Exiles facing drop

THE boot of fly-half Chris Malone handed Bath a crucial 21-19 win over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium - but his injury-time drop-goal could condemn the Exiles to relegation.

With just four points separating five teams at the bottom of the table, London Irish desperately needed a win on home soil to manoeuvre their way into the safety zone ahead of next weekend’s league finale against Newcastle.

But head coach Gary Gold will now have to sweat it out alongside Leeds, Harlequins, Worcester and Northampton next Saturday.

Bath, who came so close to throwing away a golden opportunity may, however, have booked their passport into the Zurich Premiership play-off.

London Irish look like they had done enough with a 72nd minute penalty but a wayward pass by young wing Delon Armitage handed Malone the chance to strike at goal and he did just that.