Warriors claimed their first victory of the season after an inspirational defensive display against a resilient Newcastle Falcons side at Sixways.
The match proved gritty, with Warriors desperate for their first four-point return, and they eventually got over the line after soaking up sustained pressure in the second period.
Wynand Olivier opened the scoring with the game’s only try midway through the first-half before Mike Delany got Newcastle off the mark with a penalty.
Tom Heathcote gave his side an 8-3 half-time lead with his only penalty of the afternoon before Ryan Lamb added another three points moments after entering the action.
Newcastle drove forward as they looked for a way back into the game and Delany and his replacement Joel Hodgson reduced the visitors’ deficit to 11-9 with minutes remaining.
But Warriors held firm as they went through the phases at the death before clearing the ball into touch to claim the points.
Head Coach Carl Hogg made one change to the side which drew with Sale Sharks as Tom Heathcote was recalled at fly-half.
Youngsters Perry Humphreys and Jamie Shillcock, who had both impressed in recent weeks, were again handed starting places as Warriors went in search of a first win of the season.
Newcastle started the match well and heaped pressure on the hosts as they camped inside the home 22.
But Hogg’s side repelled the visitors before Juan Pablo Socino knocked on as he made his way to the tryline.
Warriors hadn’t been able to gain any meaningful possession in the first 15 minutes of the match but soon had the crowd on their feet as they claimed the first and only try of the match.
Heathcote took advantage of a loose pass before racing upfield and teeing up Olivier, who strolled to the tryline.
Heathcote saw his kick drift wide but the hosts were starting to take control of the game.
Warriors were unbeaten at home this season before the game began and were looking for another strong performance in front of the Sixways fans.
Mike Delany put Newcastle on the board with a penalty after 25 minutes as both sides fought for territory before Cooper Vuna nearly found a way through after kicking towards the tryline.
Warriors looked more and more dangerous as the half wore on and started to show endeavour with a series of attacks.
And the hosts nearly scored a second try as Humphreys was halted close to the line before Alafoti Faosiliva was stopped on the line on the stroke of half-time.
Warriors were awarded a penalty as the clock ticked past 40 minutes and Heathcote’s kick gave the hosts a five-point lead at the interval.
After a tight first-half the tempo was raised after the break as the sides both went in search of a valuable win.
Humphreys and Shillcock showed they were ice cool under pressure as they exchanged passes behind their own tryline before the latter cleared into touch.
The Sixways side were looking to control proceedings with intelligent decision-making as they protected their lead and Lamb made an instant impact as he added another three points to put his side 11-3 ahead after 54 minutes.
But Newcastle refused to lie down and reduced the deficit once again as Delany struck his second penalty of the afternoon just after the hour mark.
The visitors were pinning Warriors further and further back and forcing them to defend for long spells as the match entered its latter stages.
But the hosts were matching the challenge head on as they forced a string of penalties to relieve the pressure.
The tension at Sixways was almost unbearable as time ticked away and it didn’t get any better when replacement Hodgson added another three points for the visitors to put them within two points.
The visitors continued to bang on the door but Warriors kicked a penalty into touch with seconds remaining.
And when the hosts secured the lineout, they went through a series of phases before Jonny Arr kicked into touch to give Warriors a much-deserved four points.
Warriors| 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Cooper Vuna (Adams 35), 10 Tom Heathcote (Lamb 52), 9 Jonny Arr, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin (Leleimalefaga 63), 2 Niall Annett (Bregvadze 70), 3 Nick Schonert (Johnston 36-40, 70), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Alafoti Faosiliva, 7 Carl Kirwan (Cox 77) 8 Phil Dowson (C)
Replacements |16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Christian Scotland-Williamson, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Josh Adams
Timeline:
19m | Olivier try 5-0
25m | Delany pen 5-3
40m| Heathcote pen 8-3
54m| Lamb pen 11-3
63m| Delany pen 11-6
77m| Hodgson pen 11-9