BATH plunged into deeper trouble with yet another Premiership defeat on home soil.

First-half tries from Andy Saull and wing Noah Cato gave Saracens the edge.

Although Ryan Davis and Jack Cuthbert slotted penalties over for Bath, their shocking run now stands at five defeats from seven League games this term.

Bath coach Steve Meehan said: "I thought our effort was great and our performance much improved.

"However, we missed a couple of tackles and that was crucial."

Tom Cheeseman added to Bath's woes when he was sin-binned shortly before the interval.

When Saracens substitute prop Rhys Gill went the same way 11 minutes from time, Bath made the most of the numerical advantage with a try from captain Michael Claasens.

SCORERS - Bath: try Claassens; pens Davis, Cuthbert. Saracens: tries: Saull, Cato; conv: Jackson

HARLEQUINS 9, LONDON IRISH 9

RORY CLEGG went from villain to hero as crisis club Quins salvaged a morale-boosting draw.

The young fly-half, playing in place of the injured Nick Evans, held his nerve to slot a 45m penalty goal after Steffon Armitage was pinged.

Clegg missed two earlier dropped goal efforts but made no mistake with the last kick of the game.

Quins boss John Kingston said: "I thought a draw was the least we deserved. We were missing 17 players through injury but hung in well.

"Rory showed tremendous nerve."

SCORERS - Harlequins: pens Clegg 3. London Irish: pens Lamb 2, Hewat.

LEICESTER 29, NORTHAMPTON 15

LEICESTER have beaten London Irish to the six-figure signature of star Australian back Lote Tuqiri.

A senior club insider said 30-year-old Tuqiri would be unveiled early this week.

And England have lost lock Richard Blaze, who is out of the autumn Tests with a foot injury.

Leicester fly-half Jeremy Staunton was the hero last night, with a personal haul of 19 points.

Tries from Christian Day and Chris Ashton kept the Saints in touch but Staunton was too good.

SCORERS - Leicester: tries Amorosino, Allen; pens Staunton 5; cons Staunton 2. Northampton: tries Day, Ashton; pen Myler; con Myler.

This article has 0 comments