Warriors picked up three valuable points in a nail-biting 34-34 draw with Sale Sharks at Sixways.
The Sharks led 17-5 after 20 minutes thanks to a brace from Will Addison and seven points from the boot of AJ MacGinty – with just a Jamie Shillcock try to show for Warriors.
But Jonny Arr and Perry Humphreys soon dived over with Ryan Lamb converting both to give the hosts a 19-17 lead at the break.
Wynand Olivier went over to secure Warriors a four-try bonus point after the interval before Shillcock’s scintillating solo effort gave Warriors a 31-17 lead.
MacGinty slotted a penalty before converting Neil Briggs’ try to bring Sale within four points but Lamb landed a penalty to extend Warriors’ lead back to seven.
However, a late Halani Aulika try converted by MacGinty saw Sale level the scores before an intense finale but both sides were forced to settle for three points apiece in another epic encounter at Sixways.
Sale got off to a flyer in the second minute as Addison touched down in the corner following a sweeping move to the right and fly-half MacGinty added the extras from the touchline.
The American soon added three more points with a penalty before Warriors looked to hit back.
And they did just that when Academy star Shillcock was on hand to finish a fine passage of play in the corner.
The momentum seemed to be with the hosts but a loose pass allowed Addison to intercept and stroll in under the posts and MacGinty gratefully chipped over the extras to put Sale 17-5 ahead.
But Warriors’ heads didn’t drop and after a series of scrums by the tryline, Arr went blindside to dive over and Lamb added the extras.
Carl Hogg’s men continued to impress in attack and were rewarded with their third try of the afternoon when Humphreys finished a neat move, running a good line under the posts and Lamb knocked over the conversion to send Warriors in two points ahead at the break.
The hosts came out of the blocks firing in the second period and secured their bonus-point try when Lamb’s break allowed Olivier an easy run to the whitewash and Lamb knocked over the conversion to pass his 1000 Premiership points tally.
Lamb then missed a penalty before Sharks bit back with MacGinty slotting a penalty before Briggs burrowed over for their third try.
MacGinty continued his solid form with the boot adding the extras as the Sharks were looking to bite back at 31-27.
Lamb stepped up to nudge over another three points to give Warriors a seven-point lead but Aulika powered his way over for Sale’s fourth and bonus-point try, allowing MacGinty to level the scores with the conversion.
In an another enthralling finish, both sides looked to go for the win and to pick up the full five points but the pair settled for the draw as the Sixways faithful were treated to another entertaining afternoon of rugby.
Warriors host Newcastle Falcons at Sixways next Sunday 2 October (kick-off 3pm).
Timeline
03m | Addison try 0-5
04m | MacGinty con 0-7
15m | MacGinty pen 0-10
17m | Shillcock try 5-15
19m | Addison try 5-15
20m | MacGinty con 5-17
28m | Arr try 10-17
29m | Lamb con 12-17
37m | Humphreys try 17-17
38m | Lamb con 19-17
42m | Olivier try 24-17
43m | Lamb con 26-17
52m | Shillcock try 31-17
59m | MacGinty pen 31-20
66m | Briggs try 31-25
67m | MacGinty con 31-27
73m | Lamb pen 34-27
76m | Aulika try 34-32
76m | MacGinty con 34-34
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Cooper Vuna (Adams 77), 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Jonny Arr (Baldwin 71); 1 Val Rapava Ruskin (Leleimalefaga 66), 2 Niall Annett (Bregvadze 62), 3 Nick Schonert (Johnston 66), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Cavubati 64), 5 Darren Barry, 6 Alafoti Faosiliva, 7 Carl Kirwan, 8 Phil Dowson (C)
Replacements | 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Christian Scotland-Williamson, 20 Tevita Cavubati, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Max Stelling, 23 Josh Adams