Round 4 of the 2018/19 English Premiership season will get underway on Friday the 21st of September.
This season’s English Premiership has produced some highly entertaining rugby with a number of games featuring massive scorelines and some eye-catching tries. Round 4 is set to be no different with some fascinating games in store for rugby punters.
Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs
Friday 21 September
Kingston Park
08:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Newcastle 11/4
Draw 22/1
Exeter 2/7
Handicap
Newcastle (+8.5) 17/20
Exeter (-8.5) 17/20
We kick proceedings off with a clash between the unbeaten Exeter Chiefs and a Newcastle side that has only won a solitary game this season. The visitors currently sit at the top of the standings while the hosts are a lowly eight.
The two sides head into Friday night’s fixture off the back of solid results with Newcastle beating Worcester by three points away from home and Exeter recording a 35-18 victory over the Sale Sharks at Sandy Park.
Verdict: Exeter (-8.5) 17/20
Last season’s runners-up are in great form and I can’t see them slipping up against a Newcastle side that is missing a plethora of stalwarts.
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Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Saturday 22 September
The Recreation Ground
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Bath 7/20
Draw 19/1
Northampton 23/10
Bath will be looking to ring up their first win of the season when they play host to Northampton in Saturday’s opener. The hosts come into this one having beaten Harlequins 32-37 away from home while Northampton make the trip off the back of a 27-38 home defeat to reigning champions, Saracens.
Both of these sides are in a state of flux which makes this tie a rather interesting one. Neither side is scared to give the ball air, and with the duo struggling defensively this one could be another high-scoring affair.
Verdict: Bath 7/20
I’ve gone with Bath here simply because of home ground advantage. The sides are rather evenly matched and playing at the ‘Rec could give the hosts a slight edge.
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Bristol Bears v Harlequins
Saturday 22 September
Ashton Gate
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Bristol 12/10
Draw 17/1
Harlequins 15/20
Bristol return to Ashton Gate this Saturday in search of their second win of the season. The Bears have played some good rugby thus far but will need to be more street smart if they are to finish near the upper echelons of the log. They demonstrated their naivety last week as they let a big half-time lead slip to go down 35-13 to Gloucester.
Harlequins also head into this fixture off the back of a loss as they went down 32-37 to Northampton at home. This was their second loss of the season and they will need to up their defensive game ten-fold if they are to avoid their third defeat against a Bristol side that knows how to win at home.
Verdict: Bristol 12/10
My money is on a return to Ashton Gate seeing Bristol return to winning ways.
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Sale Sharks v London Wasps
Saturday 22 September
AJ Bell Stadium
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Sale 15/10
Draw 17/1
Wasps 11/20
The Sale Sharks play host to the London Wasps this coming weekend. Both sides have been rather hit-and-miss this term with Wasps playing some eye-catching stuff one minute and then making rudimentary errors the next. This was evident during their 41-35 victory over 14-man Leicester last week, where they struggled to put their opponents to bed during the second stanza.
Sale, despite losing last week, actually put in a rather impressive shift going down 35-18 to unbeaten Exeter at Sandy Park. They were extremely gutsy in defeat which bodes well for Saturday’s encounter.
Verdict: Sale 15/10
I think Wasps may well come up short here. Their defence has been extremely porous and they will likely struggle to close down Sale’s burly centres.
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Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
Sunday 23 September
Welford Road
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Leicester 1/10
Draw 30/1
Worcester 11/2
Leicester will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat to Wasps when they take on the last-placed Worcester Warriors this Sunday. The hosts put in an almighty effort during the second half of their clash with Wasps last week managing to claim to bonus points despite going down to 14-men in the first half.
Worcester were also gutsy in defeat during Round 3 as they went down by three points to Newcastle. The narrow loss and losing bonus point will be of little consolation to head coach Rory Ducan as it ensured his side have started their campaign with three defeats.
Verdict: Leicester 1/10
Leicester were magnificent on attack last week and I can see them running a struggling Worcester side ragged this Sunday. My money is on the hosts taking this one by 16 points or more.
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Saracens v Gloucester Rugby
Sunday 23 September
Allianz Park
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Saracens 1/7
Draw 28/1
Gloucester 47/10
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
