Warriors were left to count the cost of a poor opening quarter against a physical Newcastle side in the Kingston Park sunshine.
Warriors were 17 points down in that time but a re-jig of the front row and another inspirational performance from Ted Hill helped to stop the rot.
Although Newcastle secured a try bonus when Sean Robinson galloped over midway through the second half that was about the only time they ventured into Warriors’ 22.
Warriors finished strongly with the in-form Jamie Shillcock crossing after a long period of sustained pressure before Hill capped his fine performance in the unfamiliar position of lock in front of England Head Coach Eddie Jones.
It was not enough to secure a losing bonus point or to help Sam Lewis and Graham Kitchener to celebrate their 100th appearances for the club.
But the improved second half performance, in which Warriors played some enterprising attacking rugby, at least offered some encouragement after a nightmare eight hour journey to the North East on Friday.
The result could have been much worse as Newcastle right wing Adam Radwan scored after five minutes, brilliantly dotting down by the cornerflag.
Newcastle then won a lineout just outside Warriors’ 22 and piled into a driving lineout which shunted hooker George McGuigan over.
When Radwan went over for his second try, following up his own chip-and-chase, Warriors needed some drastic action and it came when the entire front row were substituted after 26 minutes.
It was a brave call from Head Coach Jonathan Thomas but it worked as Warriors started to win the key collisions and the added physicality helped them to win a succession of penalties which meant Newcastle were tested in defence for long periods of the second half.
Warriors could have turned around only 11 points adrift but Duncan Weir was off-target with two penalty attempts into the breeze.
Warriors needed at least a try in the third quarter and it almost came when Ollie Lawrence broke free, Jamie Shillcock hit the line at pace but his pass eluded Tom Dodd and went into touch.
Against the run of play, Newcastle extended their lead when Robinson powered through but the final quarter was all Warriors.
The pressure was rewarded when Newcastle conceded a series of penalties close to their line and Shillcock nipped in with weir adding the extras.
There was time for Hill to finish off another long and patient attack with a powerful finish but, although Shillcock took his conversion quickly, time ran out on the push for a third try.
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys (Doel 42), 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Noah Heward, 10 Duncan Weir (Hearle 73), 9 Francois Hougaard (Simpson 54), 1 Marc Thomas (Waller 26), 2 Beck Cutting (Annett 26), 3 Jay Tyack (Schonert 26), 4 Ted Hill (C), 5 Graham Kitchener (Clegg 63), 6 Tom Dodd (van Velze 55), 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Matt Kvesic.
Replacements | 16 Niall Annett, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Nick Schonert, 19 Justin Clegg, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Alex Hearle, 23 Harri Doel.
Timeline
5m | Radwan try 5-0
12m | McGuigan try 10-0
13m | Connon con 12-0
20m | Radwan try 17-0
57m | Robinson try 22-0
58m | Connon con 24-0
70m | Shillcock try 24-5
71m | Weir con 24-7
77m | Hill try 24-12
78m | Shillcock con 24-14