Leicester Tigers managed to squeeze into the Premiership play-offs after coming from behind in the dying minutes to beat Harlequins 31-28.

The Tigers were trailing with four minutes to go when Tom Varndell pounced to score his second try of the game, which was converted by Andy Goode, to secure a dramatic bonus-point win. Harlequins had led for most of the second half and been nine points up at half-time.

Leicester will travel to Gloucester in the semi-finals, after the Premiership leaders overcame local rivals Bath in a low-scoring match at Kingsholm. Winger James Simpson-Daniel scored the only try in the first half of a physical contest and Gloucester held on, in spite of Olly Barkley's two penalties, for an 8-6 victory and the chance to avenge last year's championship final defeat to Leicester.

Third-placed Bath will travel to London Wasps for their play-off after Tom Voyce scored a hat-trick in their 45-28 defeat of Leeds. Wasps went 9-0 down early on but recovered to seal second place in the Premiership thanks to Voyce's dazzling display and further tries from Fraser Waters, Rafael Ibanez and Joe Ward.

Sale Sharks missed out on a play-off place after losing 17-7 to London Irish. First-half tries by wing Topsy Ojo and centre Seilala Mapusua gave the visitors a 12-0 half-time lead, and Mapusua scored again in the second-half to compound the Sharks misery. Prop Chris Bell crossed over in injury time, but it was not enough for Sale, whose prospective play-off place went to Leicester.