Gloucester edge six-try thriller

Gloucester extended their unbeaten Aviva Premiership home record to 22 games as a penalty from replacement Freddie Burns saw them edge out London Irish 33-30 at Kingsholm.

The Cherry and Whites had looked well on course for victory after opening up a 23-10 advantage late in the first half thanks in part to a Tom Voyce score and a penalty try.

But Irish, who had claimed the opening try through Alex Gray in the first minute, hit back as Topsy Ojo and Steve Shingler went over to help them establish a 27-23 lead.

Hooker Darren Dawidiuk responded with the hosts' third try while Tim Taylor kicked 15 points, but it was a penalty from Burns which eventually sealed the win after Exiles full-back Tom Homer, who racked up 15 points of his own, had tied the scores with his third penalty.

Nick Evans inspired Harlequins to maintain their 100% Premiership record by scoring 20 points in a 48-41 bonus-point win over Sale.

Mike Brown contributed a brace of tries as Quins won their fifth straight game - their best start to a season since 1996 - and therefore remain top of the table.

Jeremy Staunton scored all 25 points for Leicester but still finished on the losing side as Bath prevailed 26-25.

The Irishman could have won the game all on his own but at the death he pushed a 45-metre penalty attempt wide - it was his only kicking failure all afternoon.

Instead it was Bath's 19-year-old academy fly-half Tom Heathcote who stole the limelight, coming on at half-time for Sam Vesty and landing a touchline conversion to a Matt Carraro try before adding two penalties to snatch victory. Bath's other try-scorer was lock Dave Attwood, his first for the club.

Saracens made it four wins out of five this season and maintained their unbeaten run away from Vicarage Road with a 17-13 win at Exeter.