WORCESTER Warriors were given a rude awakening last night when they went down 29-7 to Northampton at Sixways.

The second-string side found life tough against an experienced Northampton team featuring Matt Dawson, Jon Sleightholme and Mark Tucker.

Sateki Tuipulotu, Steven Vile, Tom Warren and Neil Mason were all hoping to catch the eye before Worcester's National One clash with Wakefield on Saturday. However, it was Winston Stanley who put the home side ahead after just five minutes with a try which Vile converted.

It proved to be a false dawn, however, as a Dawson-inspired Northampton hit back.

Winger Simon Webster put them back in touch before Matt Miles' try was converted by centre Tucker. Northampton continued in the same vein in the second half and scored two more tries from prop Kelvin Todd and Sleightholme.

"Our players certainly did not disgrace themselves," said head coach John Brain. "We wanted to look at a number of our younger players and they did very well. We were impressed with flanker Neil Mason -- not for the first time this season."

Worcester: Tuipulotu; Stanley, Cullen, Meredith, Lewis; Vile, Pellow; Collins, Smith, Davis, Hughes, Danielle, Mason, Warren, Knight. Replacements: Gorst, O'Connell, Fisher, Wheeler, Richardson, Higgins, Edwards.