Perrenial strugglers of the Aviva Premiership, Newcastle Falcons are threatening to shed that unwanted tag with their fine start to the season.
They beat northern rivals Sale Sharks 13-12 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night to register their second successive victory.
Dean Richards' men had destroyed Worcester Warriors 35-8 seven days previously and a penalty try was enough to see off Sale in a rain-soaked encounter watched by England boss Eddie Jones.
"We stole it in the final few minutes," admitted Richards, whose Falcons now fly to Philadelphia to face Saracens.
Wasps, fuelled by the pain of losing last season's Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham, also claimed another win after beating Worcester 24-10 at Sixways on Sunday.
Two late tries by Willie Le Roux and Josh Bassett, both improved by Jimmy Gopperth, saw Wasps home.
Boss Dai Young said: "These are games you can lose and it was a little bit cruel on Worcester not to get a losing bonus point. But I always felt we had something in hand."
Bath became the third team to maintain their 100% start to the season with a thrilling 31-21 win over Saracens at the Rec on Saturday afternoon.
Semesa Rokoduguni stole the show with a brilliant late brace following an earlier touchdown from Francois Louw.
Todd Blackadder, whose men are unbeaten on home soil since March, paid tribute to his match-winning winger.
He said: "Scoring those tries shows what an unbelievable player he is. He's just exceptional. Money can't buy what he can do."
Harlequins responded to their opening-day defeat against London Irish with a 28-17 victory over Gloucester at the Twickenham Stoop.
Dave Ward, Charlie Walker and Marland Yarde crossed the whitewash for Quins, with Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees on target for the visitors.
Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston said: "The bottom line was I demanded a reaction from last week. That wasn't what we feel we are.
"I have just said to them that if two games encompass what this league is about, it is there. You have to want it. If you are not absolutely desperate, you will come unstuck in this league."
Jim Mallinder has come under scrutiny at Northampton but he could savour a welcome victory over old foes Leicester Tigerson Saturday.
The Saints prevailed 24-11 to register a first win over the Tigers since December 2014.
Luther Burrell, Dylan Hartley and Tom Collins touched down for Northampton with Jonny May notching for Leicester, who slipped to their second successive defeat.
Director of rugby Mallinder said: "It's been one of those weeks. You lose games and you don't sleep. You win and life becomes a lot easier."
Defending champions Exeter claimed their first win of the season after thumping London Irish 37-7 with a comfortable bonus-point victory which included a brace from flanker Don Armand.
The Exiles' director of rugby Nick Kennedy was honest enough to admit: "I thought we got taught a lesson by a very, very good team and Exeter showed why they're the best team in the league."
