Relive Boxing Day's Premiership action

1. FT: Exeter 33-17 Sale
2. Exeter go top of Premiership
3. FT: London Irish 25-23 Northampton
4. Exiles pick up first win of 2015-16 season
5. FT: Leicester 22-10 Newcastle

A day of drama

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Well, what a start to the weekend's action in round seven.

A dramatic first win of the season for London Irish who move off the bottom at the expense of Newcastle following the Falcons' defeat at Welford Road.

Exeter temporarily go back to the top of the pile after victory against Sale.

Want some more good news? We're back again tomorrow with three more games.

Until then, thanks for being with us.

As it stands in the Premiership

So that victory for Exeter temporarily sends them top, while London Irish move off the bottom of the table with Newcastle slipping to the foot of the Premiership.

Premiership rugby

Full-time

And it's all over at Welford Road where Leicester have a hard-earned victory over Newcastle, who are unlucky not to have a bonus point for their efforts. 

Full-time

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And that's full-time at Sandy Park with Exeter earning a bonus-point victory over Sale. The Chiefs go above Saracens to the top of the Premiership.

Penalty (Hooley)

With time up Exeter have no choice but to kick a late penalty and Will Hooley sends over the late three points. 

Sin-bin (Mike Haley)

Mike Haley is sent to the bin for Sale.

Try (Johnson, Steenson missed con)

Exeter have another try to seal victory and secure top spot, with Tom Johnson going over after fine hands from the Chiefs. Gareth Steenson misses the conversion.

Try (Pearce, Burns missed con)

Leicester have their third try with Laurence Pearce crossing after a fine offload from Peter Betham.

Freddie Burns misses the conversion, but it should be game over now.

Earlier on...

London Irish won for the first time in the Premiership this season, beating Northampton with a late penalty try.

Read the report here.

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Try (Short, Steenson con)

James Short picks up a loose ball and races down the line to score for Exeter. Gareth Steenson adds the conversion and they now have an eight-point cushion.

Looks like Exeter are going top of the table.

Closing stages

Just under 20 minutes to go in both games and they are still evenly poised. 

Penalty (Steenson)

Exeter have a penalty after Sale are punished for not releasing and Gareth Steenson adds the three points to put Chiefs in front. 

Full-time

London Irish have done it!

Ben Foden spills it in possession for Northampton. Brendan McKibbin kicks for touch and there are jubilant scenes at the Madejski Stadium.

London Irish 25-23 Northampton

Into the last minute and Northampton look to spoil it.

Stephen Myler goes for a drop-goal but it's charged down.

Leicester 17-10 Newcastle

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Tigers hold a seven-point advantage at Welford Road with Ben Youngs at the heart of their attacking play. Fine performance from the England scrum-half.

Try (Chudley, Steenson missed con)

Chiefs come roaring back against Sale, withWill Chudleycrossing for the hosts. Gareth Steenson misses the conversion, his third miss on a windy day in Devon, and Exeter trail by two points.

Penalty Try (Geraghty con)

Could this be Irish's first win of the season?

Penalty try given by Ian Tempest as Northampton spoil it.

Shane Geraghty kicks the conversion from dead in front of the posts.

Sin-bin

Yellow card to Northampton this time as Jamie Gibson gets punished as Irish try to barge it over again through Johnny Williams.

Penalty given as Gibson doesn't release Ofisa Treviranus.

Try (Beaumont, Cipriani con)

It's a try for Josh Beaumont,with his father and former England captain Bill in the crowd. Danny Cipriani's conversion gives Sale a seven-point lead. 

London Irish 18-23 Northampton

Brendan McKibbin almost snatches over for the point-levelling try, but he's stopped a yard short.

Aseli Tikoirotuma is back on the field and out of the sin bin.