WORCESTER Warriors' director of rugby Mike Ruddock refused to blame the recent mid-season break for his side's disappointing performance against Saracens at Vicarage Road.

The Sixways outfit failed to hit the heights - both in terms of result and performance - that they managed in collecting their first Guinness Premiership win of the season against Bristol, going down 19-6.

Ruddock instead insisted that his side's poor discipline and the concession of too much turnover ball was what cost them victory.

He said: "We didn't play well. We had a week off, but so had Saracens, so I don't think we can use that as an excuse.

"The coaches, the players in the dressing room and the supporters will be disappointed with our performance, but the best team won on the day.

"I don't think Saracens played to their level and we certainly didn't play to the potential we've got - it's up to us to dust ourselves down now and get it right for next week."

The game began well for Worcester as they took a second-minute lead through fly-half Loki Crichton's drop-goal, but it was all downhill from there as the home side dominated.

Ruddock added: "We had a great start, took the line-out ball and Loki Crichton dropped a goal - I thought we looked confident. However, we then slipped back in a number of ways, particularly in terms of our basics letting us down - such as discipline and turn-overs.

"We gave away a lot of penalties too and some of the things that have haunted us earlier in the season returned. At half-time, we were pretty vociferous with the players in terms of the quality of what we'd seen and unfortunately it didn't improve too much for us in the first 20 minutes of the second-half.

"After we'd made some substitutions, we managed to get our hands on the ball a bit more and raise the tempo and towards the end we saw a little bit of what the Warriors are potentially capable of.

"Reflecting on the game, the crucial moments were that when Sarries had their man in the bin we didn't get a try, but when Pat Sanderson was in the bin Sarries managed to manufacture a score - ultimately I think that was the difference between the two teams."

Warriors did manage to string some good passages of play together in the final quarter of the match, but the Saracens' defence was well-drilled and determined not to leak any tries. After the final buzzer had sounded, Worcester nearly crossed the hosts' try-line which would have given them a chance of a losing bonus point, but the home rearguard again held firm.

Ruddock said: "We nearly snatched a bonus point at the end - which we possibly would not have deserved - but when we watch the video, it is evident that we are at our best when we try to raise the tempo.

"Reflecting on the first-half, we didn't get the ball a lot because we gave away stupid penalties and when we did get the ball, we often turned it over again. But, if we start to up our tempo, get the passes going and start to look like we've got some creativity, we look better.

"We tried to play a containing game and stay in the match until late on and then nick the result.

"We are better when we raise the tempo and that is the way we've got to play. I'll use that as a positive to show the players the difference when we play the two styles and how effective it can be when we carry the ball to the opposition.

"We were keen not to turn the ball over in our own half because Sarries are a very talented team and if you make a lot of crucial mistakes in that area of the pitch they will build the pressure and hurt you."