Aviva Premiership

Despite another defeat London Welsh produced their best performance of the season against Harlequins, according to head coach Justin Burnell.

Bath boss Mike Ford has refused to be drawn on speculation that Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland is to join the Aviva Premiership title contenders.

Round 12 of the Aviva Premiership offered up some fascinating contests, not least the ding-dong battle between Exeter and Gloucester at Sandy Park or the exhibition of expansive rugby that Northampton and Newcastle put on at Franklin’s Gardens.

Harlequins condemned London Welsh to their 12th straight Aviva Premiership defeat of the season but not before the bottom side gave them a scare or two.

Leicester beat Bath 17-8 at Welford Road to put memories of their 45-0 humbling earlier in the season behind them.

Wasps continue to enjoy life at their new Coventry home as they beat Sale 41-16 at the Ricoh Arena to move into the top five of the Aviva Premiership.

Saracens players involved in Saturday's Aviva Premiership victory over London Irish wore sensors designed to measure the force and direction of impacts to the head.

Gareth Steenson hit the post with a late conversion for Exeter Chiefs as they went down to a 26-25 defeat to Gloucester at Sandy Park.

David Strettle scored a brace of tries as Saracens ground out a 22-6 Aviva Premiership win over London Irish at Allianz Park.

Bath prop David Wilson is expecting to face a Leicester side "hurting" when the two sides meet in the Aviva Premiership at Welford Road on Sunday.

Northampton head coach Jim Mallinder has criticised his side's defence after they conceded four tries in their 39-31 Aviva Premiership win over Newcastle at Franklin's Gardens.

Fly-half Stephen Myler passed 2,000 points for Northampton as they beat Newcastle 39-31 to claim a bonus-point win in Friday's Aviva Premiership clash at Franklin's Gardens.

Gloucester head coach Laurie Fisher believes his side's failure to convert close games into victories is the main contributing factor to their current Aviva Premiership position of ninth place.

Newcastle Falcon captain Will Welch is happy with his team's form as they prepare to take on table-topping Northampton Saints tomorrow (Friday).

London Irish lock Dan Leo and London Welsh centre Tom May have been suspended for one week after receiving red cards in the Aviva Premiership clash between their sides last weekend.

Round 11 was a dramatic one, the order of the weekend was that the matches had to go down to the wire and boy did that make things very interesting! Amongst other things Harlequins travelled to the Big Stoop but Saints spoilt their party, Wasps won on the road for the first time this season and the Falcons put in a head turning show at home… it was quite the weekend!

After wrapping up the pack last week with the number eights, we now turn our attentions to the back lines of the Aviva Premiership, with our focus falling on scrum-halves this week.

Round 11 marked the halfway point of the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership, but there no were signs of a midseason lull as teams up and down the country put on a number of highly entertaining fixtures during the festive period.

Whilst we all sat down to our turkey dinners and third helpings of mince pies, rugby players up and down the country were preparing for their vital festive schedules, with derbies galore across the British Isles.

Wasps' recent improvement continued with a win over Gloucester while there were also post-Christmas Aviva Premiership wins for London Irish, Bath, Leicester, Saracens and Northampton.