper(T)
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Saracens’ only win in their last six matches in all competitions was 24-20 over Sale in the Guinness Premiership at Vicarage Road on 9 March. At home Saracens have won four of their last five encounters.
Leeds Carnegie doubled their tally of victories in the Guinness Premiership this season with their 16-15 win over Newcastle at Headingley Carnegie last Friday.
Leeds are winless in their last 15 away games in the Premiership but did draw 10-all at Worcester on 16 March.
Saracens have already beaten Leeds twice this season: 31-7 in the Guinness Premiership and 46-28 in the EDF Energy Cup. Leeds have not beaten Saracens since a 29-23 victory at Vicarage Road on 26 September 2004.
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