| They are at home to Leeds Carnegie on Saturday – with a defeat for the basement side coupled with victory for Worcester Warriors consigning the Yorkshire men to National 1 next season.
However victory for the Warriors is not a formality as they are up against second placed Bath at Sixways, also on Saturday.
London Wasps and Harlequins will want to stay in the play off places when they face Saracens and London Irish who will both be looking to tune up ahead of their Heineken Cup semi finals next week.
Should either Quins or Wasps slip up Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers will be ready to pounce should they win against Newcastle Falcons and Bristol.
ROUND 20 FIXTURES
Saturday 19th April
London Irish v Harlequins (Madejski Stadium) 2.45pm. Live on Sky Sports.
Gloucester Rugby v Leeds Carnegie (Kingsholm) 3pm
Leicester Tigers v Bristol Rugby (Welford Road) 3pm
Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby (Sixways) 3pm
Sunday 20th April
Saracens v London Wasps (Vicarage Road) 3pm
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons (Edgeley Park) 3.30pm
ROUND 20 PREVIEWS
London Irish 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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L
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H
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London Irish scorers
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Harlequins scorers
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Sun 4 Apr 04
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Madejski Stadium
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15
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15
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Barry Everitt(5P)
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Andy Dunne(C/P) Ben Willis(T) Simon Keogh(T)
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Sat 4 Sep 04
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Twickenham
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18
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12
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Barry Everitt(2P) Geoff Appleford(T) Mike Catt(C) Paul Sackey(T)
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Andy Dunne(P) Jeremy Staunton(3P)
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Sat 9 Apr 05
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Twickenham Stoop
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25
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20
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Delon Armitage(T) Bob Casey(T) Roland Reid(T) Barry Everitt(2C/2P)
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Ugo Monye(T) Arwel Thomas(5P)
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Sat 2 Sep 06
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Twickenham
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20
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19
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Topsy Ojo(T) Riki Flutey(D/4P)
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Ceri Jones(T) Adrian Jarvis(C/4P)
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Sat 7 Apr 07
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Twickenham Stoop
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17
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34
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Barry Everitt(C/P) Riki Flutey(T) Kieran Roche(T) Nils Mordt(C)
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Stuart Abbott(T) Jim Evans(T) Andrew Mehrtens(4C/2P) David Strettle(T) Mike Brown(T)
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Sat 15 Sep 07
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Twickenham
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27
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35
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Steffon Armitage(T) Jeremy Staunton(3C/2P) David Paice(T) Richard Thorpe(T)
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Ollie Kohn(T) Hal Luscombe(T) Chris Malone(3C/3P) Jordan Turner-Hall(T) Tom Williams(T)
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London Irish have won their last three matches in all competitions, and have lost just once in their last eleven games at Madejski Stadium.
Harlequins are gunning for their best ever Premiership finish (previously 4th in 1998/99) and have lost only once in their last eight Guinness Premiership encounters since January: 25-29 at Wasps on 9 March.
The two teams have already met at Madejski Stadium this season with Harlequins winning 10-8 in the EDF Energy Cup in October. Prior to that they had clashed in the opening weekend of the Guinness Premiership at Twickenham with ‘Quins again victorious 35-27.
Gloucester Rugby 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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G
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L
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Gloucester Rugby scorers
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Leeds Carnegie scorers
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Sun 21 Dec 03
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Headingley Carnegie
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18
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22
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Henry Paul(6P)
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Matt Holt(T) Gordon Ross(C/5P)
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Sun 5 Sep 04
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Headingley Carnegie
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21
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16
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Henry Paul(C/2P) Terry Fanolua(T) James Simpson-Daniel(T) Duncan McRae(D)
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Duncan Hodge(2P) Gordon Ross(C/P) Gavin Kerr(T)
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Sat 9 Apr 05
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Kingsholm
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15
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33
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James Forrester(T) Nick Wood(T) Duncan McRae(C/P)
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Mike Shelley(T) Chris Bell(T) Richard Parks(T) Gavin Kerr(T) Gordon Ross(C/3P) Iain Balshaw(C)
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Sat 31 Dec 05
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Kingsholm
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31
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7
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Penalty Try(T) Ludovic Mercier(T/4C/P) James Simpson-Daniel(2T)
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Jordan Crane(T) Gordon Ross(C)
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Sun 30 Apr 06
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Headingley Carnegie
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31
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7
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Mike Tindall(T) Andy Hazell(T) Peter Richards(T) James Simpson-Daniel(T) Ryan Lamb(4C/P)
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Tom Biggs(T) Gordon Ross(C)
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Sun 16 Sep 07
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Headingley Carnegie
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49
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24
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Anthony Allen(T) Iain Balshaw(T) James Simpson-Daniel(T) Ryan Lamb(3C/P) Lesley Vainikolo(5T)
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Alberto Di Bernardo(C/3P) James Brooks(P) Jon Dunbar(T) Tom Rock(T)
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Gloucester Rugby head the Guinness Premiership table despite winning just two of their last five matches: at home to London Irish and Saracens. Gloucester’s only home Premiership defeat since May 2006 was 13-20 to Leicester on 9 February.
