Saints scrape into Europe

Saracens also qualified for Europe

Newcastle 23-32 Northampton

Northampton can at last relax and enjoy Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Munster at Twickenham, after a second-half battering of Newcastle that guarantees them a place in Europe.

Match facts

Newcastle: Tries: Noon, May. Cons: Walder 2. Pens: Walder 3

Northampton: Tries: Cohen, A. Hepher, Malone, Walter. Cons: Grayson 3. Pens: Grayson 2

Saints winger Ben Cohen redeemed himself after being sin-binned for a late bodycheck with a virtuoso second-half performance that saw him run in a superb solo try and make two brilliant try-saving tackles.

But it took a pushover try by replacement Steve Walter to secure the win that ensured Northampton fifth place in the Premiership, and European rugby next season.

Newcastle looked sprightlier than they have for most of the season, with fullback Michael Stephenson causing alarm in the Saints' ranks.

Jamie Noon and Tim May scored to the Falcons the advantage, before Northampton's replacement scrum-half Dom Malone produced a Matt Dawson special to open up daylight between the sides.

Cohen's try and Walter's touchdown from a driven lineout were enough to ensure the win, but it was by no means emphatic and suggested a side that is exhausted after an enormously packed season.

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Saracens 37-10 Bristol

Saracens will also enjoy another run in the European Cup after a comfortable victory over Bristol.

Match facts

Saracens: Tries: Grewcock, Hill, Diprose, Cole. Cons: Lacroix. Pens: Lacroix 5

Bristol: Tries: Vander. Cons: Honiball. Pens: Honiball

A claustrophobic first half ended with an 11-3 lead for the home side, thanks to a Richard Hill try.

But Sarries persistence paid off with a riot of tries in the closing minutes for Ben Cole, Tony Diprose and Danny Grewcock.

Bristol's season would nonetheless have amounted to nothing as their hopes of a place in Europe hinged on Newcastle beating Northampton.

French marksman Thierry Lacroix signed off his Vicarage Road career with a 17-point haul, thanks to a conversion and five penalties.

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Wasps 35-32 Harlequins

Wasps avoided end of season embarrassment with an Alex King penalty to bury Harlequins' hopes of a bright finish.

Match facts

Wasps: Tries: Worsley, Volley, Henderson, Lewsey. Cons: King 3 Pens: King 3

Harlequins: Tries: Morgan, Gollins, Delmotte 2. Cons: Rees 3. Pens: Rees. Drop Goals: Richards

Quins, inspired by director of rugby Zinzan Brooke, looked much better than they have done in their last three league games, in which they conceded a mammoth 181 points.

Winger Ben Gollings gave them cause for hope with the opening try and a conversion plus a drop goal to take a 10-0 lead.

Then tries for Gareth Morgan and on-loan Frenchman Guillaune Delmotte looked to have put the game beyond doubt with less than 30 minutes gone.

Josh Lewsey and Paul Volley struck back with a touchdown apiece for Wasps before the interval, then Joe Worsley went over for another in the second half to close the gap to seven points.

Rob Henderson levelled the scores on 32-32 after 76 minutes, before King broke Quins' hearts with his injury time penalty.