In front of 60,000 at Twickenham, Harlequins overcame Saints 41-32. Luke Northmore and Will Porter both scored twice as Quins lost three players – Danny Care, Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Green – to the sin-bin.
Both Northampton and Quins now face daunting challenges in Champions Cup semi-finals next weekend, Northampton against Leinster on Saturday and Quins against Toulouse on Sunday.
Quins skipper Alex Dombrandt said: “We now have the biggest week in the club’s history, it doesn’t get much better. We will give it a good crack and see what happens”
Bristol moved into the play-off positions, level on points with Quins but with a superior points difference, after pulling off an astonishing comeback from 19-0 against the Tigers to win 19-21.
Bristol’s DoR Pat Lam praised the defence and his forwards. “I knew we could score three or four tries in 10-15 minutes. There was a lot of heart, lot of mental toughness and stuff which we have built over the season.”
HARLEQUINS kept their play-off hopes alive with this exhilarating – and exhausting win – over Premiership leaders Northampton at Twickenham.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
