| Leaders Gloucester are however in action on Saturday - with their lunch time game against Saracens live on Sky Sports. However second placed Bath are not in action until Tuesday when they face Tigers so the weekend will afford Harlequins the opportunity to steel a march on the west country side when they travel to basement side Leeds Carnegie on Sunday. A win for 'Quins in Yorkshire, coupled with defeat for Gloucester 24 hours earlier, would see Dean Richards' side go top of the Guinness Premiership table.
Sale Sharks will also hope to show their play off credentials with two games this week, they face Bristol on Friday night and on Tuesday play their re-arranged Round 17 game against London Wasps and two wins will putt them in the thick of things at the top.
Wasps will also see the next week as a great opportunity, with home games against Worcester on Saturday and the re-arranged game against the Sharks and two home wins should push them into the top four.
ROUND 19 FIXTURES
Friday 11th April
Bristol Rugby v Sale Sharks (Memorial Stadium, 7.30pm)
Saturday 12th April
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens (Kingsholm, 12.35pm) Live on Sky Sports
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors (Adams Park, 3pm)
Sunday 13th April
Leeds Carnegie v Harlequins (Headingley Carnegie, 3pm)
Newcastle Falcons v London Irish (Kingston Park, 3pm)
Tuesday 15th April
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers (Recreation Ground, 8pm)
ROUND 17 (Delayed) FIXTURE
Tuesday 15th April
London Wasps v Sale Sharks (Adams Park, 7.30pm)
ROUND 19 PREVIEWS
Bristol Rugby v Sale Sharks
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
B
|
S
|
Bristol Rugby scorers
|
Sale Sharks scorers
|
|
Sun 29 Dec 02
|
Memorial Stadium
|
18
|
6
|
Felipe Contepomi(6P)
|
Charlie Hodgson(2P)
|
|
Sun 27 Nov 05
|
Memorial Stadium
|
22
|
14
|
Shaun Perry(T) Jason Strange(C/5P)
|
Dean Schofield(T) Sililo Martens(T) Valentin Courrent(2C)
|
|
Sun 8 Jan 06
|
Edgeley Park
|
29
|
31
|
Shaun Perry(T) Tommy Hayes(T/C/P) David Lemi(T) Jason Strange(3P)
|
Sililo Martens(T) Charlie Hodgson(C/D/7P)
|
|
Fri 10 Nov 06
|
Memorial Stadium
|
15
|
9
|
David Hill(5P)
|
Daniel Larrechea(D/2P)
|
|
Mon 1 Jan 07
|
Edgeley Park
|
10
|
6
|
David Hill(C/P) Dan Ward-Smith(T)
|
Daniel Larrechea(2P)
|
|
Sun 23 Sep 07
|
Edgeley Park
|
6
|
20
|
David Hill(2P)
|
Ben Foden(T) Charlie Hodgson(2D/3P)
|
Bristol Rugby have lost their last two games to Harlequins and London Irish, and also their last two home games against Bath and Harlequins. However Bristol have not lost three in a row at home in the Premiership in the same season since 2000/01.
Sale Sharks have won their last three encounters in all competitions, although all three games were played at their Edgeley Park home.
Sale won 20-6 when the two teams met at Stockport in September and the Sharks are going for a season’s double over Bristol for the first time since 2001/02.
