Joel Tomkins marked his Saracens first team debut on Sunday with two tries as a commanding second-half performance secured a 41-14 victory over Worcester, although it is not enough to rescue the club's LV= Cup campaign.
Rugby League convert Tomkins crossed twice after the break as Saracens, trailing for 55 minutes, took control as Nils Mordt kicked 16 points.
But Bath are running away with their pool, so this is one trophy the reigning Aviva Premiership champions will not be walking away with this season.
Worcester led 14-13 at the break after tries from Sam Betty and Tom Arscott, both converted by Joe Carlisle.
But the hosts came firing back with Jamie George, Justin Melck and Peter Stringer adding to Tomkins' brace.
Gary Gold's first match effectively in charge at Newcastle Falcons ended in an emphatic 37-7 win over Sale.
Newcastle led 13-7 at half-time after New Zealander Jimmy Gopperth kicked penalties either side of Nick Macleod's 12th-minute try for Sale, when the ball was hacked through and no one was at home to stop Macleod scoring and converting.
Gopperth spurned another kick at goal to find the corner and was rewarded with Mark Wilson being driven over for a 32nd-minute try and Gopperth converting for the half-time lead.
Johnny Leota's stint in the sin-bin for a spear tackle on Ryan Shortland proved marginally productive for Newcastle with Gopperth missing one long-range penalty and slotting another attempt for 16-7.
Ironically, Newcastle scored their second try just after Leota's return. Again Gopperth spurned a kick at goal to find the corner and sustained pressure ended with Rob Vickers being driven over in the 62nd minute and Gopperth's conversion made it 23-7.
There was no stopping the Falcons pack and they were totally dominant in the loose and it was no surprise when Tim Swinson crashed over from another forward drive and Gopperth converted, before getting on the end of a Wilson run for the final try which he also added the extras with five minutes left.
Bath shook off their mid-winter blues with a 46-14 win over Northampton on Saturday that puts them in pole position for a home semi-final.
Northampton, missing 10 players to England and the second-string Saxons, were well in touch until the last quarter but were then blitzed by three tries in seven minutes from Olly Woodburn, Stephen Donald and Charlie Beech.
Earlier tries had been scored by Ross Batty and Anthony Perenise - a spectacular sprint by the Samoan prop from nearly 40 metres, while Olly Barkley kicked 21 points.
Saints' points came from a try by prop Alex Waller and three Stephen Myler penalties.
The Scarlets gave prop Rhys Thomas the perfect get well message as two tries from wing Vili Iongi helped them close in on an semi-final berth with a 27-19 victory over London Irish.
Thomas is in a comfortable condition in hospital following heart surgery after being taken ill at training on Thursday, and his team-mates did their best to raise his spirits.
Iongi's brace and a score from replacement prop Deacon Manu, plus three conversions and two penalties from Dan Newton secured a win that means a repeat performance at Sale next week will seal a last-four spot for the first time since 2006.
Irish, who were guilty of spurning a series of scoring chances, replied through four Tom Homer penalties and a converted try from Topsy Ojo that