Harlequins 21 Bath 14

Bath slipped from first place to third in the Guinness Premiership after going down to their first away league defeat of the season at the Twickenham Stoop.

Steve Meehan's side led 14-9 when Daniel Browne went over 10 minutes into the second half for his third try in as many matches – but late scores from Jordan Turner-Hall and Ceri Jones gave Quins victory.

The result meant Bath took seven points from a possible 15 during the autumn Test period, a return that cost them two league places and leadership of the table heading into the break for Heineken Cup action.

But head coach Meehan, whose side were without Lee Mears, Matt Stevens and Michael Lipman throughout the three-match period and also lost Danny Grewcock and Alex Crockett for yesterday's game, could not fault his players' efforts.

"I'm not going to sit here and blame players for the effort they put in – I thought the effort was fantastic," said Meehan.

"Overall I'm very happy with the squad. We started with a tremendous battle against Leicester and as a result were physically a little drained – but we still went and did nicely at Northampton.

"You cannot question the effort that the players and staff have put in over this period and it will take special sides to deny us if we continue to put in like that.

"We just need a couple of things to go our way and hopefully those guys who come into the side next week can lift us a little."

Bath fly-half Butch James and Quins' Nick Evans landed three penalties apiece in a first half that ended 9-9.

Bath were first to score, after three minutes, when Butch James landed a penalty as Harlequins were penalised at a ruck.

Nick Evans soon replied, though, kicking the hosts level with a penalty before another James penalty – after Peter Short's powerful break had won decent territory for Bath – nudged the visitors back in front.

Bath were on the back foot when Stuart Hooper's pass was intercepted by Andy Gomarsall, who broke down-field and freed Seb Stegmann, only for Tom Cheeseman's covering tackle to deny the winger a try.

However, Bath strayed offside as they desperately scrambled to recover numbers in defence – and Evans landed the points to make it 6-6.

Bath were given a reprieve when Evans missed a relatively straight penalty from 25 metres – and James soon kicked them into a 9-6 lead following a scrummaging infringement.

Quins hit back again, though, with Evans making it 9-9 after Jonny Fa'amatuainu was penalised for leading with his shoulder at a tackle.

The first try came on 50 minutes when Bath broke out of defence after stealing Quins' line-out ball five metres from the visitors' line.

Matt Banahan had carried Evans' long kick into touch – but his side were soon on the attack after stealing possession, Hooper and Premiership debutant Shontayne Hape carrying the ball out of defence before Michael Stephenson chipped to touch.

Quins became pinned in their 22 – and after Matt Banahan was stopped a few metres short on the left, play was worked wide where Pieter Dixon jinked and passed to set up No 8 Browne. James missed the conversion.

Such a slim advantage was always going to be precarious with Quins attacking in numbers, Evans and Gomarsall pulling the strings behind an energetic pack.

Quins levelled at 14-14 when Evans' long pass found Turner-Hall in space and he managed to hold off the Bath defence to score out wide.

The home side then took the lead with 11 minutes remaining, putting Bath's defence under pressure when they ran a penalty after the visitors were penalised at a scrummage just inside their own 22.

They hammered away at the line, with Gomarsall's excellent pass finding the only gap in the Bath defence for prop Jones to score.

Bath hit back and there was a chance for late drama when they broke into the Quins 22 with purpose in the closing seconds – but they were turned over and the match was lost.