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
G
|
S
|
Gloucester Rugby scorers
|
Saracens scorers
|
|
Sat 26 Nov 05
|
Kingsholm
|
19
|
8
|
Mark Foster(T) James Bailey(T) Ludovic Mercier(D/2P)
|
Matt Cairns(T) Glen Jackson(P)
|
|
Sun 8 Jan 06
|
Vicarage Road
|
19
|
9
|
Peter Richards(T) Ludovic Mercier(C/4P)
|
Glen Jackson(3P)
|
|
Sat 4 Nov 06
|
Kingsholm
|
21
|
12
|
Ludovic Mercier(P) Willie Walker(C/2P) Rudi Keil(2T)
|
Glen Jackson(4P)
|
|
Sun 18 Feb 07
|
Vicarage Road
|
22
|
24
|
Alex Brown(T) Ludovic Mercier(C/5P)
|
Kris Chesney(T) Glen Jackson(C/4P) Kameli Ratuvou(T)
|
|
Sat 5 May 07
|
Kingsholm (SF)
|
50
|
9
|
Anthony Allen(T) Christian Califano(T) Mark Foster(T) Andy Hazell(T) Peter Richards(T) Willie Walker(6C/P) Luke Narraway(T) Penalty Try(T)
|
Glen Jackson(3P)
|
|
Sun 23 Sep 07
|
Vicarage Road
|
38
|
31
|
Anthony Allen(T) Ryan Lamb(T/3C/4P) Olly Morgan(T) Luke Narraway(T)
|
Adam Powell(T) Gordon Ross(2C/4P) Kevin Sorrell(T) Edd Thrower(T)
|
Gloucester Rugby have lost their last three matches in all competitions, but have lost just one of their last 20 Guinness Premiership games at Kingsholm since May 2006.
Saracens have won back to back matches against Leeds and Ospreys but away from Vicarage Road Sarries have lost their last four games in the Guinness Premiership - Saracens have not lost five in a row on the road in the competition since season 2003/04.
Gloucester have won five of their last six meetings with Saracens, whilst Sarries have won at Kingsholm just once in 18 previous visits in league and cup: 14-13 in the Premiership on 30 April 2005.
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
L
|
W
|
London Wasps scorers
|
Worcester Warriors scorers
|
|
Sun 17 Apr 05
|
Adams Park
|
32
|
17
|
Josh Lewsey(T) Lawrence Dallaglio(T) Joe Worsley(T) Paul Sackey(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(3C/2P)
|
Thomas Lombard(T) Ben Hinshelwood(T) James Brown(2C/D)
|
|
Sun 25 Sep 05
|
Adams Park
|
34
|
20
|
Raphael Ibanez(T) Tom Voyce(T) Joe Worsley(T) Tim Payne(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(4C/2P)
|
Pat Sanderson(T) Nicolas Le Roux(T) Shane Drahm(2C/2P)
|
|
Fri 10 Mar 06
|
Sixways
|
8
|
37
|
Jeremy Staunton(P) Tom Rees(T)
|
Aisea Havili Kaufusi(T) Penalty Try(T) Phil Murphy(T) Thinus Delport(T) Shane Drahm(4C/3P)
|
|
Sun 7 Jan 07
|
Adams Park
|
19
|
14
|
Danny Cipriani(T) Alex King(C/4P)
|
Kai Horstmann(T) Shane Drahm(D/2P)
|
|
Fri 26 Jan 07
|
Sixways
|
3
|
3
|
Dave Walder(P)
|
Shane Drahm(P)
|
|
Sat 22 Sep 07
|
Sixways
|
24
|
24
|
Pat Barnard(T) Danny Cipriani(C/P) James Haskell(T) Dave Walder(3P)
|
Kai Horstmann(T) Shane Drahm(3C/P) Dom Feau'nati(T) Marcel Garvey(T)
|
London Wasps are the hot ticket in the Guinness Premiership of late having gained 22 league points from a possible 25 in their last five matches. Wasps have won their last eleven games at Adams Park in all competitions.
Worcester Warriors are undefeated in their last five games in all competitions since losing 11-12 at home to London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on 22 February.
The two sides are going for an unprecedented third successive drawn match between the two in the Premiership, following the 3-all and 24-all results at Sixways. The Warriors have lost on all three previous visits to Adams Park.
