Tries from fly-half Nick Evans, Sam Smith and Mike Brown helped Harlequins keep their hopes of a top-four Premiership finish alive with victory over  London Irish on Saturday.

Evans converted his own try early on after James O'Connor's grubber kick in his own 22 was smothered, but the Australian kept the visitors in it with three penalties.

Marland Yarde, set to switch to the Stoop next season, was then sin-binned for a tackle on Jordan Turner-Hall, but the Irish defence kept Quins at bay.

But Irish could not stop Smith, who joins Worcester next season, and England full back Brown from securing the win ahead of next week's Amlin Cup trip to Stade Francais.

The result leaves Quins six points adrift of Bath in fourth in the race for a Premiership play-off spot with a crunch clash at Sale Sharks looming large on the horizon.