Sunday’s Premiership round up

The battle between Northampton and Saracens continued at the top of the Premiership as both secured wins against Newcastle and Exeter yesterday.
Leaders Northampton, who are unbeaten since September 21, scored three first-half tries to put them on their way to a 22-16 win at Newcastle.
James Wilson grabbed a brace either of one from England U20s centre Tom Stephenson to open a 19-6 lead at the break.
Noah Cato snatched the losing bonus point for the Falcons going over four minutes from time but it was too little too late for the home side.
Meanwhile, Saracens relied again on the boot of Charlie Hodgson to beat Exeter at Allianz Park.
The former England fly-half slotted 13 points from the tee with front rowers James Johnston and Schalk Brits added a try each.
Ben Whitten went over in the opening ten minutes of the game for the Chiefs but they couldn’t cross the line againas they suffered their fifth defeat on the bounce.
Over in Reading, London Irish failed to make it three from three falling 20-15 against Leicester.
Ben Youngs and Longovi’i Mulipola went over for unconverted tries in the first half but the Tigers went into the break 10-9 in front.
A try from Niki Goneva and five points from the boots of OWen Williams made it 20-9 but the Exiles closed the gap to five points with two penalties from James O’Connor and Ian Humphreys.
They looked threatening in the closing stages of the game and even came within a whisker of clinching it but Ofisa Treviranus knocked on with the try-line in sight meaning the Tigers held on and climbed to fourth in the table.