I THINK I can speak for the whole squad in that we were disappointed with our performance on Saturday as we went out of the Powergen Shield.

However, I don't for a minute think it was a particularly significant result in the grand scheme of things. Exeter deserved to get through to a Twickenham final. They wanted it more than us and it certainly showed towards the end of the match at Sixways.

Exeter cannot win promotion this season. They can finish third but that is the height of their ambitions for the National One season. So I think it was understandable that they beat us because they showed more hunger than us.

Let's get it straight though. We never wanted to lose the match and for long periods of the game, we were ahead. We had great chances to kill off the tie in the second half but couldn't quite find the finish.

No matter how much is said to the players, I think that they will always be 100 per cent focused on the league campaign and that was certainly in the back of their minds during the match. I think the players all tried to win the game but I guess it's that extra five per cent which makes the difference.

What annoys the players is that the unbeaten home record has been lost. It was a priority from our point of view to stay undefeated at Sixways but at least we can say we have not lost there in the league.

One hugely positive point to come out of the match was the form of Duncan Roke at fullback. You could see he loved being back in his favoured role and I think defences will once again be quaking in their boots with the ground now drying out.

We've played a lot of rugby in the past few months and, if you look through the results, Worcester have been pretty consistent. The players, however, are grateful for some time off now to recharge the batteries.

We have been given this week and weekend off, as we have no match, and I expect the squad to come back on Monday all the better for the experience. We've lost just twice in the campaign so far -- at Rotherham and Orrell -- but we've won significantly at places such as Plymouth, Bedford and Exeter. We've played some lovely stuff on the way with dazzling displays at London Welsh and Manchester.

It would be unfair to think that, post Exeter, the players do not deserve a few days off. The boys need to get away from the club and each other and go and do something new. It's all about freshening yourself up for the final push and, for me, this mini-break has come at just the right time.

We have six games to go, starting with Plymouth at Sixways a week on Saturday and there is a great deal of optimism around the squad that things are on the up. Everybody is hopeful that, apart from Ben Hinshelwood, Richard Bates and Chris Pearson, John Brain and Andy Keast will have a fully fit squad to choose from on March 15 and the importance of that should not be underestimated.

It has helped me this season to have had John O'Reilly and Tom Richardson pushing me all the way. I'm sure when players such as Tim Walsh, Mark Gabey, Christian Evans, Gary Trueman, Dan Zaltzman and Craig Quinnell return from their injury problems, it will give everyone a boost.

We've not had any luck this season with injuries but this break is perfectly timed to get everyone back and fit.