Hold the phone people! It is raining points at Kingston Park all of a sudden.

Well not really, but Sonatane Takulua does kick his second penalty for the hosts. It was pretty much identical to his first just moments ago.

And there is just four minutes of the first half remaining now. 

After 32 minutes we have our first points in the North East as Sonatane Takulua lands the simplest of penalties for Newcastle.

That kick came after the hosts chose to kick for the corner moment earlier. And it must be said it came against the run of play after Worcester dominated the first half hour at Kingston Park. 

We really started to wonder when the points were going to come...

All the rugby has been played by Harlequins but they find themselves behind at the break thanks to Dan Robson's try.

Quins have had their chances - three times they have butchered set-pieces five-yards out - and Wasps have capitalised on one loose kick-chase to run in the only score of the game.

Wasps booking a home semi-final as things stand.

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A late hit from Kyle Sinckler on Jimmy Gopperth results in a Wasps penalty bang in front of the posts but a good 42 yards out.

No bother though for Gopperth who drills Wasps back into a four-point lead.

Nick Evans releases Harlequins up the right wing with Joe Marchant and then Mat Luamanu making yards. The scrambling Wasps defence is penalised and Evans lines up another kick at goal.

This is Evans' toughest chance so far tonight, 10 yards or so in from the touchline and he pulls it wide.

Kearnan Myall penalised for a high tackle in front of the posts and from 35 yards out, Nick Evans strokes the kick through the posts with a gentle draw.

Harlequins back into the Wasps 22 from a penalty but for the second time tonight, they can't set up the rolling maul and this time get bundled into touch. But Wasps make a mess of their own maul and Quins have a scrum 6 yards out.

But again, a good opportunity goes begging with a poor scrum and Wasps can clear. Quins have had some chances so far but little to show for it.

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The waiting game continues at Kingston Park, where there have been 17 scoreless minutes.

As previously mentioned, Worcester have been knocking hard on the door.

The latest chance to be wasted by the visitors was a knock on from Perry Humphreys just short of the line.

Close. Oh, so very close.

Joe Marchant runs hard at his opposite number Elliot Daly, then a few phases later pops up on the right wing to dance to within 10 yards of the Wasps line. But the final offload that would have put Marland Yarde in doesn't find the man.

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With seven minutes played, the first big chance is created by Worcester.

Bryce Heem with a run to the right corner, but he is bundled into touch just short.

The visitors applying all sorts of pressure, but no score at Kingston Park.

Just not quite accurate enough from Wasps so far. Willie Le Roux drops a high ball under no pressure at all and Harlequins have the ball back in the opposition half.  

Quins create a potential overlap on the left with Mike Brown in space but two passes from a run-in, Chris Robshaw knocks-on.

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While attention is fixed on the Premiership action tonight, it is also worth noting that the play-offs for promotion to the top-flight also begin this evening.

Ealing Trailfinders host Yorkshire Carnegie in the first leg of their semi-final, kicking off at 19:45 BST.

London Irish, relegated fro the top flight last season, travel to Doncaster for the first leg of their semi on Sunday.

To make the whole thing a little bit curious, neither Doncaster nor Ealing will accept promotion if they were to win the play-offs this term.

So, a two horse race in a four horse field then...

And we are now under way at Kingston Park.

The equation for Newcastle at home tonight is simple - win at all costs to keep alive faint hopes of a sixth-placed finish.

However, even a defeat with results elsewhere going their way could mean the Falcons maintain aspirations of finishing as high as seventh and cling to the chance of navigating a back route into the European champions Cup vie a play-off.

Currently ninth, they are eight points behind the last automatic spot in sixth.

As for Worcester, well they are chasing a first away league win in 13 months.

A dead rubber, this is not!

First attack from Wasps and Willie Le Roux skips away from one tackle. Chris Robsaw dives around the side of the ruck thinking the ball was out - it wasn't.

But Jimmy Gopperth pulls the penalty attempt wide from 35 yards out.

Here's what Quins will miss - the slickest of hands from Nick Evans releases Mike Brown down the left wing. 

Wasps go offside at the ruck and Evans nudges to the corner. A second penalty comes from the line-out and this time Evans aims for the posts and makes no mistake.

Now for team news for the visitors up in the North East tonight.

Ryan Mills captains Worcester in the absence of the rested Donncha O'Callaghan as Warriors make four changes, headlined by the return of Bryce Heem after suspension.

Lock Chris Vui comes in, with Dewald Potgieter recalled in the back row, while Wynand Olivier replaces Jackson Willison (hamstring) at centre and Gloucester-bound loosehead prop Val Rapava Ruskin returns for Ryan Bower. 

Worcester Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Olivier, Te'o, Humphreys; Mills (capt), Hougaard; Rapava Ruskin, Taufete'e, Alo, Vui, Spencer, Potgieter, Lewis, Mama.

Replacements: Singleton, Bower, Milasinovich, Barry, Faosiliva, Baldwin, Lamb, Vuna.

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Let's split our attentions now as kick-off nears at Kingston Park.

Newcastle Falcons make five changes for the visit of Worcester Warriors, with Tonga scrum-half Sonatane Takulua the one addition to the back division. 

For their final home game of the regular season, Scottish pair Scott Lawson and Jon Welsh return to the Newcastle front row, while Sean Robinson comes in at lock and Callum Chick is added to the back row.  

Newcastle: Watson; Goneva, C Harris, Socino, Sinoti; Hodgson, Takulua; Vickers, Lawson, Welsh, Green, Robinson, M Wilson, Welch (capt), Chick.

Replacements: Cooper, B Harris, S Wilson, Fonua, Witty, Egerton, Willis, Tait.

Lively start with three turnovers already. Joe Marchant made a smart break for Quins and Kyle Sinckler has been heavily involved but an error just outside the Wasps 22 gives the visitors the chance to get out of their half for the first time.

An emotional ovation for fly-half Nick Evans as he leads Harlequins out for the final time at The Stoop, he gets the game underway with the hosts playing towards rugby HQ in the first-half. 

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