Smith claims double in Tigers victory

Matt Smith scored two tries as Leicester banished their away-day blues with a 31-29 victory over out-of-form London Irish.

Smith scored either side of half-time in a match largely controlled by the Tigers, who had failed to win their last five on the road.

They had to withstand a tough last five minutes, however, with England reject Steffon Armitage and majestic Samoan centre Seilala Mapusua to the fore for the home side.

Harlequins wing Ugo Monye broke Bristol hearts by sinking the Guinness Premiership relegation favourites with an injury-time try to secure a 17-14 win for Quins.

Monye, a second-half substitute, struck after Bristol went 14-10 ahead through a 73rd-minute penalty try.

It denied the Premiership's bottom club only their second league victory of the season as they began life without Richard Hill.

The future may be uncertain for many of the Saracens players, but the present was bright as they beat Sale, second in the Guinness Premiership, 24-23 at Vicarage Road.

After away defeats to lowly Northampton and Newcastle seventh-placed Saracens returned to winning ways with tries from prop Nick Lloyd and wing Noah Cato and 14 points - three penalties, a conversion and a drop goal - from stand-off Glen Jackson.

Sale should have snatched a late victory, however. Lock Dean Schofield scored his second try four minutes from the end, but centre Lee Thomas pulled the relatively simple conversion wide.