Saturday's Premiership fixtures delivered a surprise on two fronts. At Sandy Park, Gloucester produced a dominant display to defeat Exeter Chiefs, while a week‑long wait for the return of England veteran Courtney Lawes ended in disappointment as Bristol Bears comfortably outscored Sale Sharks. Gloucester kicked off their campaign with a statement win, posting a 45-24 victory that also earned them a valuable bonus point.
The win marked the first time the Cherry and Whites have taken all three points from a match in Devon since 2015, and it came against a side that had been finalists in the previous season's Premiership play‑offs. The Gloucester side looked revitalised after a busy summer recruitment window, with the likes of Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Jean Kleyn quickly making an impact.
Exeter, meanwhile, were hampered by a wave of illness that compounded a list of injuries already affecting the squad. The Chiefs appeared flat‑lined for large stretches of the first half, only finding a rhythm in the closing minutes when the result was already out of reach. Gloucester seized the initiative early. Within five minutes, full‑back Ben Redshaw delivered a perfectly weighted kick‑pass that set winger Ben Loader free for a simple try.
Exeter answered with a sustained period of pressure that culminated in a short‑range effort from tight‑head prop Josh Iosefa‑Scott, the conversion coming from Henry Slade. Gloucester’s tactical kicking soon turned the tide. Scrum‑half Caolan Englefield executed a deft chip over the Exeter line, allowing England centre Seb Atkinson to pounce and score.
Fly‑half Charlie Atkinson added the conversion and later supplied a cross‑field kick that found Loader again for his second try of the afternoon. Back‑rower Ethan Roots then embarked on a blistering run down the left touchline, finishing the move with a try after a break by Greg Fisilau. A soft penalty from Exeter after the restart gave Gloucester a chance to extend their lead.
The ball was kicked deep into the corner, and captain and hooker Dewi Lake rose from the ensuing maul to touch down in the corner, securing the bonus‑point try. Charlie Atkinson’s conversion from the touchline was immaculate, pushing the halftime score to a comfortable 14‑point advantage. The second half saw Lake add a second try within six minutes, cementing his influence on the game.
Gloucester continued to press, and winger Will Joseph produced a solo effort that will be remembered for its elegance: he collected the ball near the halfway line, sidestepped multiple defenders and sprinted into the corner for a try, which Atkinson again converted. Exeter attempted a comeback, with Italian scrum‑half Stephen Varney breaking free to score against his former club, and Slade adding the conversion to narrow the gap to 38‑19. A determined tackle by Redshaw denied Varney a second try, and even when blind‑side flanker Freddie Thomas received a yellow card for a repeat infringement near his own goal line, Gloucester’s defence held firm. The Chiefs managed to claw back a late bonus‑point try when replacement hooker Louie Gulley, on his Premiership debut, powered over from a five‑meter lineout.
Junior Denny added a final Gloucester try, sealing a comprehensive 45‑24 win. In the other fixture, Sale Sharks welcomed back Courtney Lawes, the 37‑year‑old former England captain who had not featured in the Premiership since guiding Northampton to the 2024 title at Twickenham. The occasion, however, turned out to be a bittersweet one as Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears ran away with a 34‑24 victory at Salford.
Lawes’ return was eagerly anticipated, but the Bears’ early pressure set the tone. Sale’s first chance came when ex‑Sale fly‑half AJ MacGinty missed a relatively straightforward penalty, allowing Bristol to gain momentum.
The Sharks then built a brief lead when Cowan‑Dickie powered over from close range after a well‑executed move involving Roe. George Ford’s conversion gave Sale a 7‑0 lead, but Bristol quickly responded. A long pass from James Williams found the dynamic Wales winger Louis Rees‑Zammit, who dived over in the right corner for the Bears’ first try. Ford kicked a penalty to keep Sale within touching distance, but Rees‑Zammit struck again in the 23rd minute, this time receiving a pass from full‑back Tom Jordan and crossing the line in the same corner.
Just before halftime, scrum‑half Randall collected a loose ball and crashed over from close range, giving Bristol a third try. Williams added a penalty, and Randall’s conversion pushed the halftime score to 20‑10 in favour of the Bears.
The second half opened with Sale winger O'Flaherty breaking free and scoring in the right corner, narrowing the deficit as Ford’s second conversion trimmed the lead to three points. Bristol, however, responded with a fourth try in the 57th minute when Randall once again exploited a gap near the line and touched down. O'Flaherty added a second try for Sale, but Bristol’s Gwilliam powered over from close range to make it five tries for the visitors. Williams converted his third penalty, extending Bristol’s lead and ultimately sealing a 34‑24 win.
Both matches highlighted the impact of fresh signings and the importance of depth. Gloucester’s new arrivals were instrumental in dismantling a traditionally strong Exeter side, while Bristol’s cohesive attacking play demonstrated why they are considered early contenders.
For Sale, the loss underscored the need to tighten defensive structures and capitalize on the experience of veterans like Lawes. Overall, Saturday’s fixtures offered a compelling mix of surprise results, individual brilliance and tactical nuance, setting an intriguing tone for the remainder of the Premiership season.