A clinical second-half performance from European giants Clermont Auvergne saw them put four tries past a brave Warriors to secure victory on a sunny evening in Issoire.
Noa Nakaitaci had given Clermont the lead early on but a lively Warriors side fought back with Cooper Vuna touching down as the sides went in level at the break.
But Nakaitaci’s second, a brace for Judicaël Cancoriet and a superb solo score for Damian Penaud put the game to bed late on.
However, Warriors didn’t roll over and Ben Howard’s last-minute score demonstrated their desire and endeavour over the course of the 80 minutes off the back of a two-week altitude training camp in Tignes.
Head Coach Carl Hogg picked a 29-man squad to face a side that finished at the summit of last season’s Top 14.
Warriors made an energetic start but the hosts soon opened the scoring when Nakaitaci found space out wide to touch down.
Skipper Morgan Parra then added the extras as Clermont found themselves 7-0 up within eight minutes.
The hosts heaped the pressure on Warriors but some valiant defending kept the French giants at bay as they tried to batter their way over for a second.
The first quarter of an hour saw Clermont camped inside the Warriors half but Hogg’s men didn’t lie down and soon found a way back into the contest following a good spell of their own near the home tryline.
And Vuna was the man to profit from Warriors’ efforts as he crossed the chalk with Lamb adding the extras.
Lamb was pulling the strings, igniting his backline with a cheeky crossfield kick for Dean Hammond before a looping pass for Vuna who attempted a chip-and-chase over the tryline.
But Warriors couldn’t convert their spell of pressure into points as the sides went in level at the interval.
Clermont upped the ante after the break as France international Nakaitaci found a gap to score his second and replacement Camille Lopez converted.
Warriors were well in the contest as they gave 25 players a run out against the French outfit but after the hour mark, the enormous Cancoriet smashed his way over for his side’s third try with Lopez slotting the extras.
In the final ten minutes, a superb sprint from Penaud down the left flank saw the paceman gazelle his way to the tryline, shaking off challengers, and Lopez continued his sound form with the boot adding another two points.
The hosts were in the ascendancy and another try soon followed as Cancoriet battered his way over for a second late on but Warriors finished on a high as full-back Howard produced a lovely show-and-go as he scythed his way through the Clermont backline to touch down under the posts.
Tom Heathcote added the extras as Warriors finished what was a tough opening test in their pre-season campaign.
Next weekend they travel to Greene King IPA Championship outfit Jersey while a Warriors Development XV battle Bristol Rugby at Sixways on Friday night.
Timeline:
7m: Nakaitaci try 5-0
8m: Parra con 7-0
20m: Vuna try 7-5
21m: Lamb con 7-7
52m: Nakaitaci try 12-7
53m: Lopez con 14-7
64m: Cancoriet try 19-7
65m: Lopez con 21-7
73m: Penaud try 26-7
74m: Lopez con 28-7
75m: Cancoriet try 33-7
76m: Lopez con 35-7
80m: Howard try 35-12
80m: Heathcote con 35-14
Warriors: 15 Ben Howard, 14 Dean Hammond, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Luke Baldwin; 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Niall Annett, 3 James Johnston, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Marco Mama, 7 Carl Kirwan, 8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements: 16 Matti Williams, 17 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 18 Nick Schonert, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Phil Dowson, , 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Max Stelling, 24 Sam Betty, 25 Alafoti Faosiliva, 28 Andy Short, 29 Perry Humphreys
Not used: 21 George de Cothi, 26 Jamie Shillcock, 27 Will Butler