WORCESTER Warriors completed a clean sweep of pre-season victories as they eased to a 39-18 win over Cambridge at a sun-drenched Wests Renault Park.

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock named a youthful side with a sprinkling of first-team stars for the trip to face the National Division Two outfit.

Prop Darren Morris captained the side and was joined by first-teamers Loki Crichton, Chris Pennell, Jonny Arr and Joe Carlisle who were trying to stake a claim for a spot against Northampton Saints on Sunday.

But the hosts made a bright start and retained the ball well until missing a fourth-minute penalty when Ben Patston pulled his kick.

Cambridge looked to make the breakthrough on eight minutes when home back-row Dave Archer burst through tackles.

After Worcester were guilty of coming in at the side, the penalty was slotted over by Patston.

Worcester looked to hit back with full-back Pennell breaking the line and centre Alex Grove tearing clear only to be dragged down. There was a slice of fortune about the opening try as Carlisle kicked over the top and the ball bounced off the crossbar for Grove to touch down. Crichton added a simple conversion.

Cambridge shunted forward with real desire and Archer was credited with their first try. Patston added the conversion.

Warriors’ second try was one of real class after a stolen line-out. Crichton picked out Ollie Grove who tore down the right before flicking for hooker Jordan Page to cross. Crichton added the extras.

Cambridge cut the lead to a single point on the half-hour when Graham Kitchener was yellow carded for coming in the side and Patston slotted the penalty.

But Patston blotted his copybook just a minute later when his kick over the top put his team in trouble and good support down the left saw Shaun Ruwers crash over from close-range.

Crichton again showed his kicking boots with a late penalty to make the score 24-13 at the break.

Summer signing Ben Jones came on at the break and had an immediate impact as he released Crichton who fed the flying Charlie Fellows to score after 49 seconds of the second-half.

Worcester were denied space by a spirited, energetic home side but they ran in the fifth try when Carlisle’s neat pass found Pennell and the full-back showed strength to power over past two men.

Another fine pass from Carlisle set up try number six as he left the left wing of Cambridge clutching at fresh air and Jake Abbott latched onto a clever inside-pass from James Collins to cross.

Battling Cambridge had the final word when Callum Powell was shunted over in injury-time to complete the scoring.

Warriors: Morris, Page (Lewis 79), Ruwers (Black 40), Kitchener (Lyons 79), R Wood, Collins, Abbott, Cox, Arr (B Jones 40), Carlisle, Fellows, 12 Loki Crichton (Crook 67), A Grove (Short 79), O Grove (Wheatcroft 57), Pennell.

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