WORCESTER Warriors academy manager Mark Hewitt insists his under 23s side picked up 'valuable' experience from a 35-13 defeat to Sale Sharks at Heywood Road.

Centre Clayton Dee scored an early try for Worcester, while Jamie Shilcock kicked eight points for the visitors on a bitterly cold night.

Sale led 14-10 at the interval and profited from errors in the second-half to run out comfortable winners.

Hewitt said: "The scoreline didn't reflect how competitive we were.

“We had a very young team against a more senior group of players and we competed very well especially in the first-half.

"In the second period a few errors in our game cost us. We struggled to defend their drive which they got a penalty try out of and they capitalised from two mistakes.”

After seven minutes, the Sharks gave away a penalty and Heath Stevens’ penalty attempt fell short.

For the next 10 minutes, it was all Worcester as they pushed for the first score of the match and Dee crossed the whitewash.

Full-back Jon Hughes made a superb break, offloading to Dee who went under the posts. Shilcock added the extras to put Worcester 7-0 ahead.

Sale responded strongly and eventually got their first try of the match.

John O'Donnell took a quick line-out to Cameron Neild and the ball was phased out to Andy Hughes who crashed over the whitewash. Mark Lawrence converted to level the scores.

Viliami Fihaki was shown a yellow card by referee Ian Tempest for killing the ball in his own 22 and Shilcock’s penalty made it 10-7 to Worcester.

Sale grabbed their try of the game through winger O'Donnell and Lawrence slotted the touchline conversion to give the hosts a 14-10 half-time advantage.

Sharks scored their third try at the start of the second-half through Sam James, following an offload in the tackle from Sam Bedlow. Lawrence converted to stretch Sale’s lead to 21-10.

Shilcock cut the deficit with a penalty but Sharks regained their grip with a penalty try after a maul was illegally brought down and Lawrence converted.

Sharks notched a further try through replacement Mike Finnemore who buried his way over the try line from close range and Lawrence converted to complete the scoring.

The game became a feisty scrappy affair with O'Donnell and Andrew Kitchener shown yellow cards.

Hewitt said: "We finished the game with virtually an under 18s backline with guys like Will Butler and Shilcock putting in good performances.

"It was a really positive night in which some of the boys picked up some valuable experience."

Academy forwards development coach Ceri Jones added: "Jack Cosgrove had a great game and Andrew Kitchener came of age calling the line-outs.

"For a lot of the boys it was an opportunity to perform at a higher level and guys like Huw Taylor and Cosgrove led really well.

"The next generation of Warriors players are looking good."

The youngsters will get more opportunities with the Cavaliers, starting with a clash against The Navy at Sixways on March 25.

They will then take on Russian side Krasny Yar at Hartpury College on April 11.