Berrick Barnes booted 15 points for the Panasonic Wild Knights, as they tried to get their top League season back on track with a 42-14 win over the NTT Communications Shining Arcs.
Starting at flyhalf Barnes slotted two penalties in the opening 10 minutes of the match, before adding another as well as three conversions in a 60-minute stint.
Capped Wallaby Daniel Heenan started in the second row for the Wild Knights, playing 76 minutes.
Scott Higginbotham started for the NEC Green Rockets as they bested Wycliff Palu’s Toyota Verblitz, 22-17.
Palu replaced second rower Dominic Day in the 48th minute of the clash for the Verblitz, while capped Wallaby Sam Norton-Knight was named on the bench for the Rockets, but didn’t play.
George Smith’s Suntory Sungoliath remain undefeated in the Japanese Top League after a 37-22 win over the Canon Eagles on the weekend.
The Wallabies veteran didn’t suit up for the Sungoliath in the win, but Reds backrower Hendrik Tui and Brumbies winger Nigel Ah Wong both played.
Digby Ioane’s Honda Heat went down to the Coca-Cola Red Sparks, 42-12, but the winger wasn’t named in the side for the matchup.
Mark Gerrard played at flyhalf for the Toyota Industries Shuttles in a 41-5 loss to Kobe Steel, missing his two shots at goal during the match.
Anthony Fainga’a played a full game at inside centre for the Kintetsu liners as they notched a 29-20 win over Kubota.
PREMIERSHIP
A Peter Betham double couldn’t help Leicester overcome Sale, in a 34-30 loss to the Sharks.
Former Waratah Betham played at outside centre for the Tigers, nabbing two tries in four minutes, crossing in the 10th and 13th minutes of the match.
Greg Holmes played 60 minutes in Exeter’s agonising 20-19 loss to Northampton, while backrower Dave Dennis played the full match.
A 78th minute penalty to England U20-s star Henry Mallinder stole the lead for the Saints, relegating Exeter to their third loss from the opening five games of the season.
Leroy Houston played number 8 for Bath, in his final match before coming into Wallabies camp, helping his side to a 15-6 win over Gloucester.
James Horwill played 80 minutes for the Harlequins, though they suffered a big 47-18 loss to Wasps, keeping them winless so far this season.
Cooper Vuna played 35 minutes for Worcester as they clinched their first victory of the year, 11-9 over Newcastle.
TOP 14
Liam Gill needed just 15 minutes to make an impact in Toulon’s 28-6 win over Montpellier, crossing in the dying stages to seal his side’s victory.
Gill replaced Duane Vermeulen in the 65th minute, crashing over in the 78th to confirm the victory, that kept itself just ahead of Montpellier in the standings with the defeat.
Mike Harris scored 12 of Lyon’s 22 points in a thrilling Top 14 draw with Bayonne, their second stalemate of the season.
Adam Ashley-Cooper played on the right wing for Bordeaux, in a 30-28 win over Pau,while Luke Jones played the entire match in the second row.
Sitaleki Timani played 56 minutes for Clermont, in a 29-19 win over Castres Olympique that keeps them on top of the Top 14 rankings.
Peter Kimlin played a full game at number 8 for Grenoble, as his team went down 31-3 to Toulouse, keeping them on the bottom of the ladder.
