JAKE Garside scored a dramatic last gasp try as Worcester Warriors stunned unbeaten Ealing Trailfinders 34-29 to reach the play-off final.
Garside powered through a tackle to score in the corner with the clock in the red to send Worcester through to the Champ Rugby play-off final at Ealing’s expense.
That came after Warriors raced into a 19-point lead at Trailfinders Sports Club courtesy of tries from Hugh Bokenham and two from Siva Naulago.
However, Michael Dykes dotted down either side of Conor Oliver’s try to draw the home side level after the break.
And Scott Buckley’s try edged Ealing into the lead for the first time just before the hour mark only for Will Reed to strike back for Worcester.
Reed then kicked a penalty to put Warriors back into the lead with five minutes left to play.
Ealing looked to have won the game one minute from time when Dan Jones dotted down in the final seconds.
However, Worcester stunned the hosts from the restart as Warriors won the ball back from kick-off and Garside beat two defenders to the line to spark wild scenes of celebration.
Ealing triumphed in all 26 of their league matches in the regular season to top the standings which included narrow home and away victories against Warriors.
However, Worcester made the perfect start when Bokenham powered over from close range on five minutes and Reed converted after Ealing conceded successive penalties.
And Warriors struck again on 10 minutes as Naulago crashed over under the posts before the same player scored a second try on 23 minutes from Louis Brown’s pass.
Reed’s conversion put the visitors into a 19-point lead before Dykes scored Ealing’s first try on 25 minutes and Jones added the extras.
Ealing crossed again 10 minutes later when Oliver touched down from close range to close the gap between the teams to seven points at the break.
The home side levelled the scores 10 minutes into the second half as Dykes scored his second try of the game and Jones converted.
And Ealing led for the first time on 59 minutes when replacement hooker Buckley powered over from a driving maul.
Worcester levelled the game on 67 minutes as Reed collected his own grubber kick and dove over the line.
And Reed then kicked a penalty to edge Worcester into a three-point lead with five minutes remaining.
Ealing thought they had snatched victory on 79 minutes when Jones sniped over following a scrum close to the Worcester line.
However, after exuberant celebrations from the hosts, Warriors reclaimed the ball from the restart and set Garside away down the right who produced a clinical finish in the corner with the last play of the game.
Reed successfully converted the try from close to the touchline as Worcester booked their place in the play-off final.
Worcester will travel to Bedford Blues in the Champ Rugby play-off final on Sunday, May 31 with kick-off at 3pm at Goldington Road.
