A youthful Worcester Cavaliers were given a tough evening in the Aviva A League by an experienced Northampton Wanderers who proved too hot to handle with a 45-20 win at Sixways.
Despite Tiff Eden opening the scoring from the tee, Northampton ran in four first-half tries courtesy of Jordan Onojaife, Tom Collins, Tom Kessell and Howard Packman.
Skipper Huw Taylor did dot down for Worcester but they found themselves 31-8 down at the interval.
A more evenly-contested second-half saw two tries apiece with Reece Marshall and Collins touching down for Northampton while a superb solo score for Alex Hearle and a try for scrum-half Josh Nott gave the home support something to cheer before the final whistle.
Cavaliers looked sharp in the opening exchanges, in particular Will Butler with a menacing run through the middle and his side soon won a penalty which Eden converted from the angle.
But Northampton hit back with Onojaife bashing his way over and Sam Olver converted.
Eden had a chance to slot another long-range penalty kick but his effort dropped wide of the posts.
Wanderers then dominated much of the first period and went further ahead when Olver slotted a penalty in the 20th minute.
Collins then raced in for a score with Olver adding the extras before Kessell’s show-and-go fooled Cavaliers and the scrum-half went in under the posts.
Cavaliers did respond when Taylor was at the bottom of a maul but Northampton bagged their fourth and bonus-point try as the impressive Olver’s delicate chip to the in-goal area was pounced on by Packman.
Olver added the extras while Andrew Kitchener was sent to the sin-bin as Northampton took an unassailable 31-8 lead into the break.
The early exchanges of the second-half were a battle for Cavaliers with just 14 men and replacement hooker Marshall took advantage to extend Northampton’s lead going under the sticks for Olver to add the conversion.
Northampton looked to get forward again but a pass went loose and there was Hearle to collect the ball and race in to the tryline for an impressive score, with Eden adding the two.
But the visitors’ experience showed when the lightning-quick Collins showed his pace to go over for his second and Olver slotted another conversion.
Worcester emptied the bench looking to cut the deficit and when Max Stelling carried well into the 22, Northampton were soon penalised as Gareth Denman was sent to the bin allowing young Josh Nott to dive over the line for Cavaliers’ third late on.
Cavaliers looked for a bonus-point fourth try but were unable to find it as the game finished 45-20 to the visitors.
Cavaliers are next up against Newcastle Falcons at Sixways on Monday 3 October.
Timeline
05m | Eden pen 3-0
13m | Onojaife try 3-5
14m | Olver con 3-7
20m | Olver pen 3-10
26m | Collins try 3-15
26m | Olver con 3-17
29m | Kessell try 3-22
30m | Olver con 3-24
36m | Taylor try 8-24
40m | Packman try 8-29
40m | Olver con 8-31
47m | Marshall try 8-36
48m | Olver con 8-38
54m | Hearle try 13-38
55m | Eden con 15-38
62m | Collins try 15-43
63m | Olver con 15-45
74m | Nott try 20-45
Worcester Cavaliers | 15 Basil Strange, 14 Jon Hughes (Stapley 66), 13 Max Stelling, 12 Will Butler, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Tiff Eden (Keith 66), 9 Alex Glashan (Nott 65); 1 Ryan Bower (Appiah 48), 2 Jack Singleton (Dickinson 23), 3 Biyi Alo (White 48), 4 Andrew Kitchener, 5 Christian Scotland-Williamson (Hewitt 32), 6 Huw Taylor (C), 7 Zac Xiourouppa, 8 Tom Dodd (Fowles 63)
Replacements | 16 Pip Dickinson, 17 Derrick Appiah, 18 Joe White, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Ben Fowles, 21 Josh Nott, 22 Robbie Keith, 23 Jack Stapley