Newcastle impress, Quins win again in Prem Cup

New-look Newcastle Red Bulls began their season with an impressive 36-24 win against holders Leicester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

It marked the first senior fixture for new Red Bulls head coach Dan McFarland and a host of players after extensive squad strengthening.

Newcastle had lost their previous nine meetings with the Tigers, but the visitors raced into a 21-0 half-time lead as Will Rigg, Harrison Obatoyinbo and Alex Hearle all crossed inside the opening half-hour.

Leicester replied with second-half scores from Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Archie van der Flier, former Newcastle winger Adam Radwan and Charlie Bemand.

But the visitors kept the Tigers at arms' length throughout as Werner Kok and Allan Ferrie crossed and Zack Henry added a late penalty to condemn his former employers to back-to-back Pool B defeats.

Harlequins fought back to inflict a second Prem Rugby Cup defeat of the season on defending Prem champions Northampton Saints and go top of Pool B.

After falling behind to Will Hobson's close-range finish, Saints, led by England centre Fraser Dingwall, wrestled back control as Tom Pearson and Toby Thame scores put them 14-5 ahead.

Sean Kerr dragged the home side back within two points at the break to begin the Quins revival.

Stuart Townsend and Cameron Anderson nudged the hosts into an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter.

And Josh Bellamy added a try to his two conversions as the London side sealed a 29-14 win to make it back-to-back wins.

Exeter got their season up and running with a convincing 45-21 win over West Country rivals Bristol at Sandy Park.

Winger Olly Woodburn lit the touch paper for the Chiefs with a nine-minute hat-trick to send the hosts 17-0 up before James Williams cut the deficit to 10 points at the break.

Bristol had edged Gloucester in their opening Pool A match, but fell further behind to two tries from back rowers Kane James and one from Ethan Roots.

The Bears did respond through Ollie Harris and a penalty try, yet Rob Baxter's side eased further clear with a penalty try of their own and a late second from James.

Gloucester continued their rich try-scoring vein to beat Sale 43-26 for their first Pool A win.

Having put 40 points on Bristol in a losing cause last weekend, the Cherry and Whites piled up five first-half tries against the Sharks as scores from Ben Redshaw, Will Joseph and Ollie Thorley added to Seb Blake's double.

Alfie Longstaff and Dom Hanson replied for Sale before the break, but Max Knight's score pushed Gloucester further ahead.

Quick tries from Nathan Jibulu and Tom O'Flaherty sealed a try bonus point and brought the visitors back within 12 points to threaten a comeback.

But Will Trenholm went over for the hosts' seventh try to ensure each of Pool A's teams has a win.