IT was a day when a Warriors record had to go — the only thing was the one which went was the one Worcester were trying to maintain.

Worcester had never won on the opening day of the season since they took their place in the Guinness Premiership but they had never lost at Franklin’s Gardens — until today.

A scratchy display from Mike Ruddock’s side was not what the director of rugby was looking for as he aimed to end that first-match jinx.

The air of excitement that was surrounding Sixways with the all-singing all-dancing kind of rugby that Ruddock wants to play just wasn’t there.

Northampton Saints, back in the Premiership following a year in National One, deserved victory but this was by no means a thriller.

Perhaps the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) didn’t help the Warriors, but, if they keep surrendering the ball like they did at Northampton, then they won’t matter one jot.

Ruddock was pleased with how his side had prepared for this Premiership opener but he was bewildered about how much they differed from the training paddock to the pitch.

Strong in the tackle, line-out and breakdown during the pre-season games they were lacking in all areas at Northampton.

Debutant Chris Latham looked to make an instant impact for the Warriors and, in the fourth minute, the man rated the best full-back in the world almost made a dream start.

The former Queensland Red kicked up the line and went charging after the ball only for Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson to get a kind bounce before the Aussie slung him into touch.

But this wasn’t the type of game that Latham could showcase his talents. He rarely got his hands on the ball and when he did it wasn’t the type of game that he will remember.

Fly-half Matthew Jones had a better showing on his Premiership bow. Kicking out of hand and his decision making pleased his compatriot director of rugby. But Worcester will know that the margin of defeat at Saints could have been greater as Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer spurned early penalty chances.

With the hosts missing those early opportunities to take the lead, Worcester took advantage.

Playing the ball across the line Dale Rasmussen fed winger Rico Gear. He chipped ahead and went charging down the line only for the ball to take a horrible bounce allowing Northampton to temporarily clear the danger.

More than a quarter of the game had gone when the deadlock was finally broken following a kick from Jones.

The Warriors number 10 took his side within 10 metres of the Saints line and, after skipper Greg Rawlinson stole the line-out, the pressure was on the hosts.

Northampton tried to clear the danger but they were caught infringing at the breakdown to give Worcester a penalty inside their 22 which Jones duly split the uprights with.

But that lead was short-lived as Saints’ skipper Reihana was handed an easy penalty chance in front of the Worcester posts 25 metres out and this time he didn’t waste the opportunity.

However, with 13 minutes of the first- half remaining, Jones put Warriors into the lead with his second penalty.

Northampton, playing the brighter rugby in a scrappy affair, nearly opened the try account in the 33rd minute. Blindside flanker Neil Best had charged through the Warriors defence only for the referee to pull play back after hooker Paul Shields knocked on.

Jones attempted to stretch Worcester’s first-half lead even further four minutes later when an ambitious penalty attempt from inside his own half dropped wide and short.

Warriors were reduced to 14 men on 49 minutes when Tom Wood was sent to the sin-bin and the Saints made the most of the man advantage.

Having only been on the field for four minutes after replacing Shields, hooker Dylan Hartley, the former Worcester player, burst over after a sustained period of Northampton pressure. Reihana missed the conversion.

Jon Clarke stretched the Saints lead even further when he went over in the 67th minute after he charged through Dale Rasmussen and Ryan Powell. Reihana made no mistake this time with the conversion.

Worcester grabbed their own try seven minutes from time when a burst from Sam Tuitupou put the Saints under pressure. The ball came out to Powell and he fed Aleki Lutui to charge his way through. Jones converted.

But Reihana ensured that there would be no way back for Worcester with a penalty in the 76th minute.