Aviva Premiership Round-up – Exeter and Wasps leave it late while Newcastle earn bonus point win
Joe Simmonds converted Thomas Waldrom's last-minute try to cap a dramatic comeback from Exeter, who rallied from 13 points down to edge out Northampton 31-30 at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs were staring at a fourth consecutive Aviva Premiership defeat when they trailed 30-17 with 10 minutes remaining but Don Armand and then Waldrom touched down.
Simmonds kept his cool to add the extras to both tries to seal a nail-biting win and one which took the defending champions above Saracens to the top of the standings.
Unfortunate Northampton could drop to 11th if rejuvenated Worcester defeat rock-bottom London Irish at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.
Alec Hepburn was Exeter's other try-scorer. There was also a penalty try award with Gareth Steenson kicking a penalty and a conversion.
Rob Horne, Ben Foden and Harry Mallinder scored Northampton's tries, all of which Piers Francis converted. Francis (two) and Stephen Myler both added penalties.
Zach Mercer's late try and a nerveless conversion from James Wilson clinched a 33-32 home victory for Bath against Sale.
The hosts had trailed for much of the topsy-turvy contest and were six points down in the final minutes before blindside flanker Mercer struck for his brace.
After more than 20 phases of attack and quick hands from Ben Tapuai, Mercer dummied over in the 78th minute to make it 32-31 to the visitors.
Versatile Kiwi Wilson was starting his first match at fly-half for Bath due to injuries and his crucial conversion was by no means simple, but he held his nerve to slot his seventh goal of the game
Jimmy Gopperth's last-gasp conversion ensured Wasps snatched a draw against Gloucester at Kingsholm.
Richard Hibbard and Charlie Sharples scored for the hosts, along with two penalties from Billy Twelvetrees, giving them an 18-6 lead at half-time
After Paddy McAllister was sent to the bin, Dan Robson and Thomas Young crossed the whitewash to bring Wasps level.
Gloucester looked set to win when Henry Trinder crossed, but Gopperth's conversion from Christian Wade's try levelled it.
The draw will go down as a missed opportunity for the Cherry and Whites, who failed to close the six-point gap to third-placed Wasps.
Sinoti Sinoti celebrated his new contract by scoring Newcastle's fourth and final try in a 28-10 win over Harlequins, their first Aviva Premiership victory at the Stoop in almost 18 years.
There was nothing to separate the sides at half-time as an early James Horwill try was cancelled out by Callum Chick at the other end.
But shortly after the restart, Kyle Cooper and Chris Harris went over in quick succession for the visitors before Sinoti followed them over the whitewash, sealing a first league victory in south-west London for the first time since September 2000.
An excellent touch-finder from Marcus Smith led to the game's first try on seven minutes, Horwill barging over at the second time of asking following a good offload by Dave Ward, Smith converting.