Harlequins hang on to shock league leaders Northampton at home

Danny Care's try helped Harlequins to a shock victory as leaders Northampton were beaten at home for the first time.

Stephen Myler and Nick Evans exchanged penalties, before the home side went ahead on the stroke of half time through a penalty try.

Care's charged-down try levelled the scores seven minutes into the second half and Evans added two penalties to give the visitors a three-point lead.

Shane Geraghty kicked a penalty of his own but Harlequins hung on.

• A SECOND-half try from Michael Stephenson earned Leeds Carnegie their first win of a frustrating campaign as a 15-13 victory dented Gloucester's ambitions of strengthening their claims for a top four place.

Leeds remain three points adrift of Newcastle at the foot of the table but this victory, at the tenth time of asking in the Premiership, gives them renewed hope.

It was earned by Stephenson's diving try short of the hour that finished off a move in which Leeds' desperation to cross the line and retake the lead was there for all to see. They had to hang on - Ceiron Thomas missed a conversion and a penalty - for the much-needed victory.

Gloucester had edged ahead courtesy of penalties from Freddie Burns either side of half-time after James Simpson-Daniel had cancelled out an earlier try by Hendre Fourie.

But the defeat means Gloucester, who were second best for much of the game, stay sixth.

• OLLY Barkley condemned London Irish to a demoralising ninth successive defeat in all competitions after a dramatic finale at the Madejski Stadium.

Bath, 17-6 down just before half-time, claimed their first Aviva Premiership win since late September when Barkley struck gold with the game's final kick.

The England international's sixth penalty - added to a conversion of scrum-half Michael Claassens' try - gave him 20 points and left Irish in shock.

Wing Topsy Ojo's seventh league try of the season looked to have settled a nervy, fractious affair, his effort following earlier touchdowns by Sailosi Tagicakibau and Richard Thorpe.

Bath fought back to lead by two points when Claassens crossed midway through the second period, but they had to wait until the last minute for the chance to kill Irish off.

It came after Irish flanker Steffon Armitage collapsed a maul, and Barkley calmly stepped up to claim the points and leave Irish with the scant consolation of a losing bonus.