Falcons provide late sting in tale at Wasps, Exeter edge out Worcester

Newcastle Falcons gave their Premiership survival bid a massive boost with a last-gasp 20-19 win at Wasps and Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs edged out struggling Worcester Warriors to go eight points clear.

The Falcons claimed a huge victory over second-bottom Worcester last weekend and trail the Warriors by only three points after Brett Connon’s penalty downed Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

Wasps led 6-3 at half-time, but two tries in the space of seven minutes from Nemani Nagusa and Sonatane Takulua gave Dean Richards’ men a 17-9 lead midway through the second half.

A fourth Rob Miller penalty followed by a converted try from Ben Harris made it advantage Wasps, but their play-off hopes took a blow when Connon stepped up to win it right at the end.

Starting to look a bit better down there. The Great Escape is on! pic.twitter.com/xzq4ReY8Fc

— Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) March 9, 2019

Worcester gave the Chiefs a scare at Sixways, Rob Baxter’s side clinging on for a 33-30 victory after second-placed Saracens were beaten by Bath on Friday.

Santiago Cordero helped himself to a brace of first-half tries while Olly Woodburn crossed on the stroke of half-time as Exeter went into the interval with a 19-6 lead.

Tom O’Flaherty and Harry Williams also went over the whitewash as Exeter bagged the bonus point, but scores from Bryce Heem, Ted Hill, Tom Howe and Chris Pennell ensured Worcester salvaged a losing bonus point.

Bristol Bears pulled off a 26-24 win over a Northampton Saints side that paid the price for going down to 11 men as they saw four players receive yellow cards in a dramatic finish, Ian Madigan’s conversion of a Piers O’Conor try settling a see-saw contest in favour of the visitors.