A LAST-gasp drop goal from Tom Heathcote gave Worcester Warriors a remarkable 13-12 win against Northampton Saints in a heart-stopping Aviva Premiership curtain-raiser tonight.

Stephen Myler’s fourth penalty edged Saints 12-10 ahead with just 80 seconds remaining.

But Heathcote sent Sixways wild with a long-range drop goal which just sneaked over the posts.

Warriors almost paid the price for missing four penalties but showed a never-say-die spirit to record a famous win on their return to the top tier of English rugby.

Skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze was outstanding against his former club, scoring Worcester’s try, with Heathcote also landing a penalty and a conversion.

Warriors made a positive start with Cooper Vuna having an early break down the left but his deft chip drifted into touch.

Myler fired the visitors ahead in the fifth minute after Bristol loan player Marco Mama was penalised at the breakdown.

And the visitors extended their advantage through Myler’s second penalty.

But Warriors gradually grew in confidence and, after a period of sustained forward pressure, got reward when Heathcote slotted a close-range penalty.

Warriors defended stoutly, with wing Tom Biggs showing plenty of fight, and they survived the scare.

Excellent work on the ground from Phil Dowson won Warriors a penalty and the hosts suddenly started to take advantage of sloppy Saints errors.

A spill from Saints wing Ken Pisi drew a big roar from the crowd and they were on their feet eight minutes before the break.

Heathcote ghosted behind Saints’ defence with a cheeky dummy and then offloaded for supporting skipper van Velze to dive over against his former club.

Heathcote landed the touchline conversion and Warriors went close again after creating an overlap on the left.

However, Pennell found Cooper Vuna, who was hauled down short of the line.

As the opening half drew to a close, Saints increased the pressure.

But Dowson, van Velze and Donncha O’Callaghan all put in tackles before hooker Niall Annett turned over the ball and Warriors took a narrow 10-6 lead into the break.

Saints’ experienced front row of Alex Waller, Dylan Hartley and Keiran Brookes put Warriors’ scrum under pressure at the start of the second period.

Myler’s third penalty of the evening cut the hosts’ lead to just one point.

Heathcote had an opportunity from distance to give Warriors a cushion but his penalty attempt, after smart work from Pennell, drifted wide.

Van Velze stole a Saints line-out before Jonny Arr’s cross-kick to the corner put the visitors under pressure.

Saints’ Hartley was punished for a high tackle spotted by the television match official and Ryan Mills’ long-range penalty struck the inside of the post.

Wynand Olivier burst through a few tackles and offloaded to Dowson as Warriors won a penalty. But Heathcote’s penalty slid wide.

Luther Burrell was penalised for a high tackle and Heathcote was off target again with 13 minutes remaining.

Warriors looked set to pay for their misses when Myler edged Saints ahead. But Warriors kept their nerve and Heathcote’s last-gasp drop goal won it for the hosts.

Warriors: Pennell; Vuna, Olivier, Mills, Biggs; Heathcote, Arr; Leleimalefaga, Annett, Schonert (Rees 61), O’Callaghan, Barry, Dowson, Mama (Cox 51), Van Velze. Not used: George, Bower, O’Shea, Mulchrone, Grove, Humphreys.

Attendance: 8,458.