Francois Louw scored a try as Bath beat Harlequins 27-26 in a tightly contested English Premiership match at The Stoop on Saturday.

Bath's fifth consecutive Premiership victory sees them remain in second place on the table with one league phase round left in the competition.

Winger Ugo Monye scored both of Harlequins' tries in his final home match before he retires at the end of the season, to become the club’s most prolific try-scorer in the competition with 51.

However, converted scores by Louw, No 8 Leroy Houston and wing Horacia Agulla, plus two George Ford penalties were enough to hand Bath a one-point win.

In other results, Wasps lost 26-21 to 14-man Leicester at the Ricoh Arena; two tries each from centre Luther Burrell and scrumhalf Lee Dickson saw the Northampton Saints thump London Welsh 46-0 at Franklin’s Gardens; Gloucester beat London Irish 35-13 despite playing with 14 men from the 23rd minute when flank Matt Kvesic was sent off for a tip-tackle, and Mark Cueto scored his 90th try of the competition in his final home game for the Sale Sharks, who beat the Newcastle Falcons 34-28.

In the only match on Sunday, Saracens suffered a 24-20 defeat to the Exeter Chiefs at Allianz Park. 

Round 21 results:

Harlequins 26 Bath 27
Wasps 21 Leicester Tigers 26
Northampton 46 London Welsh 0
Gloucester 35 London Irish 13
Sale Sharks 34 Newcastle 28
Saracens 20 Exeter Chiefs 24

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images