OPTA salute Short's showing

By Mark Stevens
21/2/17

Aviva Premiership Rugby served us up a treat last weekend with 374 points scored in Round 15 and the OPTA statistics reflect what a thrilling weekend of attacking rugby it was.

Table-toppers Wasps and defending champions Saracens were both beaten, while there were standout performances from Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs.

Chiefs winger James Short was arguably the exceptional performer of the round as he scored his first Aviva Premiership Rugby hat-trick in their 48-32 win at Worcester Warriors.

Short was excellent with the ball and threatened to score every time he surged forwards, carrying 21 times and making an impressive 152 metres. He also jinked past nine defenders, but that was only good enough for third best overall this week.

Short’s carrying prowess moves him fourth in the overall standings, but he still trails leader Semesa Rokoduguni – with the Bath Rugby bulldozer gaining a mighty 1289 metres this season.

Sam Simmonds continued his love-affair with Aviva Premiership Rugby as he scored his second try in just two starts, while there were further scores for Gareth Steenson, Olly Woodburn and Michele Campagnaro.

The Chiefs have won all ten of their Aviva Premiership Rugby matches against the Warriors, and this 80-point classic is the biggest scoring match between the two.

On the opposite side of the pitch to Short, Warriors winger Bryce Heem also enjoyed one of the best performances of his career as he scored a try, gained 139 metres and beat ten defenders.

The Warriors gained a crucial bonus point by scoring four tries, but Heem’s efforts could not carry them to victory.
Tackles
Matt Symonds (Wasps) – 20
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints) – 19
Calum Green (Newcastle Falcons) – 17
Tommy Taylor (Wasps) – 17

Carries
James Short (Exeter Chiefs) – 21
Schalk Brits (Saracens) – 20
Tom Marshall (Gloucester Rugby) – 19
Kurtley Beale (Wasps) – 18

Metres gained
James Short (Exeter Chiefs) – 152
Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons) – 139
Bryce Heem (Worcester Warriors) – 139
Kurtley Beale (Wasps) – 114

Defenders beaten
Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons) – 12
Bryce Heem (Worcester Warriors) – 10
James Short (Exeter Chiefs) – 9
Telusa Veainu (Leicester Tigers) – 8

Lineouts won
Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs) – 8
Bryn Evans (Sale Sharks) – 6
Dan Tuohy (Bristol Rugby) – 6
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Michael Rhodes (Saracens), Christian Day (Northampton Saints) – 5