If Leeds Carnegie do not win this game they will be relegated – their only two Guinness Premiership victories so far this season have been at home to Worcester and Newcastle, whilst Leeds haven’t won away from home in the Premiership since a visit to Bath on 25 November 2005.
Gloucester won 49-24 when the two teams met at Headingley Carnegie on the opening weekend of the season. Leeds have won just once at Kingsholm: 33-15 in the Premiership on 9 April 2005.
Leicester Tigers v Bristol Rugby
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
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|
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Date
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Venue
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L
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B
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Leicester Tigers scorers
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Bristol Rugby scorers
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Tue 27 Dec 05
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Memorial Stadium
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3
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15
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Ross Broadfoot(P)
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Jason Strange(5P)
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Sat 6 May 06
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Welford Road
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32
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3
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George Chuter(2T) Tom Varndell(T) Alesana Tuilagi(T) Michael Holford(T) Geordan Murphy(P) Sam Vesty(C) Andy Goode(C)
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Jason Strange(P)
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Fri 22 Dec 06
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Welford Road
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43
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15
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Jordan Crane(T) Dan Hipkiss(T) Ian Humphreys(T/2C/P) Paul Burke(3C) Louis Deacon(T) Shane Jennings(T) Tom Varndell(T)
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Jason Strange(C/P) David Lemi(2T)
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Tue 24 Apr 07
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Ashton Gate
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13
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30
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Ian Humphreys(C/2P) Ollie Smith(T)
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Roy Winters(T) Danny Gray(C/6P) Scott Linklater(T)
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Sat 5 May 07
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Welford Road (SF)
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26
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14
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Harry Ellis(T) Andy Goode(2C/4P) Geordan Murphy(T)
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Danny Gray(3P) Sam Cox(T)
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Sun 16 Sep 07
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Memorial Stadium
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26
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13
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Ayoola Erinle(T) Paul Burke(C/P) Sam Vesty(D) Johne Murphy(C/2P) Tom Varndell(T)
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David Hill(C/2P) Lee Robinson(T)
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In the last month Leicester Tigers have slipped from 2nd to 6th place in the Guinness Premiership table, gaining just 12 league points from their last seven encounters. Tigers were defeated 19-24 by Wasps last time out at Welford Road and have only once before lost back to back Premiership matches at home: to Sale and Northampton in October 2003.
Bristol Rugby have slipped to three straight Guinness Premiership reversals since beating Newcastle 28-8 at Kingston Park on 16 March. Bristol have however won two of their last three away matches.
Leicester have won four of the last five matches against Bristol, whilst the west countrymen’s only victory at Welford Road in their last 17 visits over the last 21 years was in the Zurich Championship quarter finals in May 2002.
Worcester Warriors 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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W
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B
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Worcester Warriors scorers
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Bath Rugby scorers
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Sat 12 Mar 05
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Recreation Ground
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10
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18
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Penalty Try(T) Tommy Hayes(C/P)
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Chris Malone(D/5P)
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Mon 26 Dec 05
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Sixways
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18
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36
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Penalty Try(T) Kai Horstmann(T) Shane Drahm(C/2P)
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Chris Malone(2T) Gareth Delve(T) Olly Barkley(3C/5P)
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Sat 6 May 06
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Recreation Ground
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22
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25
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Thomas Lombard(2T) Dale Rasmussen(T) Tom Harding(T) James Brown(C)
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Taufa'ao Filise(T) Zak Feau'nati(T) Joe Maddock(T) Michael Stephenson(T) Chris Malone(C/P)
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Sat 23 Sep 06
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Recreation Ground
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11
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17
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Aleki Lutui(T) Shane Drahm(2P)
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Nick Walshe(T) Olly Barkley(2P) Shaun Berne(D/P)
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Sat 3 Mar 07
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Sixways
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21
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15
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Shane Drahm(C/3P) Thinus Delport(2T)
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Olly Barkley(C/P) Shaun Berne(T) Chris Malone(T)
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Sat 15 Sep 07
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Recreation Ground
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15
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29
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Shane Drahm(C/P) Matt Powell(T) Thinus Delport(T)
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Jack Cuthbert(2T) Daniel Browne(T) Shaun Berne(3C/P) Michael Claassens(T)
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Two match points would be enough for Worcester Warriors to remove the threat of relegation regardless of events at Leeds’ visit to Kingsholm. The Warriors have suffered just one defeat at Sixways in all competitions in 2008: 11-12 to London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on 22 February.
Bath Rugby beat Leicester 26-12 at the Rec last night, but away from home they haven’t won since a 19-9 victory at Bristol on 2 March.