Leeds Carnegie v Harlequins
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
L
|
H
|
Leeds Carnegie scorers
|
Harlequins scorers
|
|
Fri 4 Apr 03
|
Headingley Carnegie
|
23
|
22
|
Chris Hall(T) Diego Albanese(T) Braam Van Straaten(2C/3P)
|
Dan Luger(T) Paul Burke(C/D/4P)
|
|
Fri 31 Oct 03
|
Headingley Carnegie
|
16
|
30
|
Phil Christophers(T) Duncan Hodge(C/3P)
|
Andy Dunne(T/2C/3P) Chris Bell(T) Simon Keogh(T) Paul Burke(C)
|
|
Sat 29 Nov 03
|
Twickenham Stoop
|
16
|
9
|
Gordon Ross(T/C/3P)
|
Andy Dunne(3P)
|
|
Sun 28 Nov 04
|
Twickenham Stoop
|
17
|
31
|
David Rees(T) Chris Bell(T) Tim Stimpson(2C/P)
|
Tani Fuga(T) Steve So'oialo(T) Nick Easter(T) Jeremy Staunton(C/4P) Andy Dunne(C)
|
|
Tue 26 Apr 05
|
Headingley Carnegie
|
21
|
10
|
Andre Snyman(2T) Phil Christophers(T) Gordon Ross(3C)
|
Jeremy Staunton(T/C/P)
|
|
Sat 22 Sep 07
|
Twickenham Stoop
|
15
|
39
|
Leigh Hinton(P) Rhys Oakley(T) Viliami Ma'asi(T) Richard Welding(C)
|
Tom Guest(T) Simon Keogh(T) Chris Malone(T/4C/2P) Penalty Try(T) Jordan Turner-Hall(T)
|
Leeds Carnegie won 16-15 against Newcastle last time out at Headingley Carnegie but haven’t won back to back Premiership games at the venue since February 2006.
Harlequins are running hot in the Guinness Premiership of late with six victories in their last seven matches and 27 league points in the process.
Harlequins have made six previous visits to Headingley winning just twice: 17-12 against Newcastle in the semi-final of the European Shield in 2001 and 30-16 over Leeds in the Premiership in October 2003.
Newcastle Falcons v London Irish
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
N
|
L
|
Newcastle Falcons scorers
|
London Irish scorers
|
|
Sat 30 Apr 05
|
Kingston Park
|
23
|
16
|
Matt Burke(T) Jonny Wilkinson(6P)
|
Delon Armitage(T) Barry Everitt(C/3P)
|
|
Fri 11 Nov 05
|
Kingston Park
|
20
|
23
|
Matt Burke(T) Jonny Wilkinson(5P)
|
Riki Flutey(T) Phil Murphy(T) Barry Everitt(2C/3P)
|
|
Sun 12 Feb 06
|
Madejski Stadium
|
9
|
6
|
Dave Walder(3P)
|
Mike Catt(P) Ross Laidlaw(P)
|
|
Fri 22 Sep 06
|
Kingston Park
|
21
|
26
|
Tim Visser(T) Mark Mayerhofler(T) Matt Burke(C/3P)
|
Riki Flutey(T) Barry Everitt(7P)
|
|
Sat 3 Mar 07
|
Madejski Stadium
|
12
|
38
|
Toby Flood(T) Jonny Wilkinson(C) Ollie Phillips(T)
|
Shane Geraghty(2T/5C/P) Tonga Lea'aetoa(T) Seilala Mapusua(T) Robbie Russell(T)
|
|
Sun 23 Sep 07
|
Madejski Stadium
|
0
|
19
|
|
Paul Hodgson(T) Jeremy Staunton(3P) Faan Rautenbach(T)
|
Newcastle Falcons ended a five game losing run with a 40-13 defeat of Castres in the quarter-final of the European Challenge Cup at Kingston Park on Saturday evening.
London Irish have won back to back matches against Bristol and Perpignan both at Madejski Stadium but have not won on the road since a 12-11 victory at Worcester on 22 February.
London Irish have beaten Newcastle on the last four occasions they have met in all competitions, and have won on six of the last eight times they have visited Kingston Park.
