Gloucester 28-21 Exeter
Newcastle Falcons 35-8 Worcester Warriors
Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs started their season with a defeat against local rivals Gloucester.
Gloucester (14) 28
Tries: Thrush 2, Morgan, Woodward Cons: Burns 3, Twelvetrees
Exeter Chiefs (14) 21
Tries: Simmonds 2, Woodburn Cons: Steenson 2, Slade
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The Cherry and Whites secured the bonus-point and the victory late on thanks to a dramatic last-minute try from Jason Woodward.
The teams traded first-half scores as Sam Simmonds twice put the chiefs ahead only for Jeremy Thrush to touch down on two occasions to level things up.
Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson was sin-binned for a high tackle with Ben Morgan taking advantage to edge the hosts ahead.
A Will Heinz error let winger Olly Woodburn level the scores for the visitors, but new signing Woodward found the corner to snatch a bonus-point win.
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Ollie Thorley, 13 Andy Symons, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jacob Rowan, 6 Lewis Ludlow, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 John Afoa
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 22 Matt Scott
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Max Bodilly, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Don Armand, 6 Matt Kvesic, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Julian Salvi, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jack Nowell, 23 Lachie Turner
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix, Jonathan Healy
TMO: Sean Davey
Newcastle Falcons kicked off their season in the best possible way by recording a bonus-point victory against Worcester Warriors at Kingston Park.
Newcastle (10) 35
Tries: Tait, Vickers, Cooper, Socino Cons: Takalua 3, Willis Pens: Takalua 2
Worcester (3) 8
Try: Adams Pen: Heathcote
The hosts were clinical on the opening night to score four tries and take a bonus point for their troubles.
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Falcons stalwart Alex Taiopened the scoring early on with scrum-half Sonatane Takulua kicking a conversion and a penalty to give the hosts a half-time lead.
Worcester responded after the restart with a Josh Adams score in the corner but the comeback was short-lived.
Rob Vickers and Kyle Cooper barged before Juan Pablo Socino secured the bonus point with a fourth try late on.