Coventry 23 Worcester 29

WORCESTER Warriors survived a late comeback from a fired up Coventry side to claim a fine 29-23 National One win.

In a game that was never less than entertaining Worcester scored four tries to claim the bonus point, but they were pushed all the way by Coventry.

The large travelling Sixways support was happy at the end, tinged with relief that Saturday's opener was out of the way.

For most of the game, the Warriors were in control, although opening day nerves occasionally showed, with passes going astray and with knock-ons.

The classier moments came from Worcester, with both first half tries being clear examples. Duncan Roke's excellent support of Chris Garrard's break from his own 22 brought the 14th minute score and Garrard displayed sharp handling to take fly half James Brown's 25th minute pass to score the second.

Brown converted Roke's try and generally had a good game. He was involved in most of the moves and kicked to good effect, landing three conversions and a last minute penalty.

Worcester played for 10 minutes minus the sin-binned Roke -- banished for 'killing' the ball as the home side pressed on the half hour -- and were healthily in control at the break.

Coventry's solitary score at that stage was a penalty by Lee Rust on 24 minutes to punish an offside infringement.

The second half was a disjointed affair with both sides making several replacements that disrupted play and interrupted momentum.

Penalties on 46 and 60 minutes for the home fly-half Rust edged Coventry to a 12-9 deficit, before Worcester opened up the gap with two more tries.

For the first, flanker Gavin Pfister won a 50-metre race to catch Simon Martin's chip on 67 minutes and the captain Werner Swanepoel darted over from a five metre scrum on 74 minutes after replacement Mark Gabey had been held.

Brown converted both scores to virtually wrap up the match for Worcester at 26-9.

Coventry made it a close run thing by the end, however, with tries on 78 and 80 minutes. Replacement hooker Trent McMurray scored the first when he plunged over at the front of a short range line out.

The second was scored by veteran No. 8 Julian Horrobin, who had the freedom of the pitch to run over close to the posts. Rust converted both tries to leave the scores at a nervy 26-23 in Worcester's favour.

Brown, though, settled it with a stoppage time penalty leaving coach John Brain to express some misgivings.

"I thought we were a little disjointed and nave at times," he said.

"However it was our first game of the season and I am sure we shall be better two months down the line.

"We have to be pleased with a win to start off the campaign, especially with the bonus point. I don't think too many sides will go away from Coventry with that extra point."