Gallagher Premiership Rugby FInal 2022

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FINAL 2022
Bristol Bears had suffered in that
memorable semi-final and the first
meeting between the sides since must
have felt like deja vu as Quins came
from 21-0 down to record a 52-24 win.
While the likes of Marcus Smith, Andre
Esterhuizen, and Danny Care caught
the eye, despite the latter breaking the
Premiership Rugby record for yellow
cards in a season, Harlequins did not
lack for steel up front under new coach
Tabai Matson.
Completing the top four were
Northampton Saints, thanks to a late
run that even coach Chris Boyd did not
see coming.
For a time, it seemed that European
qualification might be the height of
their ambitions, but 32 points from a
possible 35 in their final seven games
saw them sneak in at the expense of
Gloucester Rugby.
Despite missing out on the top four,
it was still a promising campaign for
the Cherry & Whites, the highlight
no doubt their 64-0 success against
neighbours Bath Rugby, while George
Skivington oversaw the development
of a rolling maul that was the envy of
the league and which should prove a
foundation for further growth.
Where Saints and Gloucester improved,
there was a step back for both Sale
Sharks and Exeter Chiefs, who finished
sixth and seventh respectively.
Alex Sanderson’s side paid for a
slow start to the campaign, leaving
themselves too much to do despite
finishing strongly.
Chiefs, meanwhile, the most consistent
English team of recent times, endured a
down year as they missed the top four
for the first time since 2015. It was their
home form that proved the biggest
disappointment, Sandy Park was not the
fortress it has been in previous years as
they were beaten five times there in the
league.
The battle for the final European spot
went down to the wire, with London
Irish eventually clinching it after a
season in which they drew a remarkable
five matches, their comeback to draw
with Wasps in a game where they
trailed by 25 points in the second half
ending up the crucial result at the
expense of Lee Blackett’s team.
Irish narrowly missed out on silverware,
beaten on tries scored in the final of
the Premiership Rugby Cup as Steve
Diamond oversaw Worcester Warriors’
first major title with a 25-25 draw.
They also finished their season on a
high with a thrilling 43-27 win over Bath
that saw them finish 11th, just ahead of
Newcastle Falcons – in Dean Richards’
final season – and their opponents on
the day.
Both Falcons and Bath will be hoping
for improved campaigns in 2022/23
with Dave Walder stepping up at
Newcastle while Johann van Graan takes
over at the Rec.
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