A brace from Luther Burrell and try from wing Vasily Artemyev saw the Saints open up a commanding 25-3 lead at the break.

Further scores from Courtney Lawes and Mike Haywood saw Northampton in total control before the most dramatic of finales.

A quite stunning and rousing fight-back from Warriors in the final quarter saw the hosts almost shocked as replacements Jonny Arr, Josh Matavesi, Josh Drauniniu and a last minute try from Ollie Hayes saw Worcester claim a try bonus - a first in the top-flight since May 2008.

Fly half Andy Goode then drilled over a twice taken conversion with the final kick of the game to secure another bonus point as Worcester scored 28 unanswered points in 16 unforgettable minutes.

Warriors made one change to the side that drew with local rivals Gloucester Rugby as Number Eight Semisi Taulava moved into the back row with Matt Kvesic onto the replacements bench.

Goode got the game underway and home debut man James Wilson looked to make a break down the flank but within seconds a knock on allowed Lemi to kick in behind and test the Saints defence as Vasily Artemyev hacked out.

A penalty for not rolling away, after Nikki Walker forcefully took ball on in midfield, gave Goode the first chance of the afternoon and he made no mistake to open the scoring.

The lead lasted less than two minutes as Saints reclaimed the restart and when they worked the ball in field through Soane Tonga'uiha and Paul Doran Jones they secured a penalty of their own that Stephen Myler knocked over.

The home side were looking to slick the ball around with width on it in the opening ten minutes as Worcester looked to hold firm. But when they reverted to the driving game they are renowned for it resulted in a penalty and simple kick for Myler for the lead.

A penalty, after Pennell was body checked trying to collect his neat chip ahead, saw Goode take a quick tap and cross field kick for Lemi who was narrowly beaten to the high ball by Ken Pisi.

The resulting lineout five metres out was taken and driven up short before another penalty for Warriors. Another high take saw Worcester driven back this time and when they looked to put width on the ball it was spilled in the shadow of the posts.

Worcester were enjoying a strong period of territory and possession as Alex Grove flicked out of the tackle to Taulava on his shoulder before Dean Schofield looked to gallop into space only for play to be pulled back for a knock on in the build-up by Aleki Lutui.

A big hit by Walker stopped Wilson as he looked to find a gap and break from the halfway line. But the opening try came seconds later as Luther Burrell picked a sharp running line and stepped a man before arching his run into the corner.

A penalty for blocking gave Goode the chance to eat into the lead from the restart, but his kick from out wide right on the touchline just flew left of the posts.

Burrell struck for his second try of the afternoon as Warriors pressed the self-destruct as they looked to run the ball out of the 22. A knock on by the forwards was gobbled up by Saints who quickly spun the ball wide to the centre who picked a hole to race over.

Schofield looked to give Worcester some go forward in response as he battered down the middle before Grove looked to send Walker into space but was dragged back for a forward pass.

Saints were cutting through with real accuracy and when Phil Dowson made a break of the back of the scrum it was the support runner of Artemyev who was there to tear over for a third home score and a 25-3 lead.

Worcester played some of their best rugby of the half in response as they kept the ball alive and powered through tackles with Taluava and Walker driving up close to the Saints line. A penalty was kicked to the corner, but Samu Monoa poached the ball and the chance went begging.

Goode looked to make something happen as he chipped over the top and forced Lee Dickson into the error. But he failed to connect with a kick ahead into space and was then penalised for pulling back his man in frustration.

Lemi was quick to react to a grubber kick and raced back in behind to stop Ken Pisi touching down. At the other end Grove picked a hole and barged past tacklers to force Saints back on the stroke of half-time.

A penalty was secured and Worcester opted for the scrum to try and force some valuable points. The ball was shifted down the line and Carlisle made a mini line-break but his offload drifted forward to end the half.

Hill made two changes at the break as Jonny Arr and James Currie entered the clash to try and five Worcester fresh momentum and Worcester started well with Walker and Pennell combining well, after Percival rattled down the middle, before the ball was stripped.

Northampton then made a mess of a midfield move, but Carlisle failed to gather the difficult bouncing ball with the Saints wide open.

Saints looked for the decisive fourth bonus point try as they turned down a kickable penalty to look for field position and drive home their advantage. A lightening quick attack duly saw them rattle the ball through hands and finally power over through Courtney Lawes.

Northampton were looking to open up and a break down the middle from Rhys Oakley saw him chip ahead and, after a horrid bounce, force Pennell to touch back for a five-metre scrum.

Saints looked to work space on the overlap for Ken Pisi to score but he was stopped by Lemi who forced him to knock on with a last ditch tackle as he stretched for the line in the right corner.

Worcester continued to try and keep the ball alive with Currie making yards after spinning out of a tackle and Jones offloading to Percival before the play was halted for obstruction.

Hill made sweeping changes just before the hour as Josh Matavesi, Craig Gillies and Matt Kvesic all came on.

Matavesi was straight into the thick of the action with a try saving tackle as Saints poured forward. But the reprieve was short lived as Saints drove over in the corner with Mike Haywood awarded the score.

Worcester showed character to hit back within five minutes with some inventive attacking play to work up close as Walker and Percival were stopped just short before Arr dived over from close range to reduce the lead to 37-10.

Two minutes later Worcester were over again as Matt Kvesic broke the defensive line with a powerful run and, with the penalty secured, it was Matavesi who picked a hole to race over for a second score.

Warriors were now playing with real attacking threat as they continued to punch holes in a shaky Saints rearguard that had alarmingly dropped off the pace with the game sown up.

Northampton were rocked again as a mess up in the back line saw Walker streak away and make 50 metres as he handed off men. Worcester were quickly up in support and a long pass from Matavesi picked off Sam Betty and Drauniniu who stepped and danced his way in.

Warriors were now throwing caution to the wind in the hunt for points as Matavesi almost picked out a pass as he broke into space.

A thrilling finale saw Drauniniu race down the middle and a penalty secured when Northampton pulled back a man in the build-up. Worcester kicked to the corner and drove over with Ollie Hayes grabbing the try for a bonus point.

Goode missed a first attempt for the bonus point, but he was pulled back to try again and this time made no mistake as Worcester claimed a second point after an unforgettable clash.

Timeline:

04m Goode p 0-3

06m Myler p 3-3

11m Myler p 6-3

19m Burrell t Myler c 13-3

24m Burrell t Myler c 20-3

30m Artemyev t 25-3

50m Lawes t Myler c 32-3

59m Haywood t 37-3

64m Arr t Goode c 37-10

67m Matavesi t Goode c 37-17

74m Drauniniu t Goode c 37-24

80m Hayes t Goode c 37-31

Warriors: 01 Matt Mullan (Ce Jones 60), 02 Aleki Lutui (Hayes 60), 03 John Andress (Currie 40), 04 James Percival, 05 Dean Schofield (Gillies 58), 06 Chris Jones (Kvesic 58), 07 Sam Betty, 08 Semisi Taulava, 09 Shaun Perry (Arr 40), 10 Andy Goode, 11 David Lemi (Drauniniu 60), 12 Joe Carlisle, 13 Alex Grove (Matavesi 58), 14 Nikki Walker, 15 Chris Pennell

Replacements: 16 Ollie Hayes, 17 Ceri Jones, 18 James Currie, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Josh Matavesi, 23 Josh Drauniniu