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
B
|
L
|
Bath Rugby scorers
|
Leicester Tigers scorers
|
|
Sat 5 Feb 05
|
Recreation Ground
|
6
|
6
|
Chris Malone(2P)
|
Austin Healey(D) Andy Goode(P)
|
|
Sat 17 Sep 05
|
Welford Road
|
26
|
40
|
Olly Barkley(2C/3P) Andrew Higgins(T) David Bory(T) Andy Dunne(D)
|
Tom Varndell(2T) Shane Jennings(T) Andy Goode(4C/4P) Geordan Murphy(T)
|
|
Sat 25 Mar 06
|
Recreation Ground
|
12
|
19
|
Chris Malone(4P)
|
Leon Lloyd(T) Andy Goode(C/4P)
|
|
Sat 9 Sep 06
|
Recreation Ground
|
43
|
25
|
Steve Borthwick(T) Zak Feau'nati(T) Nick Abendanon(T) Joe Maddock(T) Olly Barkley(C/6P) Chris Malone(P)
|
Scott Bemand(T) Andy Goode(C/5P) Sam Vesty(D)
|
|
Sat 17 Mar 07
|
Welford Road
|
25
|
29
|
Olly Barkley(C/5P) Shaun Berne(D) Joe Maddock(T)
|
Andy Goode(3C/P) Leon Lloyd(T) Johne Murphy(T) Daryl Gibson(T) Tom Varndell(T)
|
|
Sat 22 Sep 07
|
Welford Road
|
16
|
26
|
Rob Hawkins(T) Shaun Berne(C/3P)
|
Matt Smith(T) Andy Goode(2C/D/3P) Johne Murphy(T)
|
Bath Rugby's only home defeat in the Guinness Premiership since November 2006 was 34-42 to London Wasps on 16 February.
Leicester Tigers are in the EDF Energy Cup final against Ospreys at Twickenham on Saturday. The Tigers have lost successive away games in the Guinness Premiership at London Irish and at Worcester but have not lost three in a row on the road in the competition since November-December 2005.
Bath have already beaten Leicester at the Rec this season: 20-14 in the EDF Energy Cup, although the Tigers took the Guinness Premiership encounter 26-16 at Welford Road in September. Leicester have won just once at the Rec in their last five visits.
London Wasps v Sale Sharks
|
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
L
|
S
|
London Wasps scorers
|
Sale Sharks scorers
|
|
Fri 14 Oct 05
|
Edgeley Park
|
10
|
18
|
Josh Lewsey(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(C/P)
|
Charlie Hodgson(6P)
|
|
Sun 26 Feb 06
|
Adams Park
|
26
|
16
|
Richard Birkett(T) Rob Hoadley(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(2C/4P)
|
Robert Todd(T) Richard Wigglesworth(C/3P)
|
|
Sun 14 May 06
|
Edgeley Park (SF)
|
12
|
22
|
Mark Van Gisbergen(4P)
|
Charlie Hodgson(C/5P) Jason Robinson(T)
|
|
Fri 3 Nov 06
|
Edgeley Park
|
12
|
18
|
Jeremy Staunton(3P) Dave Walder(D)
|
Daniel Larrechea(D/4P) Lee Thomas(P)
|
|
Sun 18 Feb 07
|
Adams Park
|
26
|
18
|
Alex King(2C/4P) Jeremy Staunton(T) Tom Rees(T)
|
Rhys Jones(C/2P) Chris Bell(T) Mark Cueto(T)
|
|
Fri 5 Oct 07
|
Edgeley Park
|
0
|
16
|
|
Charlie Hodgson(C/2D/P) Magnus Lund(T)
|
This game is rescheduled from the 10th February when the original fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
London Wasps are playing against Worcester at Adams Park on Sunday, whilst Sale travel to Bristol on Friday.
Sale have beaten Wasps on three of the last four occasions they have met, but have not won at Adams Park since a 33-30 victory in the Premiership on 11 September 2004
|
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