FOR the second week running Worcester Warriors escaped being on the end of something approaching a cricket score because of their opponents' errant goal-kicking.

At Saracens a week ago yesterday, home kicker Glen Jackson contrived to miss four simple penalties as Worcester got away with just' a 19-6 defeat and it was a similar story against Harlequins at The Stoop on Saturday.

When the final buzzer went, the scoreboard read 34-15 in favour of the home side, but that only told half the story. Between them, Quins' stand-off Adrian Jarvis and full-back Mike Brown wasted a potential 20 points - all from eminently kickable positions.

And a 54-15 scoreline wouldn't have been harsh on the visitors as Dean Richards' men created plenty more try-scoring chances than the five they actually took, with Worcester imploding in the second-half.

Rico Gear's skilfully-taken 25th-minute try pulled the score back to 12-8 in the hosts' favour and Mike Ruddock's men scented a bonus point might be in the offing - if not more. However, the Sixways side's poor discipline and tendency to cough up possession whenever they had worked themselves into a promising position once again proved to be their undoing.

Man-of-the-match against Saracens, Sam Tuitupou, began at The Stoop where he had left off at Vicarage Road - with a succession of bone-crunching tackles as Worcester looked to gain an early ascendancy.

However, flanker Chris Robshaw was the first player to threaten the Warriors' line. The blindside broke from a ruck and surged into the visitors' 22 only to see his pass to the on-rushing support blocked by Gear.

Jarvis spurned his first chance of the match after veteran prop Tony Windo had been hit for stamping, with the fly-half's effort falling into Miles Benjamin's arms after striking the left-hand upright. With just 12 minutes on the clock, Quins opened up the Warriors' defence as openside flanker Will Skinner charged through the middle, chipped over full-back Thinus Delport, gathered and touched the ball down under the posts. Jarvis bagged the simple conversion.

Things soon got worse for Worcester as, from a line-out, Quins bulldozed towards the try-line. England Saxons scrum-half Danny Care, who enjoyed a fine game, fired the ball out wide and Welsh centre Hal Luscombe was on hand to touch down in the corner.

Fly-half James Brown, recalled to the side in place of Loki Crichton, opened Worcester's account with a penalty after Quins were penalised for not rolling away.

Tongan prop Tevita Taumoepeau, who signed a contract extension last week, was hit for not binding to give Jarvis a simple kick in front of the posts, but he pushed his effort wide. Soon after, Harlequins looked certain to claim their third try, but a great covering tackle by wing Benjamin denied the home side. All Black lock Greg Rawlinson was the next Warrior to be guilty of handing the hosts a kickable penalty but, to howls of derision from the home supporters, Jarvis was wasteful once more.

Almost everything was going wrong for Worcester now and captain Pat Sanderson left the field with an arm injury to be replaced by Netani Talei.

The hosts disrupted a Worcester line-out, but Aleki Lutui snaffled the knock down and set up the Warriors' best attacking platform of the game. Several good probing phases ensued but the visitors were ultimately undone by a Brown forward pass.

A great break by Drew Hickey took ball up to Quins' 22, but the flanker was isolated and, as Powell tried to recycle the ball, he was tackled and the ball went forward.

Worcester were then pinged for pulling a line-out down, but Jarvis sliced wide once more. Yet another home penalty after Powell had illegally slowed play down saw full-back Brown step up to the plate. However, he was just as wayward, pulling his effort wide left.

By now, Worcester were struggling to get possession of the ball and they conceded another penalty for hands in the ruck. The Quins kicking confidence was shot by now and, despite being well-placed for an attempt at goal, Jarvis opted to go for the corner.

From the line-out, Worcester frantically defended their line but Hickey ended up being sent to the cooler for coming in at the side and Jarvis finally split the posts.

Winger Tom Williams set up another attack with a boot into acres of space. Worcester defenders got back to cover, but the home side worked the ball out wide and replacement Steve So'oialo dived over in the corner. Confidence restored, Jarvis slotted the tricky conversion.

More ill discipline saw Worcester complete the game with 14 men as, with five minutes remaining, Tuitupou was given a yellow card and Quins twisted the knife with a bonus point try. Care chipped the ball through for Tosh Masson to touch down and Jarvis was on target with the extras.

In a frantic finale, from the re-start, Brown charged down Williams' clearance and scored under the posts before converting his own try. Fittingly, though, Quins had the final say with Williams making up for his error by being on hand to score in the corner after good hands had worked the ball down the line. Jarvis brought the curtain down on a disappointing Warriors' performance with a successful conversion.