Biggar stars as Saints end long wait for a home win

Biggar set up an Alex Mitchell try and scored one of his own, shortly after returning from the sin bin.

His score gave Saints the breathing space they needed to avoid the nervy conclusion they have become so accustomed to at the Gardens.

And Mike Haywood applied the finishing touches with a bonus-point score in the final minute of the 29-10 success.

It meant Saints were able to celebrate a win in a Gallagher Premiership game on home soil for the first time in 2020 at the final attempt.

The victory was Saints' first anywhere since August and ended a run of 12 successive defeats in all competitions.

They had set the tone well from the off as Lewis Ludlam helped to earn a breakdown penalty that Biggar landed to make it 3-0.

But Worcester were close to an early score soon after as they flew down the right and Perry Humphreys failed to make the final pass, forcing Billy Searle to knock on.

Saints won a penalty from the resulting scrum and after Biggar chipped and gathered, Worcester couldn't handle the heat, giving away a penalty.

Saints went to the corner and after Matt Proctor's attempted pass to George Furbank was cut out illegally by Melani Nanai, the Warriors full-back was sin-binned and the hosts were handed a penalty try.

Biggar missed the chance to add another three points soon after as he sent a penalty just wide, and Saints then did some strong defensive work to stop a Warriors lineout drive.

Nanai returned with his team still only 10 points down and they soon cut the gap to seven, piecing together a tidy move that resulted in Searle scoring.

Saints were unhappy as they felt the final pass was forward, but it wasn't spotted and Searle converted.

But Saints hit back almost immediately as Biggar raced forward and released Mitchell for a lovely black, green and gold breakaway score.

Biggar converted and Saints had their 10-point cushion back.

They thought they had scored a third try seven minutes before the break but Alex Waller's effort was ruled out for obstruction by Sam Matavesi.

Saints were almost undone at the other end as Nanai set his sights on the line, but Fraser Dingwall chased back to make a crucial tackle.

It was to be Dingwall's final act as he was taken off at the break, with Taqele Naiyaravoro coming on and Proctor moving to centre.

Worcester landed the first blow of the second half as Justin Clegg made a big break, Biggar was sin-binned for killing the ball and Searle kicked the resulting penalty.

But Saints came on strong after the yellow card and David Ribbans was deemed to have been held up after a huge carry towards the line.

Saints were then given a reprieve of their own as Worcester flew forward and Nick David looked set to walk in out wide but he couldn't gather the Ollie Lawrence pass and the hosts got off the hook.

Biggar returned from the bin and he was to put the gloss on a flowing Saints move, picking up Mitchell's pass, scoring and then punching the air before being mobbed by his team-mates behind the posts.

Saints pushed on in pursuit of a bonus-point try and it came a minute from time as Haywood powered over to pocket the full five points.

Worcester thought they had the final say but they were held up over the line as Saints savoured the sound of the final whistle and the taste of a sweet success.

Saints: Furbank; Proctor, Dingwall (Naiyaravoro 40), Hutchinson, Tuala (Collins 66); Biggar, Mitchell (James 73); Waller (van Wyk 57) (cc), Matavesi (Haywood 57), Hill (Franks 57); Ribbans, Isiekwe (Moon 66); Lawes, Ludlam (cc), Harrison (Adendorff 57).

Worcester Warriors: Nanai; Humphreys, Lawrence, Beck (O Morris 75), David; Searle, Hougaard (Simpson 66); Waller (Thomas 66), Annett (Cutting 66), Schonert (Palframan 66); Clegg, A Kitchener (Batley 76); Hill (c), Mama, du Preez (Lewis 66).

Referee: Christophe Ridley