Quins fear drop after comedy of errors

It started with Matt Salter gaining possession at a Quins' line-out 10 metres out and ended, two penalty awards and several failed attempts to breach the line later, with Paul Johnstone rumbling over off the back of a Bristol line-out. Felipe Contepomi converted.

After Greenwood dropped an easy pass he put some points on the board for the visitors with a drop goal in the 20th minute. But the England centre's high tackle on Spencer Brown a minute later allowed Contepomi to extend Bristol's lead. The stand-off then kicked another to make it 13-3.

Quins decided that the time for protecting their internationals had gone. Both Wood and Leonard were thrown on and, within minutes, their sheer power helped force a penalty which Burke kicked from inside the 22.

The fly half kicked another penalty one minute from time but Quins had left it too late

Bristol coach Dean Ryan said: 'A play-off position is there to be taken but there's no point talking about it unless we play better.' POOR handling prevented Saracens from knocking up a cricket score at Vicarage Road. Instead they settled for a 44-30 win over Sale, who had to thank 23-point Charlie Hodgson for keeping them in the match for so long.

With both sides keen to secure their top eight status ahead of time, an explosive encounter had been expected. But the tone was set early on from the moment Kevin Sorrell fumbled.

It was fitting that the first point should come from a driving maul, with lock Danny Grewcock touching down for Saracens.

Sorrell and Sale's Hodgson kept the score board ticking over with the boot but Saracens failed to take advantage when Sale's Mel Deane was sin-binned.

Ironically, they struck after his return. Tony Diprose made the opening to put through wing Tom Shanklin. Then Hodgson spotted a yawning gap in the Saracens' defence and scam-pered through for his first of two identical tries.

His good work was almost immediately undone when Sarries flanker Richard Hill dashed over before making the break for Darragh O'Mahony via Michael Walsh's handy contribution.

Further scores came from Matt Cairns and Tim Horan and Vaughan Going's late try was scant consolation for Sale.