Wasps' deadly wing duo Tom Varndell and Christian Wade both struck to sink Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins 17-16 as Nick Evans missed the chance to pinch victory for the champions at the death. Varndell and Wade both scored first half tries and while Quins romped back, Evans missed a 78th-minute penalty which would have almost certainly won it for his side and extended their winning run to 11 matches. Tom Hooper scored the only try for the home side with Evans booting the rest of their points while Nick Robinson kicked seven points for Wasps. London Irish secured a crucial 29-16 victory over Saracens in their battle for survival. With a win for fellow strugglers Sale on Friday night, there was great pressure on Irish but they responded magnificently to overcome second-placed Sarries at the Madejski Stadium. Two Jonny May tries saw Gloucester move above Northampton with a 27-11 win. For so long a fortress, it was Northampton's third defeat at Franklin's Gardens in the league, and it was down to some magnificent Gloucester defence as Saints were twice stopped on the line and held up over it once, with the back-row duo of Sione Kalamafoni and Akapusi Qera superb. Leicester continued their relentless charge towards a play-off place with a 28-12 win against London Welsh thanks largely to the goal-kicking of departing fly-half George Ford. Publicly criticised for his decision to depart Welford Road this summer, Ford produced a near-faultless display in the absence of England international Toby Flood with 13 points. A fluent attacking performance from Bath earned them a welcome 32-9 bonus-point victory against Worcester. | 
