Boss Richard Hill hailed his senior pros for rising to the challenge as the Warriors crushed Rotherham Titans 32-3 in the RFU Championship in Yorkshire.
A four-try victory for Warriors was built upon a powerful forward platform and electric back display as Miles Benjamin (2), Marcel Garvey and Pat Sanderson grabbed tries.
And after the game, Hill was full of praise for his experienced Warriors who fronted up in style to inflict a first home defeat of the season on the Titans.
“The senior pros really performed today,” said Hill. “You talk about Chris Fortey, Adam Black, Greg Rawlinson, Pat Sanderson, Kai Horstmann, they all really stood up. We have been waiting for those key men to put the performances in and they did today.
“Chris Fortey brings a bit of life to the bus – it is a long way to Rotherham and when you have him and Adam Black rattling in your ear you don’t get any sleep. I could tell there was a good buzz on the coach.
“Chris is a very experienced man and he brings energy to the team – no doubt about that – and has been playing well for the A team all year. He is physically combative and gets around the park well for a hooker in his thirties. He set a great example and I thought him and Adam Black epitimised the effort we needed.
“Pat is also going from strength to strength. He is an England international and former England captain, we expect him to play at that level and he did today.
“It was a great effort from him the dressing room too, helping Kai getting the players up for the game. He has done that job for years and his contribution has been massive.”
Hill also picked out the impressive press defence for Warriors as they shut down Rotherham space to play and turned over ball to release wing duo Benjamin and Garvey with devastating impact.
“I thought the press defence was outstanding, you could sense there was an eagerness to get off the line. The line speed was good and the hits were coming in,” stressed Hill.
“In the past we have been going up a bit half hearted and hitting half hearted. Every person, from one to 15, put a big hit in.
“We dropped off a few tackles, but not many. There was real aggression in that defence and that is how it should work. To keep them to nil was a great effort.
“It’s also about taking your opportunities and I think with Miles getting two and Marcel getting one shows the finishing power we have.
“Give them half a chance and they take it. We played some good stuff as the forwards ran the ball and were terrific in defence and the backs, on that narrow pitch, still found some holes.”