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Leicester will play host to Bath in the Guinness Premiership semi-finals after a crushing win over Bristol saw the Tigers confirm their top spot end to the regular season.

The Tigers beat the relegated west-country side 73-3 on Saturday, running in 11 tries in the process, to secure first place in the table.

Geordan Murphy (2), Toby Flood, Julian White, Ayoola Erinle, Dan Hipkiss, Sam Vesty, Ben Woods, Jordan Crane, Johne Murphy and Tom Varndell scored the Tigers tries.

It proved to be a disappointing farewell for Bristol's former England hooker Mark Regan, who came off the bench to play his final game.

Bath, who started the day in third place, were overhauled by London Irish, despite a 33-18 home victory over Saracens.

Fly-half Ryan Davis led the way for Bath, delivering an assured display, booting four penalties and three conversions for a 100 per cent strike-rate.

Andrew Higgins, Peter Short and Matt Banahan all crossed the try-line for the hosts but their failure to claim a bonus point means they must visit Leicester.

Irish won 32-15 at Worcester and they will now travel to Harlequins - 31-12 winners against Newcastle - in the play-offs.

It was not easy for the Exiles at Sixways as the Warriors put up stern resistence in the first half but were overcome when Irish upped the pace and grabbed a bonus point after the interval.

Sailosi Tagicau, Chris Hala'ufia, Paul Hodgson, Declan Danaher and Adam Thompstone grabbed the visitors' tries.

Quins took just 29 minutes to score the four tries they needed to secure a home semi-final.

England number eight Nick Easter stormed in for the first two inside 17 minutes, while hooker Tani Fuga grabbed the third and full-back Mike Brown clinched the bonus point with 11 minutes still to go until half time.

Gloucester and Sale had both begun the day with outside hopes of making the top four, but results elsewhere deemed their matches irrelevant.

Sale kept their part of the bargain, secured the bonus-point victory they needed. They beat Newcastle 24-18 but it mattered little.

Departing captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scored a try in the first half and the home side claimed three second-half scores through Eifion Roberts, Dean Schofield and a superb effort from Mathew Tait.

Gloucester's miserable end to the season continued as they were crushed 34-3 at Wasps.

The result was significant for Ian McGeechan's men as it meant they finished seventh - a position which could be good enough to earn them a place in the Heineken Cup next season.

However, Wasps will only play in Europe's elite competition if Bourgoin win this season's European Challenge Cup.

Riki Flutey crossed twice while Tom Voyce and Simon Shaw also touched down as the champions, who had given up hope of defending their crown long ago, ended the season in positive fashion.

The only sombre note was provided by Danny Cipriani's withdrawal in some discomfort. The England fly-half, who kicked 10 points in a flawless afternoon, hobbled from the pitch at half-time.

Josh Lewsey, a World Cup winner with England, played the 262nd and final game of a trophy-laden 13-year career with the club.

Both Guinness Premiership semi-finals will take place on Saturday May 9, with the final at Twickenham being held a week later.

Sporting Life / Eurosport