The Fifth Round of the 2018/19 Aviva Premiership season will get underway on Friday the 28th of September with a clash between Newcastle and Wasps.
Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Friday 28 September
Kingston Park
20:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Newcastle 14/10
Draw 20/1Wasps 7/10
*Please note forecast odds
The Newcastle Falcons will be looking to ignite their campaign when they take on the London Wasps in Friday’s solitary fixture. The hosts head into this one in dismal form having lost three of their opening four fixtures. Wasps have fared a lot better since the season kicked off having bagged three wins from their opening four fixtures with their only defeat coming at the hands of the rampant Exeter Chiefs.
Newcastle actually gave a very decent account of themselves during their 17-24 loss to the Exeter Chiefs last Saturday. If they can put in the same sort of shift they may have a chance against a Wasps side that beat Sale 13-31 last week.
Verdict: Newcastle 14/10 *Please note forecast odds
Newcastle are due a win and I reckon they’ll bag it against a Wasps side that has flattered to deceive despite their lofty log position.
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Bristol Bears v Northampton Saints
Saturday 29 September
Ashton Gate
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Bristol 1/1
Draw 16/1
Northampton 5/6
*Please note forecast odds
The Bristol Bears will be looking to confirm Ashton Gate as a fortress when they take on a hit-and-miss Northampton side this Saturday. The hosts come into this one off the back of their second successive home victory, which saw them beat Harlequins 20-13.
Northampton endured a far less productive Round 4 as they went down 17-15 away to Bath. They did manage to pick up a bonus point from that defeat but it will be of little solace as the loss has seen them drop to 11th on the Premiership table.
Verdict: Bristol 1/1 *Please note forecast odds
That crowd at Ashton Gate is the epitome of a 16th man and I can see them cheering their team to another home victory here.
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Gloucester v Harlequins
Saturday 29 September
Kingsholm Stadium
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Gloucester 1/6
Draw 25/1
Harlequins 9/2
*Please note forecast odds
Top 4 rivals Gloucester and Harlequins are the next serving on our Sunday platter, The hosts head into this one off the back of their first defeat of the season, which saw them go down 38-15 to Saracens in North London.
‘Quins also head into this one off the back of a painful loss as they went down 20-13 to Bristol at Ashton Gate last Sunday. That was their third loss of the season but they sit sixth on the standings due for the enchant for picking up bonus points.
Verdict: Gloucester 1/6 *Please note forecast odds
The Cherry and Whites should be too strong for a Harlequins side that really does struggle on the road.
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Saracens v Bath
Saturday 29 September
Allianz Park
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Saracens 1/20
Draw 50/1
Bath 11/1
*Please note forecast odds
Saracens will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they take on fourth-placed Bath this Saturday. The hosts managed to leapfrog Exeter into pole position on the standings with a 38-15 bonus point victory over Gloucester.
Round 4 was also rather kind to Bath who managed to sneak a 17-15 victory over a determined Bath side at the ‘Rec. The win was their second of the campaign and should give them a masssive confidence boost.
Verdict: Saracens 1/20 *Please note forecast odds
The men from North London should put in an emphatic display against a Bath side that are not even in the same school, let alone class of their opponents. My money is on the hosts taking this one by 13 points or more.
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Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors
Saturday 29 September
Sandy Park
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Exeter 1/25
Draw 60/1
Worcester 14/1
*Please note forecast odds
The Exeter Chiefs will be looking to put a big score over the Worcester Warriors in a bid to move back into top spot on the standings. The hosts head into this one off a very hard-fought 17-24 victory over a spirited Newcastle side. It was the first time this season the the men from Devonshire failed to pick up a four try bonus point.
Worcester also enjoyed a marvelous outing last weekend as they beat the much-fancied Leicester Tigers 37-44 away from home. That was their first win of the season and saw them move up into eighth place on the standings.
Verdict: Exeter 1/25 *Please note forecast odds
Simply put, Worcester won’t be able to compete with an extremely strong Exeter side this coming Saturday. The hosts will take this one by 18 points or more.
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Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Sunday 30 September
Welford Road
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Leicester Tigers 1/5
Draw 25/1
Sale Sharks 7/2
*Please note forecast odds
An expectant home faithful will be looking for a response from their boys when the Leicester Tigers take on the Sale Sharks at Welford Road. The hosts head into this encounter off the back of a shock 37-44 defeat to minnows, Worcester. That was Leicester’s third loss of the campaign and has seen them drop out of the European Challenge Cup qualification places.
Sale fans will be even more frustrated than their counterparts as their slide slipped to their fifth defeat of the season, going down 13-31 to Wasps last Saturday.
Verdict: Leicester 1/5 *Please note forecast odds
They may be out of form but I can still see Leicester getting one over a Sale side that has gone backwards since last season.
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
