Exiles officially relegated

Conor O'Shea's side rejuvenated their hopes of Champions Cup rugby next season, but 12th-placed Irish gave them a real scare after coming back from 3-19 down to lead 25-22 with 15 minutes remaining.

In Exeter, Jack Nowell's excellent finish capped a fantastic Exeter Chiefs' performance as they dominated Wasps 24-3 to move into second-

While in London, it is not often fans of both teams return home from a match happy but that was the case at Allianz Park on Sunday, as Saracens ensured they will finish the Premiership campaign top of the table and it was confirmed Newcastle Falcons will be playing in England's top flight next season.

Exeter Chiefs 24-3 Wasps

Dai Young's side did not make it into the Chiefs' 22 until the 75th minute in what was an extraordinary defensive performance from the West Country men to deny Wasps a 12th win in 13 Premiership fixtures

OIlly Woodburn's outstanding try was the difference at half-time and while Chiefs played with considerable adventure, turning down several kickable penalties to wield their much-vaunted driving maul, they perhaps deserved a greater return on their territorial dominance than a 7-3 lead at the break.

But that came in the second half as Steenson nudged a penalty, while Jack Nowell and Phil Dollman crossed to put the result beyond doubt – and with these sides likely to meet again in the semifinal, it was a huge statement from the Chiefs.

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie stole a rare march on George Smith two minutes in, lasering in on a lack of Wasps support to win an early penalty.

England teammate Nowell was prominent in the opening exchanges, stepping in at scrumhalf on numerous occasions and threatening around the fringes, while Cowan-Dickie was his usual robust self in the loose.

Both teams were playing with their typical ambition, attacking from deep, but Chiefs' superb line-speed kept Wasps under the kosh, repeatedly forcing pivot Jimmy Gopperth down blind-alleys.

Chiefs gave further signal of their intent by opting for the corner ten minutes in – with a kickable three on offer – but were stymied by excellent Joe Launchbury's maul defence.

Cowan-Dickie's all-action display continued, the hooker helping Exeter push Wasps off their own ball and when Nathan Hughes managed to get the ball away, the England youngster was on hand to force another turnover at ruck-time.

It took a remarkable finish from Woodburn to finally break the stalemate after 27 minutes. Will Chudley spotted space on the blindside and picked out Woodburn, who proceeded to bump Frank Halai, keep his foot in play and then – with the tiniest of margins to play with – go through Joe Simpson and over. Steenson converted superbly.

Daly got in on the action with five minutes left in the half, banging over a penalty from halfway to bring them within four at the break.

Chiefs began the second half in efficient fashion – a powerful scrum earning Steenson a shot at goal after just three minutes, which he thumped over from out wide before missing another moments later.

Baxter's men had the bit between their teeth defensively and Wasps struggled to get any momentum going in attack, despite the best efforts of Hughes and Launchbury. 

The pressure eventually told on Young's men as Exeter combined their smothering defence with purposeful attack.

As Chiefs pressed, Ian Whitten and Dollman traded passes before the fullback picked a sharp line off Whitten then brushed past Daly's tackle and under the sticks. Steenson converted to put Exeter 17-3 ahead with just over 20 minutes left.

James Short was then denied what would have been a remarkable score as a bobbling ball was ruled to be simultaneously grounded by Wasps' replacement fullback Rob Miller.

But England's Nowell added the gloss when he finished off a sweeping team move by breaking through three tackles before Steenson added the extras.

The scorers:

For Exeter:

Tries: Woodburn, Dollman, Nowell

Cons: Steenson 3

Pen: Steenson

For Wasps:

Pen: Daly

Teams:

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Carl Rimmer, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Sam Hill, 23 James Short.

Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Carlo Festuccia 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Craig Hampson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.

Referee: Matthew Carley

Assistant Referees: Paul Dix, Ashley Rowden

TMO: Graham Hughes

London Irish 25-32 Harlequins

Charlie Walker had crossed twice and Ross Chisholm added an exceptional third as O'Shea's men opened up in perfect conditions at the Madejski Stadium, a Theo Brophy Clews penalty the only consolation for Tom Coventry's side.

Irish refused to capitulate and roared back with three tries of their own to a solitary Ben Botica penalty – captain Luke Narraway touched down from the back of Exiles' potent driving maul before Aseli Tikoirotuma and David Paice scored either side of half-time .

Brophy Clews' penalty put Irish in a winning position, but a Nick Evans penalty and Kyle Sinckler's try denied them a fairy-tale comeback.

Quins were clearly in no mood to hang around and after 11 minutes Danny Care found a rampaging Sam Twomey, the big second-row off-loading to George Lowe who shifted the ball for Walker to race over.

Botica added the extras for a 7-0 lead, but Brophy Clews pegged them back with a penalty two minutes later.

Walker was again on hand ten minutes later to collect Chisholm's perfectly weighted grubber-kick and grab his second of the afternoon, which Botica again converted.

Barely a minute passed before O'Shea's side cut loose again in the May sunshine, Lowe's swerving outside break took him into space and his pass found an on-rushing Marland Yarde, the winger unselfishly moved the ball inside to Chisholm who galloped over, but Botica could not add the extras.

