SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the English Premiership and Celtic Pro12 matches played this weekend.

Wasps extended their lead at the top of the table with a 35-22 bonus-point win over Gloucester at the Ricoh Arena. Springbok Willie le Roux earned his first start for the winners and scored a try in the second half.

The hosts led 15-10 at the break all thanks to centre Jimmy Gopperth, who grabbed a brace of tries, a conversion and a penalty. But while the first half was a fair contest, the second belonged to Wasps who added three more tries, including Le Roux’s 46th-minute effort.

In other round 16 Premiership matches, bottom-feeders Bristol stunned title contenders Bath 12-11, the Northampton Saints eased to a 24-14 win against the Worcester Warriors, the Exeter Chiefs thumped the Newcastle Falcons 36-14, Saracens beat the Sale Sharks 28-18 and the Leicester Tigers overcame Harlequins 27-18.

Meanwhile in the Celtic Pro12, Ruan Pienaar starred as Ulster hammered Zebre 40-17,Connacht claimed a 34-19 bonus-point victory over Treviso, the Ospreys beat the Glasgow Warriors 26-15, the Scarlets stunned Rassie Erasmus’ Munster 30-21, Leinster lashed the Newport Gwent Dragons 54-22 and the Cardiff Blues edged hosts Edinburgh 18-17.

WEEKEND RESULTS

English Premiership (Round 16):

Wasps 35 Gloucester 22
Bristol 12 Bath 11
Northampton Saints 24 Worcester Warriors 14
Exeter Chiefs 36 Newcastle Falcons 14
Saracens 28 Sale Sharks 18
Harlequins 18 Leicester Tigers 27

Celtic Pro12 (Round 16):

Zebre 17 Ulster 40
Connacht 34 Treviso 19
Ospreys 26 Glasgow Warriors 15
Scarlets 30 Munster 21
Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Leinster 54
Edinburgh 17 Cardiff Blues 18

Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images