Sale Sharks 19-10 HarlequinsSharks director of rugby Steve Diamond: I thought Dan Mugford had an outstanding game, moving up a level.We managed to get the win and deny them the bonus point. We learned last year how important that was if you want to get in the top four.Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston: We managed, in a 10 or 15-minute period, to lose all the momentum we had built at the end of the first half by allowing them three successive penalties, which led to them scoring from a maul and getting 16-7 ahead.From that moment on, we barely had a period of time with 15 players on the park.We effectively played the last 32 minutes with a man down, and thats pretty difficult.Worcester 23-23 GloucesterWorcester head coach Carl Hogg: I think the red card changed the outcome of the game. I was very proud of the endeavour and effort of the players, but it makes it difficult when you are down to 14.I need to review it (red card incident). I didnt get a real proper look at it, but obviously it has altered the outcome of the game.Once we got a foothold in the game our scrum in particular was outstanding. We looked strong going in at half-time, but with 14 players, its very difficult.Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said: We are obviously disappointed, given the context of the game, to only come away with two points.But at the same time at 20-9 down after the way we lost the game (against Leicester) last week, it would have been easy for the players to feel a bit sorry for themselves.But we showed some real composure and played some very good rugby, and we gave ourselves a couple of opportunities in the last four or five minutes that we should have taken to win the game.Bath 58-5 NewcastleBath director of rugby Todd Blackadder: I thought Dave Atwood had a great game, he did all the tough stuff, made all the tackles and led that forward pack around.Well celebrate and enjoy this tonight, a fantastic performance. Its great weather and the boys probably deserve a few quiet beers - and so they should.Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:?Even when we had nothing to lose in the second half it took us until the last few minutes to break them down.We had opportunities, we didnt take them, and it was incredibly disappointing.Theyre a big side, absolutely massive. We struggled with that.Ford was by far the best player on the field - he knew exactly what to do and he totally controlled the game.Leicester Tigers 22-34 Wasps Leicester boss Richard Cockerill: We have to make sure we regather ahead of next week for our trip to Newcastle.We got what we deserved, which was nothing. We have to be a hell of a lot better and thats my responsibility.We are too easy to play against at the moment. The stats dont lie, conceding eight tries in two games is not good enough.Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young: Its not my job to keep players happy, its to choose a squad that will keep fighting.You dont come here and win too many times. Since I have been at Wasps we have not won here. So we have to enjoy it.We had 20 minutes when we lost our composure and made too many mistakes.But you have to give the Tigers credit. They did it last week (at Gloucester) so we knew the game wasnt won.Bristol 10-32 NorthamptonBristol director of Rugby Andy Robinson: We were schooled on how to play rugby in that first half, particularly Premiership rugby.As soon we stopped being rabbits in the headlights and we found a little bit of our rhythm... but it is about taking your opportunities, and Northampton took their chances well.Northampton director of Rugby Jim Mallinder: Pleased to get five points, particularly after last week. We needed to win, and in the first-half we were very good.We needed to come here, shut the crowd up and in a way put massive doubt into Bristols mind that they could play at this level. That was our intention.Exeter Chiefs 13-34 SaracensExeter director of Rugby Rob Baxter: We paid for a slow start and conceded soft tries by missing easy tackles, which made it very difficult for us.We did make individual errors and had little moments of losing focus.?We are bottom of the league and weve got a good team coming here next week. It is interesting to see how we react after two defeats as we are bound to be a bit edgy.Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall: This was a big step-up from last week. It was a very difficult wind to play into and I thought we controlled it beautifully.The first 20 minutes went as well as they could have done. They are a good side and came back into it in the second 20 but we showed our defensive quality.There are so many players who stepped up today. Jackson Wray was magnificent, he gets better and better - a top level performance. Cheap Jordan . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Discount Air Jordan . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Fake Jordan . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Cheap Jordan From China . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- After returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and being swept in the opening round by the eventual champions, the Detroit Pistons have a pretty obvious challenge ahead.This young team has the potential for more growth in Stan Van Gundys third season as coach and could certainly advance further in the postseason if things break right. But the Pistons should take nothing for granted.Its a new year, and we have to go through the process. You cant skip steps, Van Gundy said. We made the point to guys -- this isnt a continuation of last year, we dont start at 44 wins and the eighth seed in the playoffs and try to climb. You start at zero wins and no guarantee of anything.Detroits 44-38 mark last season was good enough for a long-awaited postseason berth, and a four-game loss to Cleveland wasnt too much of a downer after everything the Pistons had accomplished. With Andre Drummond back and signed to a long-term contract, Detroit has a solid nucleus to build around, but the next step wont necessarily be easy.The Pistons return their starting five of Drummond, guards Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forwards Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris. They expect to be without Jackson for a while at the beginning of the season because of knee and thumb problems.While the Pistons have a long way to go before standing toe to toe with Cleveland atop the East, there appears to be enough parity among the conferences other playoff-caliber teams that a move up the standings is plausible for Detroit.Here are a few more things to watch with the Pistons this season:DRUMMONDS FREE THROWSDrummond has made 38 percent of his free throws for his career, a figure thats caused Van Gundy to take his star big man out of games at crucial momentts.ddddddddddddDrummond has used virtual reality in an effort to improve at the line, but it remains to be seen if his offseason work will pay off.JACKSONS INJURIESJackson averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 assists last season, forming an impressive point guard-center tandem with Drummond. The Pistons announced Oct. 10 that he would miss six to eight weeks after receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. If Jackson is able to come back on that timetable, hed still have a chance to contribute plenty this season, but the Pistons want to make sure they dont fall too far behind while hes out.NEW ADDITIONSDetroit signed guard Ish Smith in the offseason, and his role figures to increase while Jackson is out. The Pistons also brought in forward Jon Leuer and drafted 6-foot-11 forward Henry Ellenson out of Marquette in the first round.NEXT STAR?Stanley Johnson averaged 8.1 points a game as a rookie, and at age 20 has the potential for a big leap this season and next. His athleticism on the wing could become a real asset if he develops into a more consistent player at both ends.QUESTIONSVan Gundy said recently the backcourt rotation was still an issue entering the season. Darrun Hilliard showed poise when called upon last season in limited duty, and 6-foot-7 rookie Michael Gbinije could add versatility if he proves hes ready to play at the NBA level.Those two spots Im not totally clear on right now going into the season, Van Gundy said. I know what were doing at center, I know what were doing at the three and the four primarily. Its, what are we doing at the one and the two off the bench?---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '
