Harlequins finished the regular season on top of the standings after beating Sale Sharks 10-24 and booking a place in the play offs against Northampton Saints.

Against a weakened Sale outfit, Harlequins took a 15-3 half-time lead through tries from Danny Care and Mike Brown. Nick Evans added a conversion and a penalty with Tommy Bell responding for the hosts.

Three more Evans' three-pointers sealed the victory and top position in the Aviva Premiership, despite Will Addison's consolation try for the hosts.

Despite their handicap, it was Sale who started the brighter with Addison and Tom Brady going close to crossing the whitewash.

Eventually, Quins superior experience, power and verve told, and Care went over after several charges from their forwards with Evans converting.

Bell reduced the deficit for the Sharks after 31 minutes before Evans took the score out to 10-3 with one of his own.

But the visitors continued to look the more threatening and, on the stroke of half-time, Brown latched onto his fly-half's sweet pass to touch down for an unconverted score.

Harlequins continued to press in the second half and deservedly went further into lead with two Evans' penalties.

However, when Nick Easter was sin-binned for the visitors, Addison scampered clear from the halfway line and touched down.

But they couldn't mount a comeback and Evans secured the win with a three-pointer, and a home semi-final position.

As for Sale, despite the defeat, they will play Heineken Cup rugby next season because of Leicester's victory over Bath.

Final Score Sale Sharks (3) 10 Harlequins (15) 24

Scorers

Sale Sharks
Tries: Addison
Cons: Bell
Pens: Bell

Harlequins
Tries: Care, Brown
Cons: Evans
Pens: Evans 2

Referee: Martin Fox (79th Premiership game)

Teams

Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Will Addison, 12.Luther Burrell, 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Tommy Bell, 9.Scott Mathie, 1.Lee Imiolek, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Kearnan Myall, 5.Tom Holmes, 6.Will Bordill, 7.David Seymour (capt.), 8.Mark Easter.

Replacements: 16.Tommy Taylor, 17. Ross Harrison, 18.Joe Ward, 19.Billy Emerson, 20.Jordan Davies, 21.Will Cliff, 22.Iain Thornley, 23.Charlie Amesbury.

Harlequins

15. Mike Brown 14. Tom Williams 13. George Lowe 12. Jordan Turner-Hall 11. Sam Smith 10. Nick Evans 9. Danny Care 8. Nick Easter 7. Chris Robshaw (C) 6. Maurie Fa’asavalu5. George Robson4. Olly Kohn 3. James Johnston 2. Joe Gray 1. Joe Marler

Replacements : 16. Rob Buchanan 17. Mark Lambert 18. Will Collier 19. Tomas Vallejos 20. Tom Guest 21. Karl Dickson 22. Rory Clegg 23. Matt Hopper