IT proved to be a difficult afternoon at Sixways for Worcester Warriors Women as they were pushed aside by runaway Allianz Premier 15s league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury.

The visitors came into the derby having won five from five to start the 2022/23 campaign and they would not be stopped from romping to a sixth consecutive victory on Saturday.

Neve Jones, Sarah Beckett and Sisilia Tuipulotu scored two tries apiece for Gloucester, with Emma Sing also scoring a try and adding five conversions as Gloucester racked up 52 points.

Carys Phillips did go over mid-way through the second period as Warriors managed a consolation try of their own but overall they were second best to their rivals.

After the match, forwards coach Steve Halsey reflected on a difficult afternoon.

"It was a real one tough one. Gloucester are a really good side," he said.

"They have recruited well over the summer but I cannot question the effort from the girls but some of the little details let us down and against a side as good as Gloucester, you are going to get found out.

"There are a lot of learnings to take from it. We have a big block of games coming up now and it;s about taking those learnings forward, build on them fine tune some of those details.

"We have a lot of games to come. We have DMP Sharks next week and then Loughborough at home so it's just about building on those performances now."

The comments from Halsey were echoed by Scottish international Lana Skeldon.

"Our discipline let us down and lacking a little bit of detail in key areas also didn't help" she added.

"There are positives to take. From a forwards perspective, there was good intent in the scrum and it went pretty well in that department.

"Our lineout functioned well too but moving into next week we need to focus on that detail and reducing that penalty count because ultimately that's what killed us today."

Despite the result, there plenty in attendance at Sixways as rugby returned to Worcester in 2023.

With the men's side still out of action and the club still in the midst of administration, the women continue to play and Skeldon was full of praise for those supporters who braved the rainy conditions.

A massive thank you to the Warriors family who came down. That 16th person makes a massive difference and we look forward to seeing them all down here again at the next home game."