Worcester Warriors’ win hunt goes on after 30-15 home loss to Exeter Chiefs

Five penalties from fly-half Tom Heathcote kept Warriors in contention until Chiefs piled on the pressure in the second period to secure a four-try bonus point triumph.

A crucial moment in the match was in the 55th minute when, with the scores locked at 15-15, Warriors missed a try-scoring chance.

With Cooper Vuna on the left, Heathcote threw a long pass into touch and the opportunity was missed.

Thomas Waldrom’s converted try put Chiefs 22-15 ahead soon afterwards before Don Armand’s try and Gareth Steenson’s penalty made the game safe for Rob Baxter’s high-fliers.

Worcester will head to fellow strugglers London Irish on Sunday on the back of 11 successive losses at first-team level.

Warriors made a poor start and Chiefs scored the first try in the third minute.

Wing James Short collected a sharp pass from full-back Phil Dollman to finish off an overlap but Steenson missed the conversion.

Warriors saw plenty of the ball in the early stages and had dominance at the scrum.

They gained a penalty decision at their first scrum put-in and Heathcote’s 40-metre penalty put them on the scoreboard.

Chiefs, with a large vocal backing, played with plenty of tempo in the opening 20 minutes but a strong run down the left flank from Vuna got the Sixways crowd on their feet.

The visitors were caught offside as Warriors attacked and Heathcote’s second penalty in the 22nd minute put the hosts 6-5 ahead.

But Exeter showed their ruthlessness from open play when centre Ian Whitten cut through after they had taken a clean line-out for the visitors’ second try.

Steenson added the extras to put Chiefs 12-6 in front.

However, Heathcote’s boot kept Warriors in close attention and he slotted his third three-pointer in the 32nd minute after Chris Pennell was blocked by former Luctonians player Jonny Hill.

Warriors remained lively and a 45-metre sprint from Bryce Heem put Worcester on the front foot, which resulted in Heathcote’s fourth successful penalty in the 38th minute.

Heathcote was off-target with a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time after Whitten was pinged for holding on.

Sloppy handling at the restart from Heem immediately put Warriors under pressure at the beginning of the second period.

Chiefs won a penalty from the resulting line-out and Steenson’s three-pointer put Exeter 15-12 ahead.

But Exeter's Alec Hepburn was penalised just outside their 22 and Heathcote’s kick split the posts to level the match at 15-15.

Warriors continued to have an edge at the scrum and won two penalties at the set-piece that took them deep into Chiefs’ 22.

With Worcester on the attack, Heathcote’s long pass evaded Vuna and the hosts’ victory chances faded.

Prop James Johnston came on for his Warriors debut in the 57th minute, replacing Nick Schonert, but the hosts conceded a scrum penalty.

Chiefs kicked to the corner and were rewarded for their enterprise with Waldrom driven over from the line-out and Steenson coolly adding the touchline conversion.

Warriors had a let-off in the 66th minute when Short spilled the ball with a man outside after another slick Chiefs passing move had cut open the hosts’ defence.

But Exeter remained in control and claimed their fourth try with 10 minutes remaining as flanker Armand brushed aside the attentions of Pennell to barge over in the corner.

Steenson’s penalty with five minutes remaining completed the scoring and capped a strong final quarter for the visitors who were worthy winners.