Saturday's Premiership fixtures delivered a surprising away triumph for Gloucester, who out‑classed Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, while Bristol Bears comfortably dispatched Sale Sharks, dampening the homecoming of England veteran Courtney Lawes. Gloucester, bolstered by a wave of fresh signings over the summer, launched their campaign with a spectacular 45-24 win that also secured a valuable bonus point. The newcomers Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Jean Kleyn immediately made an impact, helping the club claim its first league victory on Devon soil since 2015. Exeter, already hampered by a spate of illnesses and a number of injuries, appeared disjointed for much of the match, only regaining a glimpse of their usual composure in the closing minutes when the result was already beyond doubt.
The game opened with a flash of brilliance from Gloucester full‑back Ben Redshaw, whose perfectly weighted kick‑pass found winger Ben Loader inside the five‑meter line after just five minutes. Loader crossed for the opening try, giving Gloucester an early edge.
Exeter answered quickly, applying sustained pressure that forced Gloucester into a defensive scramble. The pressure paid off when tight‑head prop Josh Iosefa‑Scott powered over from close range, with Henry Slade adding the conversion to level the scores. Gloucester, however, displayed superior tactical kicking. Scrum‑half Caolan Englefield executed a deft chip over the Exeter line, setting up England centre Seb Atkinson for a well‑timed reception and a try in the corner.
Fly‑half Charlie Atkinson converted and later supplied a long, cross‑field kick that found Loader again, allowing the winger to notch his second try of the afternoon. Back‑rower Ethan Roots then embarked on a blistering run down the left touchline, breaking through the defensive line after an initial burst from Greg Fisilau and grounding the ball for another Gloucester score. Exeter’s woes continued when they conceded a soft penalty from the restart; Gloucester opted to kick to the corner, where hooker Dewi Lake rose from a driving maul and touched down in the corner for a bonus‑point try. Charlie Atkinson’s conversion from the touchline was immaculate, extending Gloucester’s lead to fourteen points at the break.
The second half saw Lake add a second try within six minutes, cementing his influence on the match. Gloucester’s dominance was further highlighted by winger Will Joseph’s spectacular solo effort: he collected the ball near midfield, evaded multiple tacklers with a series of sidesteps, and sprinted to the try line, finishing under the posts for a conversion that pushed the score further out of reach. Exeter managed a late response when Italian scrum‑half Stephen Varney, now playing against his former club, broke away to score, with Slade’s conversion narrowing the gap to 38-19. A crucial tackle by Redshaw denied Varney a second try, and even after blind‑side flanker Freddie Thomas received a yellow card for an infringement near his own line, Gloucester’s defence held firm.
Exeter salvaged a consolation bonus‑point try when replacement hooker Louie Gulley, on his Premiership debut, surged from a five‑meter lineout to touch down. Junior Denny added a seventh try for Gloucester in the final minutes, sealing a comprehensive victory.
In the other fixture, Sale Sharks’ much‑anticipated return of former England captain Courtney Lawes ended in disappointment as Bristol Bears claimed a 34-24 win at Salford. The 37‑year‑old made his first Premiership appearance since leading Northampton to the 2024 title at Twickenham, but Pat Lam’s side proved too strong on the day.
Bristol began aggressively, but Sale’s former fly‑half AJ MacGinty missed a relatively straightforward penalty early on. The Sharks then enjoyed a spell of pressure, culminating in a try by Cowan‑Dickie, who powered over from close range after a well‑executed move involving Roe. George Ford added the conversion, giving Sale a 7‑0 lead. Bristol responded quickly, with a try from full‑back Tom Jordan initially ruled out after a rapid lineout, but the decision was upheld.
Bristol’s first confirmed try came in the 12th minute when James Williams delivered a long pass to the dynamic Wales winger Louis Rees‑Zammit, who finished in the right corner. Sale’s Ford kicked a penalty, but Rees‑Zammit struck again in the 23rd minute, receiving a crisp pass from Jordan and diving over the line for his second try. Just before halftime, scrum‑half Randall collected a loose ball and dived over from close range, giving Bristol a third try. Williams converted, and the Bears entered the break with a 20‑10 advantage.
The second half opened with Sale winger O'Flaherty breaking free down the right wing and grounding the ball, while Ford’s second conversion trimmed Bristol’s lead to three points. Bristol soon re‑asserted control: after sustained pressure on Sale’s defensive line, Randall slithered over for his second try in the 57th minute. O'Flaherty added a second try for Sale later, but Bristol’s forward Gwilliam powered over from close range for the fifth try, and Williams completed his hat‑trick of conversions, leaving Sale empty‑handed.
Overall, the weekend highlighted Gloucester’s revitalised attacking options and their ability to dominate a traditionally strong Exeter side, while Bristol Bears demonstrated a balanced blend of forward power and back‑line flair to secure a convincing opening‑season victory. Both matches offered a glimpse of the intensity and unpredictability that fans can expect throughout the Premiership campaign.