Danny Cipriani kicked Wasps to victory over Newcastle at Adams Park on Sunday © Getty Images

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Matches: London Wasps 12 - 6 Newcastle Falcons | Leicester Tigers 37 - 31 Sale Sharks | London Irish 38 - 21 Bristol Rugby | Northampton Saints 40 - 22 Gloucester Rugby | Worcester Warriors 22 - 8 Saracens

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: Bristol Rugby | England | Gloucester Rugby | Leicester Tigers | London Irish | Northampton Saints | Sale Sharks | Saracens | Worcester Warriors

With the play-off race wide open and the prickly subject of relegation to be decided, there was all to play for in round 20 of the Guinness Premiership. There were highs for Leicester and Harlequins and a crushing low for Paul Hull's Bristol along the way.

Wasps closed the weekend's action on Sunday and defied the form-book by defeating Newcastle 12-6 at Adams Park. With plenty of pride at stake after their loss to Bath in midweek and the news of long-time servant Josh Lewsey's imminent retirement, the onus was on Wasps to take the game to their visitors.

All they could muster in the first-half was three penalties and a drop-goal from the boot of fly-half Danny Cipriani however, the out-of-sorts playmaker playing his third game in a week after special dispensation from England manager Martin Johnson. Cipriani's tactical kicking was also excellent all afternoon, but Newcastle's defence also dererves great credit for denying Wasps a first-half score.

After the break it was the turn of Cipriani's opposite number Tom May to get the Falcons on the scoreboard with a 59th minute penalty before adding another five minutes later, his side improving dramatically as the game wore on. May's second penalty proved to be the final score of the game, with Wasps repelling waves of Newcastle attackers before the final whistle was blown on a taxing afternoon of rugby.

On Saturday, Leicester won a pulsating encounter 37-31 against Sale at Welford Road, powering to a bonus-point victory despite playing with 14 men for 58 minutes after prop Julian White was sent-off for punching England team-mate Andrew Sheridan.

The Tigers struck first through a rampaging Alesana Tuilagi before Mark Cueto levelled the scores with a try for the Sharks. Leicester's Kiwi winger Scott Hamilton hit back soon after in an end-to-end spectacle before White saw red for a blatant punch. With the Tigers rocked, Martin Castrogiovanni was introduced and produced a monumental performance at the head of a seven man pack.

Cueto scored his second before half-time, and the Tigers looked to be in trouble when Sale openside Neil Briggs crossed after the break. In front of their always passionate home crowd the Tigers dug deep however, and with a second try from Hamilton, an excellent flowing score finished by Dan Hipkiss and another for the impressive Sam Vesty they climbed in to top spot in the Premiership. Sale, who threw away a golden opportunity against 14 men, will need to scrap for a European place.

Bristol's time in the Guinness Premiership ended with their 38-21 defeat at the hands of London Irish at the Madejski Stadium. With Worcester defeating Saracens at Sixways, Paul Hull's men were consigned to National Division One for next season.

Bristol had taken the lead over Irish thanks to Scott Linklater, but were blown away by a brace of tries from England lock Nick Kennedy and another from openside Steffon Armitage either side of half-time. With the play-offs the aim for Toby Booth's Exiles, there was no let-up in the second period. Winger Adam Thompstone was the next man to grab a pair of tries, securing the bonus point before scrum-half Paul Hodgson also pounced for a try of his own.

Bristol's fate was sealed by a home win for Worcester, who were humbled by the basement side last weekend and hammered in midweek by Harlequins. The Warriors had a try from centre Alex Grove and a fine kicking performance from fullback Willie Walker to thank for their 22-8 victory.

The unsettled Saracens went behind to a penalty from Worcester's Matthew Jones after six minutes, and never overhauled their lead. Grove crossed in the second period, while Walker's accurate kicking saw him claim three penalties, a drop goal and a conversion. Sarries scored a late consolation through replacement flanker Dave Seymour, but the celebrations belonged to the home side.

At the top end of the table, Gloucester endured a difficult afternoon at Franklin's Gardens. Northampton ran out comfortable 40-22 winners, with a brace from in-form winger Paul Diggin providing the impetus from Jim Mallinder's men.

Diggin struck in the tenth minute to give his side the lead, before Gloucester's Nick Wood drew his side back into contention. England hooker Dylan Hartley struck back for the Saints before Gloucester again crossed the whitewash through lock Will James and winger Mark Foster.

The second-half belonged to the home side. Gloucester were only able to score a solitary penalty after the re-start, while the Saints scored two vital tries for the bonus-point through skipper Bruce Reihana and Diggin. Gloucester are in fifth after their defeat, and will be anxiously awaiting their remaining games as they push for a play-off place.