Bath maintained their challenge for an English League play-off place with a dramatic late victory over 11-man Gloucester.

Gloucester had two players sent off – substitute prop Sila Puafisi and scrumhalf Tavis Knoyle – while they also finished the game with centre Mike Tindall and hooker Huia Edmonds in the sin-bin.

Bath, who had three players yellow-carded themselves, won with a 79th-minute penalty try – converted by flyhalf George Ford – after Gloucester collapsed a maul. It was Bath's first league win at Kingsholm since 2006.

Leicester, meanwhile, put pressure on second-placed Northampton with a four-try victory over Wasps at Welford Road.

Northampton will be feeling the heat when they meet log leaders Saracens on Sunday, as they are now just two points ahead of Leicester, with three games left.

Saracens are sitting comfortably with a seven-point cushion, which almost guarantees them a home semi-final. But they will nevertheless remember the 41-20 pounding they took when playing away to Saints early in the competition, and they will not want to put their position in jeopardy.

England centre Manu Tuilagi starred for Leicester, scoring two of his sides four tries to take his total to three in five games since his return from injury.

Nick Evans scored 12 points as Harlequins kept their Premiership play-off hopes alive with a dominant 27-12 victory over the Sale Sharks.

Saturday results:

Sale 12 Harlequins 27
Leicester 27 London Wasps 15
Worcester 33 Exeter 38
Gloucester Rugby 17 Bath 18

Sunday fixtures:

Saracens vs Northampton
London Irish vs Newcastle

Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images