NICK EASTER returned to inspire Harlequins to their first-bonus point win of the season.

The England No 8 missed the autumn internationals with a calf strain but crossed for a try in his first appearance in a month.

Quins are expected to announce their new Director of Rugby in the next fortnight after Dean Richards was sacked in July for his role in Bloodgate.

Academy boss Tony Diprose last night emerged as favourite to fill Richards' boots at the troubled west London club.

John Kingston will remain as head coach after overseeing the most traumatic period in the Londoners' history.

Kingston was in charge yesterday as his side produced comfortably their best display of the season to run in four tries in a scintillating game.

Danny Care, back from England duty, was outstanding at No 9 while George Lowe (2) and Nick Evans also scored tries.

Kingston said: "I didn't think the scoreline was a fair reflection of the difference between the two sides.

"It was reminiscent of some of our performances over the last two years. Whoever takes over has an excellent crop of players to work with."

Gloucester continue to labour in the lower reaches of the table but at least showed some fighting spirit to battle back from 32-16 down.

Charlie Sharples scored two tries and Gareth Delve also crossed.

Kingsholm chief Bryan Redpath said: "I thought the officiating and the refereeing was a poor display.

"You have to be careful what you say these days, people get fined or banned. But I was not happy with some of what happened out there, to both teams. I don't think it was of the right standard.

"My problem is that we now have games refereed differently from week to week.

"But I'm delighted to see Olly Morgan and James Simpson-Daniel playing again and coming through as well as they did."

SCORERS - Harlequins: tries Lowe 2, Evans, Easter; con Evans 3; pen Evans 3. Gloucester: tries Delve, Sharples 2; con Robinson; pen Burns 2, Robinson 2.

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Leicester 39-6 Leeds

TOBY FLOOD got 17 points on his Tigers comeback.

The fly-half gave England a reminder of his talents after an Achilles op.

Coach Matt O'Connor said: "Toby's world-class. I'd pick him."

SCORERS - Leic: tries pen, Allen, Deacon, Flood, Moody; pen Flood 2; con Flood 3, Staunton. Leeds: pen Ford 2.

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Bath 0-16 London Irish

RYAN LAMB piled on the pain for strugglers Bath.

The Exiles fly-half grabbed a full house of try, conversion, drop goal and penalties to leave Steve Meehan's side one off the bottom.

It lifted Irish into second spot following their shock home defeat by Newcastle.

SCORERS - Irish: try Lamb; con Lamb; pen Lamb 2; drop Lamb.

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Scotland 6-9 Argentina

ANDY ROBINSON suffered his first defeat in charge and admitted: We blew it.

The Pumas took advantage of a Nathan Hines sin-binning to hit back from 6-0 down and collect a fourth straight win at Murrayfield.

Boss Robbo said: "I thought the defining moment was the Hines sin bin and we also kicked the ball away in a three on one."

SCORERS - Scot: pens Godman 2; Arg: pen Rodriguez; drop Rodriguez.

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Ireland 15-10 South Africa

JONATHAN SEXTON put the boot into the world champions with five penalties.

The fly-half, preferred to Ronan O'Gara, kept his cool to inflict a fourth tour defeat on the Boks.

Schalk Burger, handed a derisory eight-week ban for gouging Irishman Luke Fiztgerald on the Lions tour, was booed after scoring the only try.

SCORERS - Ireland: pens Sexton 5. SA: try Burger; con Steyn; drop Steyn.

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Wales 12-33 Australia

WARREN GATLAND admitted Wales had been handed a lesson in a four-try drubbing.

The Dragons chief said: "They deserved to win. They dominated in most facets.

"We seemed to be quite flat and it was a huge lesson of what it is to play top sides. Their four tries came from our mistakes and turnovers."

SCORERS - Wales: pens Halfpenny, Jones 3. Australia: tries Ioane, Horwill, Pocock, Polota-Nau; pens: Giteau 3; cons Giteau 2.

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