Premiership: Saracens beat Wasps to go top

Owen Farrell scored 21 points as clinical Saracens extending their winning streak to 11 games by beating Wasps 26-16 to return to the top of the Premiership.

Exeter Chiefs returned took over at the summit by seeing off Sale Sharks on Boxing Day, but champions Sarries dislodged them a day later after passing a stern test at the Ricoh Arena to maintain their 100 per cent Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup record.

Farrell slotted over two penalties to Jimmy Gopperth's one to give the London club a 6-3 lead at half-time

Elliot Daly and Gopperth added further penalties either side of another successful kick from Farrell to level the match at 9-9, but the visitors then took charge with two tries in quick succession.

Duncan Taylor went over for the first try of the match after taking a fine pass from the influential Farrell and the Scotland centre returned the favour by off-loading to allow the England fly-half to touch down.

Farrell converted on both occasions and scored another three points from the tee to ensure the game was over as a contest by the time Frank Halai scored Wasps' solitary try late on, as Saracens made it seven Premiership wins out of seven to go two points clear.

Nick Evans came agonisingly close to snatching a last-gasp win for fourth-placed Harlequins, who were held to a 39-39 draw in an enthralling encounter at Twickenham.

A crowd of over 70,000 were treated to a 10-try epic, which Gloucester lead 17-15 at the break. Danny Care and Marland Yarde went over for Quins, with Jeremy Thrush and James Hook scoring Gloucester's tries.

Henry Trinder and Ross Chisholm scored two tries apiece after the interval as the game swung one way, then the other and Evans was just off target with a drop-goal to ensure it was honours even.

Bath claimed only their third Premiership win of the season at the expense of Worcester, who were beaten 21-14 at the Rec in the other game to be played on Sunday.

Rhys Priestland replaced George Ford in the starting line-up and helped himself to 11 points as Bath moved into the top half.