Leicester have started their Guinness Premiership campaign with a victory over Gloucester - for the third time in succession.

New boss Heyneke Meyer saw his Tigers side win an error-strewn tussle 20-8 thanks to late tries from Geordan Murphy and Toby Flood.

England back Flood kicked two early penalties on his Premiership debut for Leicester and claimed a late interception try that he also converted, leaving Gloucester to reflect on a dire season opener.

Gloucester had seen their title hopes destroyed by the Tigers four months ago.

Meanwhile Northampton made a winning return to the Guinness Premiership with a 21-13 success against Worcester.

Dylan Hartley came off the bench to score the decisive try, which came after Worcester had been temporarily reduced to 14 men.

Northampton, who stormed through National Division One unbeaten last season for an instant return to the Premiership, had a second try when centre Jon Clarke went over in the 66th minute

Worcester, with former Australia full-back Chris Latham making his Premiership debut, finally made an attacking impression as hooker Aleki Lutui went through the home defence for a 72nd-minute try, converted by new fly-half Matthew Jones.

But Reihana's third penalty, in the 76th minute, secured a deserved victory for his side.

Sale got their campaign off to a sound start with a 14-9 victory over Newcastle.

Charlie Hodgson's early try gave Sale the lead, which they never surrendered with three penalties from Luke McAlister.

Newcastle fly-half Rory Clegg kept them in touch with two penalties and a drop-goal but it was not enough to haul back Sale.

And Bath triumphed 33-20 over Bristol in the West Country derby, scoring three tries to two as fly-half Butch James kicked 18 points for their first Premiership victory at the Memorial Stadium since March 1998.

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