Premiership: Newcastle 23-25 Saracens

England winger Chris Ashton touched over for Saracens' third try of the afternoon

Juan Pablo Socino missed a last-gasp conversion, denying Newcastle Falcons a dramatic draw as Saracens won a close Premiership match at Kingston Park.

Neil de Kock's try helped the visitors into a 10-6 half-time lead, before Sinoti Sinoti then put Newcastle ahead.

Nick Tompkins and Chris Ashton tries looked to have secured Saracens victory but Chris Harris's try closed the gap.

Harris's second late score dragged the hosts to within two points but Socino was unable to snatch Falcons the draw.

Socino's miss left Newcastle - who have managed three wins all season - 11th in the Premiership, while Saracens' victory cemented their standing in fourth place.

In a cagey first half, the only try came when De Kock was fed superbly by England's Owen Farrell, either side of well-taken penalties from Socino, before a Farrell penalty gave Saracens a four-point lead.

The match came to life in the second half, in front of a noisy Kingston Park crowd.

First, Sinoti raced onto Tom Catterick's punt to run over and Socino converted to give Falcons a three-point lead.

Then Saracens found another gear, driving forward in the maul and Tompkins had the strength to touch over.

Another maul from the Saracens pack left Ashton in space and, when he crossed with just over 10 minutes remaining, the result looked secure.

Then Catterick and Tait combined for Harris to score the first of his late tries, as the hosts fought back to within a bonus-point losing margin, but Socino could not convert.

And the visitors were made to sweat when the spinning Harris went over in the final minute.

Socino had the chance to draw Falcons level with the last kick of the match but missed narrowly, pulling his effort in front of the posts.

Newcastle Falcons: Tait; Sinoti, Powell, Socino, Tuilagi; Catterick, Blair; Vickers, Lawson, S. Wilson; Green, Thompson; M. Wilson, Welch, Hogg.

Replacements: McGuigan, Frym, Brookes, Furno, Saull, Tipuna, Harris, Penny.

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Bosch, Farrell, Wyles; Hodgson, de Kock; M Vunipola, George, Johnston; Hamilton, Hargreaves; B Vunipola, Burger, Joubert.

Replacements: Sharman, Barrington, Du Plessis, Itoje, Wray, Wigglesworth, Tompkins, Strettle.

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).