ADRIAN Skeggs has conceded defeat in Worcester Rugby Club's quest for promotion after yesterday's devastating defeat at Leeds Tykes.

Worcester's director of coaching saw his side outplayed by the new National One leaders and red-hot favourites for promotion to the Zurich Premiership in a 30-13 loss at Headingley and has given up hope of catching them with three games to go.

The reverse left Worcester one point behind the Tykes but Phil Davies' side also have a vital game in hand at Exeter this weekend.

Skeggs said: "I don't see anyone keeping up with them. They have a complete game and if they play in the mud down at Exeter on Saturday -- they will just put them away as they would if they were playing in good conditions."

"They play an 80-minute game of rugby consistently and that is the difference between them and us."

The Australian was, to his credit, brutally honest in his assessment of Worcester's performance as they went down in the title showdown.

"Leeds just took their opportunities and in the big games it is the teams who take those chances that win the game.

"They controlled the game whereas our attack just fell away and we just lacked any dynamic runs in the second-half.

"However, the boys guts it out and stuck to their task for 80 minutes -- I couldn't ask for any more effort."

Worcester went in at the break at 6-6 after Sateki Tuipulotu's penalty brace had cancelled out Richard Le Bas's own double. However, they were left chasing the game and after the introduction of England under-21 international Ian Clarke, Leeds carved open the Worcester defence.

Two tries within two minutes from Mark Luffman and Craig Emmerson put the game beyond the Sixways club who had led the National One table since the opening day of the season.

A further try from winger Chris Hall late in the game sealed Worcester's misery who only had an injury time Earl Va'a try as consolation.

Skeggs added: "The sad fact was that we never imposed ourselves on the game and the boys think that they have let themselves down.

"We lost five line-outs today in our quarter which was crucial. Andrew Lamerton has been doing it all season but he had a few bad ones there."

The former Bedford man, however, called for continuity and patience if the club were now to move forward.

"I take my hat off to Phil Davies for what he has built on the field. However, it does take time to build something like that.

"He has had four years at Leeds and Worcester have not had that continuity in the past.

"Now is not the time to panic and make quick decisions - we have to look at the bigger picture. One thing we have to do is to win our final three games and keep the pressure on Leeds."

Skeggs paid tribute to the support with more than 2,000 fans travelling up to Yorkshire. "They were fantastic, but they have been all season."