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Steenson was in good form for the Chiefs over the weekend [file photo]. Joe Giddens
Exiles

Ulsterman Steenson fires Exeter to victory as Stringer's Bath go top

We counted 25 Irish players involved in the English Premiership and Championship over the weekend.

BATH MOVED TO the top of the Aviva Premiership with a 45-0 win against Leicester on Saturday, as Peter Stringer notched his first try of the season.

The Mike Ford-coached club have scored 127 points in winning their opening three games of the season, with the Irish scrum-half’s five-pointer after appearing off the bench concluding an excellent performance.

On the right wing for the defeated Tigers was Niall Morris, formerly of Leinster. The 26-year-old was making his third start of the season, and his club are now lying in fifth position after that loss.

On Friday night, ex-Ulster out-half Gareth Steenson kicked four penalties and a conversion to help Exeter to a 25-22 win away to Gloucester. Wing Ian Whitten was sin-binned in the same game, while Ireland international lock Ryan Caldwell was used as a replacement for the final 20 minutes.

The Chiefs’ promising win leaves them fourth on the Premiership table.

On Saturday, a London Welsh side that included former Grenoble and Northampton back row Daniel Browne was beaten 46-8 by Sale. Former Leinster Schools senior cup winner Shane Cahill was a second-half substitute, the 26-year-old loosehead prop’s second appearance of the season.

London Irish went down to a late Billy Vunipola try to lose 36-32 at home to Saracens, as former Ulster man Tom Court and Irish-qualified centre Fergus Mulchrone started the game.

Rugby Union - Aviva Premiership - London Irish v Harlequins - Madejski Stadium O'Leary came off the bench for the Exiles [file photo]. Tony Marshall Tony Marshall

Tomás O’Leary came off the bench for the Exiles, although Eamonn Sheridan was an unused sub.

In the second-tier Championship, Peter Lydon continued his excellent start to the season by kicking four conversions and a penalty in London Scottish’s 36-30 win at home to Bedford.

Alongside the fullback in the starting XV was former Ireland back row Neil Best, who remains an abrasive presence at the age of 35. Ex-Ireland U20 prop Stewart Maguire was among the replacements as Scottish moved to the top of the league.

Second row Eoin Sheriff, who came through at Leinster, was used off the bench by the Bedford Blues. The 26-year-old is currently on loan from Saracens.

On Friday night, Leeds’ 32-28 win away to Kevin Maggs’ Moseley saw David McIlwaine score a first-half try. The wing/fullback has had spells with native Ulster, Bristol and Doncaster in the past.

Michael Keating scored a try as he made his first appearance of the season for the Rotherham Titans in a 30-25 victory over Plymouth. Willie Ryan, who joined from Cork Con during the summer, started at No.8, while James McKinney kicked 15 points from out-half.

Ex-Ulster back row Ali Birch came off the bench for the Titans, while one-time Munster flanker Eoghan Grace did the same for the defeated Plymouth.

Simon Morrissey tackles Ben Woods Former Old Belvedere man Ben Woods is now well established at Plymouth. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Ben Woods, who is capped for Leinster at U20 and ‘A’ levels, started the game for Albion at inside centre, his third time doing so in this campaign.

Worcester enjoyed a strong 32-16 win on the road against Doncaster to move up to third on the ladder, with Ulsterman Niall Annett making his second start of the season at hooker.

Conor Carey was used off the bench by Nottingham in their 39-12 loss at home to Jersey. The former Ireland U20 prop has now made two replacement appearances for the club since joining from the Ealing Trailfinders during the summer.

Former Connacht man Mark McCrea was a substitute for Jersey, contributing to what was an important win for the club.

Bristol enjoyed a 45-17 win over the Cornish Pirates to grab second place in the table, with former Leinster man Jack O’Connell replacing tighthead Anthony Perenise to finish the game.

Irish out-half Kieran Hallett knocked over a conversion for the well-beaten Pirates. The former Ulster man has had spells with Plymouth and Nottingham before moving to his current club, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship.

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