Premiership Standout Performers

The English Premiership saw two games take place this evening with one home side and one away team picking up all three points.

Johan Ackerman’s Gloucester managed to upset the No. 1 ranked Exeter Warriors 24-17, while Wasps managed to pick up points on the road as they beat the Bristol Bears 29-22.

Here are the top performers from both matches this evening:

Bristol Bears vs Wasps

Dan Robson - Wasps

A much more controlled game from the Wasps' halfback as he dictated play and controlled the forwards. Having made his test debut last week, Robson looks to have taken some 'work-on' given to him by Eddie Jones.

Robson was key throughout the game for Wasps and controlled the game wonderfully. He did well to help his side maintain possession for a long period of time in the final knockings of the game.

Harry Thacker - Bristol Bears

The Bristol hooker was all over the park for the Bears again with some explosive carries and stellar offloads, one of which leading to a try for Harry Randall. His lineouts were a bit lofty but his work rate certainly made up for it as he made 13 carries and 14 tackles.

Charles Piutau - Bristol Bears

Talk about an impact from the bench! The former All Black made numerous line breaks and like a number of his teammates, he came up with some superb offloads. He dotted down for a try thanks to some outstanding play by Calum Sheedy before he burst through Willie Le Roux and was a catalyst. when it looked as if Bristol could snatch a win.

Will Rowlands - Wasps

It's not every day that a second rower scores a 40 metre try but Will Rowland did exactly that when he punished a Jack Lam error near the halfway line in the second half. The big second-rower pounced on the ball and raced away to score. Rowlands also got stuck into the rucks and was great in the lineout - an area where Bristol struggled. He also stopped the Bears lineout drive in the dying moments of the game after he gave a penalty away.

Gloucester v Exeter 

Ollie Thorley (MOTM) - Gloucester

Managed a number of outstanding breaks showing great strength to bump off defenders, gathered a high ball from Cipriani brilliantly and popped to Woodward for a try, one of his runs also led to the game-winning try.

Matt Kvesic - Newcastle Falcons

He was able to put a few strong carries in the game and also ran a superb line to hit a flat ball at pace, use his vision to send O'Flaherty over for a try, also got in over the ball to win a penalty for holding on.

Willi Heinz - Gloucester

The No.9 made a number of snipes around the fringes to keep the defence guessing and also managed to get over for a try of his own. Heinz also lead the game with the most number of passes, which was 99.

Ben Morgan

 The big No.8 had tremendous work rate with numerous carries and solid hits on defence. The loosie managed to rack 83 metres in the match and 14 carries, before crashing over for the game-winning try.