Fast-starting Warriors bag bonus point by half-time
WORCESTER won their last home match of the season in style with a bonus point in the bag by halftime against a youthful Saracens outfit.
Francois Hougaard scored either side of a penalty try and Nick Heward also crossed in a dominant first-half display.
Saracens hit back with a try-double from Charlie Watson’s and Ali Crossdale’s effort, but Ashley Beck and Ted Hill put the game beyond Sarries, who had to settle for a bonus point with Crossdale’s late second try.
After just their third league win over Saracens since 2012, Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons said: “Saracens are a fantastic club and their youth players played tremendously. It was a positive end to the home season by collecting a bonus-point win.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance as we gave away a try before the interval and made a couple of understandable errors in the wet conditions. In the second half we gave away too may penalties and struggled to get any field position.”
Saracens made 15 changes from their Champions Cup defeat by Racing 92 and struggled in the early stages of a first half played in driving rain.
Warriors declined a kickable penalty in favour of a driving lineout and, after a succession of forward surges, Hougaard forced his way over after three minutes. Juan Pablo Socino brushed away a weak tackle from Billy Searle to provide Watson with an easy run-in to level.
Worcester regained the lead when a well-judged chip ahead from Hougaard was collected by Heward to score but Warriors blew the restart and Rotimi Segun seized possession to provide Watson with his second.
The hosts opened up some breathing space with a penalty try awarded after Sarries full-back Elliott
Obatoyinbo was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on and Hougaard latched on to a kick from Heward to score Worcester’s fourth.
Crossdale hacked ahead and touched down for Saracens at the end of the half and Sarries survived the sin-binning of Sam Crean with the scoreline intact.
Manu Vunipola’s penalty brought the visitors back to within a converted try with 15 minutes remaining but tries from Beck and captain Hill made the game safe, although Saracens scored their fourth try in injury time to claim a bonus point.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: “We had a very young side with five debutants and although we gave away a couple of soft tries, we bounced back and showed great resilience.
“I’m chuffed that we got a deserved bonus point. Last year Manu Vunipola made his debut on this ground, and look what he’s achieved in this 12 month period. I’m really excited about this group as they could develop in the same way.”