Worcester have beaten Bath just once before in seven previous attempts: 21-15 at Sixways on 3 March 2007.
Saracens 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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S
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L
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Saracens scorers
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London Wasps scorers
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Sun 10 Apr 05
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Adams Park
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24
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45
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Matt Cairns(T) Kevin Sorrell(T) Richard Hill(T) Nicky Little(3C/P)
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Joe Worsley(2T) Paul Sackey(2T) Ayoola Erinle(T) Tom Voyce(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(6C/P)
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|
Sat 3 Sep 05
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Twickenham
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11
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23
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Glen Jackson(2P) Ben Skirving(T)
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Tom Voyce(T) Fraser Waters(T) Mark Van Gisbergen(2C/3P)
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|
Sun 16 Apr 06
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Vicarage Road
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13
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12
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Thomas Castaignede(T) Glen Jackson(C/2P)
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Mark Van Gisbergen(4P)
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|
Sat 2 Sep 06
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Twickenham
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19
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21
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Ben Johnston(T) Glen Jackson(C/4P)
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Ayoola Erinle(T) Tom Palmer(T) Dave Walder(C/3P)
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|
Sun 8 Apr 07
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Adams Park
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26
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27
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Thomas Castaignede(T) Glen Jackson(C/3P) Cencus Johnston(T) Rodd Penney(T)
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Danny Cipriani(T) Eoin Reddan(2T) Dave Walder(C/2P) Mark Van Gisbergen(2C)
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|
Sat 15 Sep 07
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Twickenham
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29
|
19
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Adam Powell(T) Neil De Kock(T) Gordon Ross(C/4P) Hugh Vyvyan(T)
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Danny Cipriani(C/4P) Joe Ward(T)
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Chronologically this match will be the 1,500th in Premiership history since the competition began in season 1997/98.
Saracens have had wildly fluctuating results of late with their last four fixtures ending in a 27 point defeat, 59 point win, 9 point win and a 24 point defeat respectively. At Vicarage Road Saracens have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions.
London Wasps are once more mounting one of their famous late season surges for glory – at the beginning of March Wasps were in 7th spot in the Guinness Premiership table, now they are 4th having gained seven successive wins.
Saracens won 29-19 when the two sides met at Twickenham on the opening weekend of the Guinness Premiership season, whilst Wasps have not won at Vicarage Road since October 2003.
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT PREMIERSHIP MEETINGS
|
|
|
Date
|
Venue
|
S
|
N
|
Sale Sharks scorers
|
Newcastle Falcons scorers
|
|
Sun 2 Jan 05
|
Kingston Park
|
29
|
30
|
Jason Robinson(2T) Charlie Hodgson(2C/5P)
|
Mathew Tait(T) Jamie Noon(T) Jonny Wilkinson(T/3C/3P)
|
|
Fri 2 Sep 05
|
Edgeley Park
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26
|
25
|
Mark Cueto(T) Charlie Hodgson(T/2C/4P)
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Anthony Elliott(2T) Matt Burke(T) Dave Walder(C) Jonny Wilkinson(C/D/P)
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|
Sun 16 Apr 06
|
Kingston Park
|
21
|
32
|
Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe(T) Oriol Ripol Fortuny(T) Valentin Courrent(C/2P) Jason Robinson(D)
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Andy Long(T) Tom May(2T) Geoff Parling(T) Matt Burke(3C/2P)
|
|
Fri 17 Nov 06
|
Edgeley Park
|
18
|
26
|
Daniel Larrechea(5P) Lee Thomas(P)
|
Matt Burke(2C/4P) James Hoyle(T) Mike McCarthy(T)
|
|
Tue 26 Dec 06
|
Kingston Park
|
25
|
40
|
Chris Bell(T) Sebastien Bruno(T) Chris Mayor(2T) Lee Thomas(P) Richard Wigglesworth(C)
|
Toby Flood(4C/4P) Anthony Elliott(T) Tom May(T) John Rudd(T) Mathew Tait(T)
|
|
Sun 16 Sep 07
|
Kingston Park
|
12
|
33
|
Ben Foden(T) Charlie Hodgson(C) Lee Thomas(T)
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Toby Flood(2C/D/2P) James Grindal(T) Tom May(T) Mark Mayerhofler(T) Ollie Phillips(T)
|
Sale Sharks’ three game winning run in the Guinness Premiership came to a halt at Wasps last night with a 19-29 reversal. At Edgeley Park the Sharks continue to be a real force with just one defeat in their 15 encounters in all competitions in 2007/08.
Newcastle Falcons have lost their last six matches in the Guinness Premiership since their 16-14 victory over Saracens on 17 February. Coincidentally the Falcons only away win in the Premiership this season was also against Saracens on 30 December.
Newcastle have won the last four matches they have played against Sale in the Guinness Premiership, including their only win in five previous trips to Edgeley Park in all competitions: 26-18 on 17 November 2006.
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