A last-minute try from fly-half Shane Geraghty rescued a 22-22 draw for Northampton in their Anglo-Welsh Cup opener against Saracens on Sunday.
However, the former England international could not add the extras at Vicarage Road, leaving the fierce rivals to share the spoils. Saints out-scored their hosts by three tries to one, with Geraghty's late effort coming after prop Regardt Dreyer and wing Paul Diggin had crossed for the reigning champions.
Replacement flanker Justin Melck had put Sarries in control by scoring their only try on 50 minutes, while scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth was on good form with the boot to convert five penalties as well as Melck's five-pointer in front of new signing Gavin Henson.
Earlier, two tries from winger Luke Fielden helped Newcastle Falcons to a nail-biting 18-17 victory over the Ospreys in an exciting Anglo-Welsh Cup clash at Kingston Park on Saturday evening.
Fielden notched his first after just five minutes of play as the home side made a stirring start to the game which saw them reach the half-hour mark 13 points to the good following an additional eight points from the boot of fly-half Jimmy Gopperth.
Matthew Morgan, starting at No.10 for a severely under-strength Ospreys side, landed two penalties just before the break to keep the visitors in touch and they drew to within two points when replacement Matthew Jarvis crossed five minutes into the second half.
Newcastle, though, replied with another try from Fielden, on 53 minutes, and although Morgan contributed another brace of penalties as the Ospreys pressed forward in the final quarter, they were forced to settle for a bonus point after replacement fly-half Gareth Owen struck the bar with a late penalty.
Exeter Chiefs adjusted to life in the Anglo-Welsh Cup with comfort as they swept London Wasps aside with a 29-6 win at Sandy Park.
Tries from Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki and winger Matt Jess did the damage, while Argentina fly-half Ignacio Mieres kicked 19 points. Elliot Daly kicked two penalties for the visitors who saw Andy Powell sinbinned late on.
Naqelevuki, who joins up with the international squad after the game, brushed aside a couple of tackles to touchdown with Mieres adding the extras. And with Will Matthews yellow carded befoe half-time, Josh Matavesi kicked the ball ahead for Jess to pounce and score, while Mieres kicked them home.
Scarlets' blindside Jonny Fa'amatuainu scored a hat-trick of tries as they kicked off their campaign by routing Leeds 52-13.
In his first start for the region since moving from Bath on loan, the Samoan blindside was on hand to score three of his side's seven tries. A young Leeds team which included 17-year-old lock Dominic Barrow could not deal with the pace of the Scarlets, who included Wales squad wing George North who played for 60.
First Fa'amatuainu, who was on hand to follow up Scott Williams' kick through for his first score, was on North's shoulder to go over before Williams ran in from the halfway line after an initial burst by Dan Newton. Newton picked up the bonus with a fourth try on the stroke of half time, before Fa'amatuainu before Steve Schlinger and centre Williams completed the rout.
Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans scored 19 points as Quins defeated Leicester Tigers 34-25 at Welford Road on Friday night to launch their campaign.
Evans and opposite number, Billy Twelvetrees, traded four penalties between them before second-row Tomas Vallejos Cinalli broke the Tigers' defences to score the opening try seven minutes before half time. Evans converted and added another penalty to give the visitors a 22-12 lead at the break.
Harlequins No.8 Tom Guest, who has impressed in the absence of England back-row Nick Easter, touched down nine minutes into the second half with Evans converting. Twelvetrees continued his impressive goal-kicking with two penalties but Quins wing Gonzalo Camacho streaked over midway through the second half to put the game beyond the reigning Premiership champions.
Leicester claimed a penalty try late on which was converted by young fly-half George Young but Harlequins claimed the opening day victory in the competition.
Olly Barkley inspired Bath to a 29-19 victory over Cardiff Blues at the Rec on Friday night.
The Bath back, who was filling in at fly-half, created a try for Tom Biggs with a brilliantly judged cross-field kick and also landed two conversions, a penalty and a drop-goal in the first half. Fellow England hopeful Matt Banahan, once again deployed at outside centre, had given the hosts the ideal start with a try after just five minutes.
Barkley's opposite number, Gareth Davies, almost overshadowed his opponent with a haul of 19 points including a first-half converted try and four penalties. But Barkley's accurate kicking from the tee, including three second-half penalties, ensured victory for Bath.
Sale gained revenge over London Irish with a 39-14 victory at Edgeley Park following the Sharks' defeat to the Exiles last weekend.
Sale winger Tom Brady made the most of his 11 minutes on the pitch before he departed injured by scoring an eight-minute try. Fergus Mulchrone then went over twice for the hosts, with Paul Williams converting one of them, as they established a strong lead. And Sale went further ahead on the brink of half time when Iain Thornley, who had replaced Brady, showcased his predatory skills on the wing with the Sharks' fourth try of the half.
Irish, who had Steffon Armitage back at openside flanker and his brother Guy in the midfield, were a shadow of the side that is heading the Aviva Premiership. And they were 39-0 down after 63 minutes following further tries from winger Rhys Crane and Chris Leck as well as conversions from Miller.
The Exiles did manage to ease the humiliation with late tries from winger Marland Yarde and No.8 Chris Hala'ufia - both converted by fly-half Chris Malone.
The Newport Gwent Dragons edged out Gloucester 18-12 in an entertaining Anglo-Welsh Cup opener in Wales on Thursday night.
A pair of Matthew Jones penalties and a converted try for Adam Hughes had the hosts up 13-0 early on but the English club hit back with a penalty try, converted by Freddie Burns, just before the break to even things up a little.
A Lesley Vainikolo try then brought Gloucester within a point and the visitors pressed for the lead before Robin Sowden-Taylor crossed to consolidate the Dragons' lead in the 69th minute.
A converted try would have been enough to snatch victory for Gloucester but they were unable to find a way through.