Northampton surged nine points clear at the top of the English Premiership with a crucial 21-13 victory over title rivals Bath on Saturday.
James Wilson and Mike Haywood scored first half tries to put Northampton in command at the Recreation Ground, while Stephen Myler kicked three penalties and a conversion.
Bath failed to build on an early Olly Woodburn try and, although full-back Tom Homer booted two penalties, Northampton's powerful display ensured they cemented their advantage in first place.
Handing Bath a second successive defeat leaves the reigning English champions Northampton firmly on course for a home play-off tie in May.
Elsewhere, Danny Cipriani celebrated his new two-year contract by helping Sale to a hard-fought 14-10 victory over Saracens at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The in-form fly-half was influential throughout after being released back to Sale following his recent involvement with England's Six Nations campaign.
Having turned down a lucrative offer from French champions Toulon, Cipriani this week signed a new two-year deal with Sale and two first-half tries from centre Sam Tuitupou and lock Jonathan Mills put the hosts in control.
Cipriani, 27, converted both tries to establish a 14-3 interval advantage over an ill-disciplined Saracens side who lost openside flanker Jacques Burger and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth to the sin-bin in the first half.
Exeter gave their play-off hopes a boost with a 32-21 win against Harlequins at the Stoop.
Rob Baxter's Exeter suffered a terrible first half after Phil Dollman was sent to the sin-bin following Ian Whitten's yellow card.
Down to 13 men and trailing 8-0 after 15 minutes, Exeter fought back to lead 16-11 at half-time thanks to an opportunistic try from Ben White and three Henry Slade penalties.
Nick Evans kept Quins in touch with a try and 11 points from the boot but it was Slade who stole the show in the second half as the fly-half scored 16 points to secure the victory.
Bottom of the table London Welsh slumped to their 15th consecutive Premiership defeat of the season as Gloucester won 48-10 at Kingsholm.
Gloucester scored six tries through Ross Moriarty, Sharples, Kvesic, Sila Puafisi and two from Henry Purdy, with James Hook kicking two penalties and six conversions.
Source: AFP