PAUL Hodgson’s dramatic try-saving tackle on the last play of the game ensured Warriors held out for victory over Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership at Sixways.

The scrum-half put his body on the line for his team and needed several minutes of treatment after the final whistle, but his bravery was vital to Worcester’s win.

A David Lemi wonder-try as well as a score from Andy Goode, who also kicked 13 points, led Warriors to their second win of the campaign and condemned Sharks to a seventh consecutive defeat.

Goode gave Worcester a perfect start to the game with a well-struck penalty after Sale had gone off their feet at the game’s first breakdown.

Sale didn’t play like a side who had lost their first six matches of the season as they controlled the opening exchanges.

As the visitors gradually worked their way into the Worcester 22, the home defence became more desperate, leading to Josh Matavesi leaping out of the line, but missing his tackle on former Warrior Sam Tuitupou, who was free to fire the ball wide for Mark Cueto to score in the corner.

Warriors finally got their act together and wing Lemi made a sharp break, before Semisi Taulava crashed into contact. Sale went off their feet again and Goode restored the hosts' lead.

The advantage didn’t last long, though, as Danny Cipriani was able to edge his side back in front when Worcester were caught off-side in front of their posts.

The game, up until this point, had been low on quality, but a moment of magic from Lemi changed that and swung the momentum back in Warriors’ favour.

Chris Pennell found the Samoan flier, who scorched through a hole, stepped his man and left full-back Nick MaCleod for dead to score a superb try under the posts.

Goode added the extras and Warriors dominated the rest of the half as they sorted out their line-out and the pack began to flex their muscles.

Late in the half, Sale just managed to scramble Goode’s grubber kick clear, but were penalised on the floor, allowing the fly-half to extend his side’s lead to 16-8 at the break.

Early in the second period, Cipriani pegged Warriors back to the tune of three points when James Percival was penalised at the ruck.

Worcester then appeared to have won a line-out, only for Sale prop Ross Harrison to emerge with the ball and gallop towards the line. He was hauled down, but there was a massive overlap and Nick MaCleod went over. Cipriani missed the conversion and the game was tied at 16-16.

Warriors turned down the posts to kick to the corner and were rewarde when Hodgson and Goode worked a clever move down the short side for the fly-half to score in the corner, before converting from out wide.

With the clock dead, Sale forced a string of penalties on the Warriors line, before Hodgson’s late heroics.

Warriors: Pennell; Claassens, Grove, Matavesi (Carlisle, 65), Lemi (Fatiaki, 78); Goode, Hodgson; Mullan, Lutui (Shervington, 60), Andress (Currie, 73), Percival, Gillies (Schofield, 55), Betty, Kvesic, Taulava (Chris Jones, 60). Not used: Ceri Jones, Arr.

Referee: Greg Garner.

Attendance: 8,669.