Burnell praise for ailing Welsh as Leicester avenge loss

They may have lost for the 12th time in the Aviva Premiership this season, but Burnell was in a positive mood after a 24-13 reverse.

“We are not a team that is going to roll over as you saw today,” he said.

“We’ve got nothing to lose now and hopefully our performances can improve to put us in good stead for next season.”

Burnell did admit, though, that he was disappointed Welsh had failed to take their chances in the first half, which should have seen them have a healthy half-time lead.

“We were 10-5 up minutes before the half-time whistle but when you up against players of this calibre, things turn on a sixpence but we still weren’t down in the dressing room at half-time,” he said.

London Welsh had taken the lead with an excellent try from Paul Rowley but missed chances for a couple of others and had to rely on Will Robinson’s two penalties and a conversion for the remainder of their points.

Quins collected a scarcely merited bonus point, courtesy of their more clinical finishing.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young pushed the England claims of winger Christian Wade after his man-of-the-match performance helped his side to a 41-16 win over Sale.

The 23-year-old, who made his England debut against Argentina in 2013, missed most of last season with injury but could be a contender for the Six Nations after an impressive display against a disappointing Sharks at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Wade failed to add to his seven tries so far this season but created the first of the match for captain James Haskell and was a constant threat to the visitors with his dangerous footwork and lighting acceleration.

“I thought he was outstanding, especially in the first half,” said Young. “We all know what he can do in space but even when space wasn’t there he showed some real physicality to break tackles and create opportunities.

“He is by far one of the most exciting wingers with ball in hand. He’s as good a finisher as anyone else but sometimes I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for creating opportunities for other people.”

Joe Simpson scored two of their five tries and Ashley Johnson and Nathan Hughes also touched down, with Andy Goode kicking 16 points as Wasps continue to revel in Coventry.

Leicester avenged one of the most humiliating days in their history by sinking high-flying Bath at Welford Road.

Second-placed Bath’s run of five successive league wins came to a grinding halt as an early Tom Youngs try and four Owen Williams penalties saw Leicester claim a 17-8 victory – having lost 45-0 earlier in the season.

Gareth Steenson agonisingly hit the post with a late conversion for Exeter Chiefs as they slipped to a 
26-25 defeat to Gloucester in their 100th top-flight match.

Saracens ground out a 22-6 victory over London Irish at a wet and windy Allianz Park.