European Challenge Cup: Newcastle 31-26 Worcester - Falcons edge to win after Max Wright try record

Max Wright joined the Falcons on loan from Bath in September

Max Wright scored the fastest try in European rugby history as Newcastle beat Worcester in a high-scoring Challenge Cup game at Kingston Park.

Centre Wright went over from the kick-off as Worcester failed to gather.

The Warriors twice led in the first half after a penalty try and scores by Duhan van der Merwe and Harri Doel.

But Mike Brown, George McGuigan and Ollie Lindsay-Hague added to Wright's try and although Will Chudley replied, Brett Hodgson's penalty sealed the win.

Falcons - who made five changes in their pack - reached the quarter-finals last season, while Worcester lost both of their games in the competition.

In a stunning opening, Wright crossed well inside the record for a European try of 15 seconds, set by Harry Randall of Bristol Bears in the 2020 final, but he only lasted 14 minutes before having to be replaced by Lindsay-Hague.

The two sides had shared a 24-24 Premiership draw on 27 November, in a game delayed for 24 hours by Storm Arwen, and the first half was equally tight in terms of scoring.

Harri Doel crossed for Worcester's third try after brilliant work by Jamie Shillcock

Warriors responded well to the early shock and were level when Will Welch conceded a penalty try and was sin-binned for pulling down a maul and they went in front when van der Merwe collected a looped pass on the left.

Their best try, though, came when Jamie Shillcock intercepted a Louis Scheurer pass deep in their own half and ran most of the way to the try-line before a one-handed offload to Doel as he was tackled.

But it was 21-21 at the interval with Mike Brown and George McGuigan also scoring for the home side and they went in front after the break when Lindsay-Hague - who earlier had a touchdown disallowed by the TMO - finished off from a Luther Burrell pass.

Worcester had the chance to draw level after Chudley finished off a lineout move but replacement fly-half Fin Smith - on for Billy Searle - could not add the extras and Hodgson's 40-metre penalty pushed Newcastle out of reach.

Newcastle: Brown; Penny, Wright, Burrell, Radwan; Haydon-Wood, Schreuder; Cooper, McGuigan, Tampin, Fuser, Robinson, Chick, Welch (capt), Fearns.

Replacements: Smith, Brocklebank, Mulipola, Peterson, Graham, Nordli-Kelemeti, Hodgson, Lindsay-Hague.

Worcester: Shillcock; Hearle, O Morris, Venter (co-capt), Van der Merwe; Searle, Chudley; Waller, Annett, Tyack, Batley, A Kitchener, Hatherell, Hill (co-capt), Vailanu.

Replacements: Baldwin, Owen, Judge, Kvesic, Lewis, Wynn, Smith, Doel.

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland).

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