Warriors again showed character and resilience in adversity to claim a try bonus point against a powerful Saracens side at StoneX Stadium.
Warriors scored four tries in the second half – three in the last nine minutes – with the third of them, from replacement scrum-half Gareth Simpson, the one that secured a bonus point.
The second half performance went some way to redeeming a disappointing first 40 minutes from Warriors who were passive in defence and conceded six tries against a rampant Saracens side packed with internationals. Warriors shaded the second half try-scoring 4-3.
But Warriors were a transformed side in the second half as they fought ferociously defensively and showed what a danger they can be in attack by scoring some excellent tries with patient and sustained attacks.
Francois Venter scored a brace of tries in the second period, his second being the pick after a superb attack from deep in Warriors’ own half.
Simpson featured prominently in that attack and then rounded off another flowing attack, started by Ashley Beck’s break.
Having got the try bonus point, Warriors could have been forgiven for putting their feet up but they finished strongly with Beck latching on to a delicious crossfield kick from Fin Smith to score in the corner.
Warriors almost scored again at the death when Simpson broke free again but the score was wiped out after replays showed the ball was grounded just short and then bounced from Simpson’s grasp.
From the position they were in at half-time – 40-7 down – Warriors would have happily taken a point from the game but the first half proved costly as Saracens were clinical in attack.
The tries came at frequent intervals with left wing Alex Lewington topping and tailing the first half scoring.
Billy Vunipola, from a five metre scrum, Alex Goode, Nick Tompkins – with the bonus point try after 23 minutes – and giant lock Nick Iziekwe all crossed before Warriors were rewarded for a period of sustained pressure when Joe Batley crashed over and Smith converted.
Warriors scored again five minutes into the second half when Venter went over from another sustained attack and Smith added the conversion.
But Saracens cancelled that out within two minutes when Ben Earl capitalised on a mix-up in defence and a favourable bounce to touch down under the posts.
Billy Vunipola got his second try from a lineout drive and full-back Max Malins finished off a silky attack with Lozowski adding his eighth conversion of the match.
There were still 15 minutes left at that point but the remainder of the scoring came from Warriors who played their part in a festive frolic by producing some sublime attacking rugby.
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Alex Hearle (Nanai 41) (Morris 49), 13 Francois Venter (CC), 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Will Chudley(Simpson 46), 1 Ethan Waller (Owen 48), 2 Scott Baldwin (Annett 48), 3 Jay Tyack (Judge 48), 4 Joe Batley, 5 Andrew Kitchener (Kvesic 57), 6 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Ted Hill (CC), 8 Sione Vailanu (Lewis 54).
Replacements | 16 Niall Annett, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Matt Kvesic, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Oli Morris, 23 Melani Nanai.
Timeline
5m | Lewington try 5-0
12m | B Vunipola try 10-0
13m | Lozowski con 12-0
15m | Goode try 17-0
16m | Lozowski con 19-0
22m | Tompkins try 24-0
23m | Lozowski con 26-0
29m | Iziekwe try 31-0
30m | Lozowski con 33-0
36m | Batley try 33-5
37m | Smith con 33-7
39m | Lewington try 38-7
40m | Lozowski con 40-7
45m | Venter try 40-12
46m | Smith con 40-14
47m | Earl try 45-14
48m | Lozowski con 47-14
53m | Vunipola try 52-14
54m | Lozowski con 54-14
65m | Malins try 59-14
66m | Lozowski con 61-14
71m | Venter try 61-19
76m | Simpson try 61-24
79m | Beck try 61-29