Former Wallabies fullback Chris Latham will miss the rest of the English rugby season after suffering a dislocated and fractured shoulder.

Latham sustained the injury making a try-saving tackle in his team Worcester's valuable 14-10 win over Gloucester on Sunday.

"His season effectively is over," said Worcester coach Mike Ruddock.

He will be back next season there is no doubt about that and we wish him a speedy recovery."

The win helped edge second-last placed Worcester further clear of bottom team Bristol.

Gloucester's decision to allow Willie Walker to play backfired spectacularly as the on-loan fly-half kicked the hosts closer to safety.

Walker joined Worcester on loan last month after Gloucester recruited Carlos Spencer from Northampton.

But there was no clause in the agreement which prevented Walker playing in this fixture and he proved a pivotal figure, landing three penalties in nine first-half minutes.

Harlequins turned on the style against Sale to keep their Premiership play-off bid on course with a convincing 38-20 victory.

The hosts scored four tries in the second half to sweep Sale aside and move into fourth place.

Centre De Wet Barry secured what could prove an important bonus point with their fourth try after hooker Gary Botha, winger Seb Stegmann and number eight Tom Guest struck the earlier blows for Quins.

Fly-half Chris Malone, who is moving to London Irish at the end of the season, kicked 18 points, landing four penalties and three conversions after being called up in place of injured former New Zealand number 10 Nick Evans.

Ex-England fly-half Charlie Hodgson replied with five penalties from five attempts and a late consolation try for Sale, who have now lost seven of their last eight away matches.

Sale, whose own top four hopes were dealt a blow, suffered another with the return of All Blacks star Luke McAlister lasting only 26 minutes.

London Irish edged a nail-biting encounter 32-27 against Northampton in front of a 21,000 crowd at the Madejski Stadium.

It was end-to-end stuff with from Tom Homer kicking eight from eight on his way to 22 points.

London Irish coach Toby Booth hailed teenage fullback Homer and said: "Homer does that week-in week-out in training. He is a metronomic kicker and is a natural at it.

"He's forgotten he's only 18 and has kicked us to victory before a large crowd."

Wasps pushed Bristol to the brink of Premiership relegation with a 21-19 win at Adams Park, but failed to convince that their European Cup qualification ambitions will be realised.

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