Sale 27-20 Leicester
Sale Sharks maintained their unbeaten home record this season with victory over Leicester Tigers in horrendous conditions at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Sale flanker Cameron Neild crashed over and Nev Edwards added a second try before Leicester's Tommy Bell dotted down to make it 17-13 at half-time.
A thunderstorm early in the second half then saw play suspended for 10 minutes.
Leicester's Vereniki Goneva powered over to level the scores but Danny Cipriani's solo try won it for Sale.
Fly-half Cipriani was instrumental throughout the afternoon with the boot, but he also demonstrated his brilliance with the ball in hand as he weaved through Tigers' defence to squeeze down in the corner.
Leicester camped themselves within a few metres of Sharks' try-line in the final few minutes, but were unable to find a way through to rescue a draw.
The thrilling finish was part of a second half which also saw referee Tom Foley left with little choice but to take the players from the field with fork lightning and torrential rain lashing Greater Manchester.
Heavy showers and strong winds also made handling and kicking difficult before the break as Leicester, who welcomed back England trio Dan Cole, Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi after Six Nations duty, looked out of sorts.
Sale took advantage with a couple of well-crafted tries but appeared to have a stroke of luck for Edwards' score as replays suggested Sam James, who played a part in the move, was out of touch when he picked the ball up.
Goneva gave Leicester a chance of completing a fine turnaround when he used all of his pace and power to make it 20-20, but Cipriani made sure Sale took their unbeaten home run beyond 11 months.
Newcastle 20-34 Wasps
Wasps boosted their hopes of a top-two Premiership finish with a bonus-point win over struggling Newcastle.
After Mike Delany and Jimmy Gopperth traded penalties, tries from George Smith and Dan Robson put Wasps 15-3 up, but Taione Vea hit back on half-time.
Robson's second score and a try from Thomas Young moments later put the visitors in control after the break.
George McGuigan crossed to bring the Falcons to within seven points but Young's second try secured victory.
Wasps move one point behind second-placed Exeter, having denied Newcastle a losing bonus-point at the death.
Following a scrappy opening period, the visitors took control through Australia international Smith's first Premiership try and Robson's opportunistic finish.
Two tries in three minutes midway through the second half looked to have put Wasps out of sight at 27-13 but McGuigan powered over to give Newcastle hope.
Andy Goode came on with 10 minutes remaining for his final Falcons appearance before his retirement but the former England fly-half was unable to inspire a comeback.
Instead, Young's late score consigned the hosts to their fifth consecutive league defeat and they remain threatened by relegation, sitting just four points above bottom club London Irish.
Northampton 29-23 Harlequins
Northampton moved into the Premiership top four with a bonus-point victory over Harlequins at Franklin's Gardens.
Saints prop Alex Waller bundled over and Courtney Lawes added a second, but Tim Visser showed electric pace to give Quins a 13-12 half-time lead.
Quins extended their advantage as Jack Clifford ran in from 40 metres but Ben Foden's try put Saints back in front.
Ben Botica missed two crucial penalties for the visitors before Harry Mallinder dotted down Saints' fourth try.
Saints now face two crunch games in their bid to make the play-offs as they travel to third-placed Wasps on 3 April, before hosting Leicester, in fifth, on 16 April.
Harlequins' hopes of sneaking into the top four are fading as they sit six points behind Saints and still have to travel to leaders Saracens before hosting second-placed Exeter on the final day.
With the hosts 22-20 ahead Botica, who had been faultless from the tee all afternoon, missed a difficult kick from 45 metres and then sliced an easier attempt wide of the uprights.
Teenager Mallinder, son of Northampton director of rugby Jim, then made sure of the bonus point as he finished off George Pisi's initial burst.
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