RaboDirect Pro12: Scarlets ease past Leinster

Wingers George North and Andy Fenby scored two tries as the Scarlets opened their RaboDirect Pro12 campaign with a convincing bonus-point 45-20 win over a weakened Leinster at Parc y Scarlets. There were also tries for man of the match Liam Williams, Scott Williams and Kieran Murphy.

Cardiff Blues started life under new director of rugby Phil Davies with a gutsy 13-9 win over Connacht at the Sportsground. The visitors made the most of the wind at their backs in the first half and showed a clinical edge to be 13-0 ahead at the break, with Ceri Sweeney landing two penalties and converting Lewis Jones’ 30th-minute try from the touchline. Connacht launched their comeback bid on the back of three Miah Nikora penalties, but the Blues hung on to take the result.

On the opening day of the Aviva Premiership, Harlequins showed the resolve of champions as they staged a sensational fightback to open the defence of their title with a scarcely believable 42-40 victory over Wasps. Conor O’Shea’s men seemed dead and buried as Wasps stormed into a 40-13 lead after 56 minutes. But they hit back with what was later confirmed as the best comeback in Premiership history with man of the match Nick Evans scoring 22 points.

Elsewhere, Exeter recorded their biggest ever league win as they beat Sale Sharks 43-6, Matthew Jess integral as he crossed for two of their six tries.

Northampton held on with just 13 men to beat Gloucester 24-19 in a thrilling finale. The Saints scored three tries to one but had to hang on at the end as Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Paul Doran-Jones were sin-binned during the last 15 minutes.

Olly Barkley kicked all of Bath’s points including a last-minute penalty to snatch a dramatic 24-23 win over Worcester at Sixways, whileCharlie Hodgson became the first player to pass 2,000 points in the Premiership as Saracens comfortably overcame London Irish 40-3 in the second London Double Header match at Twickenham.