Irish were in danger of wilting, but their pack began to secure some possession and Brophy Clews worked them into the right areas as Quins' penalty count began to sneak up.

Narraway was the man to cross after Harlequins finally gave way under the pressure of Irish's tight driving mauls, but Brophy Clews' conversion drifted wide.

Coventry's side continued to fight their way back into contention and with the line in sight winger Tikoirotuma went close once before popping up again in midfield moments later and despite being hauled down, reached over a second Irish try.

Brophy Clews' conversion brought them within four, but Botica stopped the rot with a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a 22-15 lead.

Neither side looked especially threatening as defence initially dominated the second-half and it was the hosts who broke the dead-lock with just over 20 minutes in the half.

They threw caution to the wind in opting for the corner from another Quins penalty and they were rewarded when veteran hooker Paice broke from another strong Exiles maul and bounced through several tackles to score his third try of the season. Brophy Clews' conversion drew Irish level. 

The young flyhalf put Irish ahead for the first time with less than 15 remaining, but the hosts then gifted Nick Evans a penalty chance to level, which he duly took.

Paice's try looked to have woken Quins from their slumber and as their off-loads started to stick, they attacked from deep.

Yarde made good ground down one touchline before the ball was pulled back in the other direction and as they began to sweep across field again, Lowe cut against the grain and found Sinckler – the replacement prop showed serious fleet of foot to round two defenders before applying the afterburners to go over from 35 metres. Evans added the extras.

The scorers: 

For Irish:

Tries: Narraway, Tikoirotuma, Paice

Cons: Brophy Clews 2

Pens: Brophy Clews 2

For Harlequins:

Tries: Walker 2, Chisholm, Sinckler

Cons: Botica 2, Evans

Pens: Botica, Evans

Teams:

London Irish: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Theo Brophy Clews, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Luke Narraway (captain), 5 Matt Symons, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Smallbone.

Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Johnny Harris, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Ciaran Hearn.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Winston Stanley, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Danny Care (captain), 8 Nick Easter, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Jack Clifford, 5 Sam Twomey, 4 James Horwill, 3 Will Collier, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Mark Lambert.

Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Mat Luamanu, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Nick Evans, 23 Ross Chisholm.

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant Referees: Robin Goodliffe, Andrew Pearce

TMO: Keith Lewis

Saracens 23-14 Newcaste Falcons

Newcastle showed a lot of character and led 14-3 at half-time thanks to a brace from Marcus Watson before Sarries ran in three tries in the second period to guarantee themselves a home semifinal later this month.

Jackson Wray also scored twice and there was a score for Maro Itoje as Saracens fans said goodbye to flank Jacques Burger following his last match before retirement.

Both sides had opportunities in the opening ten minutes as a sedate start was punctured by some quick ball from Newcastle, with only resolute defending from Saracens denying the Falcons an early score.

Sarries had a good chance themselves on eight minutes, when Chris Ashton intercepted a risky pass by Adam Powell on the Newcastle tryline. Ashton played the ball back to Wray, but he was unable to control it and knocked the ball forward.

The home side broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Newcastle were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and Charlie Hodgson coolly kicked the resulting penalty from just outside the 22 on the right-hand side.

Newcastle almost struck back immediately when a blistering run by Michael Young took them deep into Saracens' territory but was halted ten metres from the tryline.

But Mark McCall's men lost the ball from the resulting scrum and Newcastle shifted the ball to the near side rapidly, with Chris Harris timing his hand-off to Watson to perfection.

Watson met the ball on the run and powered to the corner to put the visitors ahead, with Craig Willis adding a difficult conversion from the touchline after the TMO confirmed the score.

Sarries missed a chance to cut the deficit to one point on 24 minutes, when Hodgson hit the post after Falcons were penalised for not rolling away.

But the visitors had the better of the first half and took full advantage when they scored a second try just before the break.

A good kick behind from Willis opened Saracens up and Watson collected it and squirmed his way to the line, with Richard Wigglesworth clinging to his ankles to send the Falcons into the break 14-3 ahead after Willis converted.

Sarries started the second half sharply and Jackson Wray forced the ball over from a maul, but Hodgson missed the conversion to leave the gap at six points.

Jacques Burger was then withdrawn to a standing ovation and that seemed to galvanise both the crowd and Saracens players, as they regained the lead seconds later with an almost identical try to their first – Hodgson adding the conversion and then a long-range penalty to make it 18-14.

Maro Itoje then put daylight between the two sides with a try on 69 minutes after yet another strong maul from the home side, but Hodgson missed his fourth kick of the day to leave Newcastle nine points behind.

The scorers: 

For Saracens:

Tries: Wray 2, Itoje

Con: Hodgson

Pens: Hodgson 2

For Newcastle:

Tries: Watson 2

Cons: Willis 2

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil De Kock, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jared Saunders, 1 Richard Barrington.

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Nick Tompkins.

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Dan Temm, 6 Will Welch (c), 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Taione Vea, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Rob Vickers.

Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Andrew Foster, 19 Calum Green, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Tom Penny.

Referee: Ian Tempest

Assistant Referees: Phil Watters, Roy Maybank

TMO: David Grashoff

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