Aviva Premiership 2013: Updated Table After Saturday's Results

The Aviva Premiership continued apace on Saturday with two hard-fought encounters between Gloucester and Wasps at Kingsholm, and Leicester and Harlequins at Welford Road.

In the absence of international players, the standard of rugby remained high and spectators were treated to two sensational encounters.

In Gloucester, the hosts fell to a narrow 30-32 defeat to visitors Wasps, while Harlequins also recorded an impressive 23-16 win over Leicester.

The results leave the league table as follows:

	Team	Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points For	Points Against	Bonus Points	Total
1	Saracens	6	5	0	1	178	114	3	23
2	Bath	7	5	0	2	147	107	2	22
3	Northampton	6	4	1	1	168	96	4	22
4	Exeter	7	5	0	2	166	142	1	21
5	Harlequins	7	4	0	3	131	100	3	19
6	Leicester	7	3	1	3	151	121	4	18
7	London Wasps	7	3	0	4	161	149	6	18
8	Sale	7	3	0	4	114	141	2	14
9	Newcastle	6	3	0	3	66	110	1	13
10	Gloucester	7	2	0	5	131	182	4	12
11	London Irish	6	2	0	4	110	148	2	10
12	Worcester	7	0	0	7	85	198	2	2

Gloucester 30-32 Wasps, Kingsholm

The Cherry and Whites' poor start to the current season continues, albeit with a narrow defeat to their London-based rivals.

Gloucester had looked to have put themselves in a good position to go on and win the game, having trailed at half-time. However, a brace from England winger Christian Wade was to prove decisive.

Rob Cook crossed at the end for Nigel Davies' side, securing a losing bonus point, but it will be scant consolation to a side that have now won twice in seven games despite a wealth of options in the back-line.

Questions have been raised over the performance of the club's front five this season and Saturday's clash will have done little to dampen those concerns.

Leicester 16-23 Harlequins, Welford Road

Harlequins inflicted a second straight defeat on a Leicester side missing a total of 13 players to injury and international duty, putting in a convincing performance at Welford Road.

A late penalty try for the hosts ensured Richard Cockerill's side escaped with a bonus point for their woes, but they were comfortably second best to a Nick Evans-inspired Quins side.

Evans was lethal with the boot all afternoon to contribute 13 points to his side's cause, while Nick Easter and Matt Hopper both crossed for the visitors.

The result moves Quins up to within touching distance of the playoff places, moving one place ahead of Leicester.

Regardless of Leicester's current selection concerns, it was a fine win by the visitors and should give them much-needed momentum heading into the difficult winter months.