FINALLY the season is under way and Warriors have got their first points on the board.

It might not have been the prettiest rugby in the world but it was important for Worcester to get something out of the game.

Losing is not a habit you want to get into on the first day of the season and the Cherry and Whites could have done plenty of damage with a squad that looks set to challenge for a top-four place.

It was almost impossible for the game to live up to the pre-match hype. The fans, players and coaches had the whole summer to think about it and the expectation levels began to soar.

In reality -- and it's easy to say with the benefit of hindsight -- a scrappy stalemate was always on the cards given the way the two teams play and the im-mense pressure of the situation.

The Sixways coaching staff opted for established players who have proved themselves in the Warriors shirt. And, while there was plenty of room for improvement, nobody in the starting line-up disgraced themselves.

But John Brain and Anthony Eddy still have the option of bringing in the likes of Andy Gomarsall and Shane Drahm when fully fit and they also have Nicolas Le Roux and Mark Tucker waiting to make their bows. Factor in the exciting talent of Uche Odouza and you have the personnel to seriously trouble the weaker defensive sides.

But the blame for Sunday's dull encounter should not lie with the players. Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan hit the nail on the head when he said the powers-that-be need to look at the decision to pack the opening day of the Premiership season with derby fixtures.

As well as the Worcester-Gloucester clash, Bristol entertained neighbours Bath, while Wasps and Saracens battled it out in an all-London affair. Even Leicester's match with North-ampton is, in Premiership terms, an East Midlands derby.

"There is much more to it than teams fronting up in local derbies," said Ryan. "It puts a lot of pressure on everyone, including the referees.

"It might make for a big start to the season but if it does not come off as a complete product, they might have to revisit it."

Ryan's primary concern was that, with Chris Jones involved with the Tri-Nations, the al-ready stretched Premiership refereeing resources would be close to breaking point.

He added: "We already have one referee doing the Tri-Nations and there are not many left to control six potentially firecracker games all on the same weekend."

The man-in-the-middle, Ashley Rowden was not afraid to intervene on Sunday but it is doubtful that, even with a different official in charge, the game would have become a try-fest.

But, refereeing aside, the wisdom of playing a bunch of derbies on the first day should be reconsidered. It may suit TV schedulers and ensure a bumper gate, but I'm not convinced it works for the spectator.

If there's one game that doesn't need extra hype it's the first match of the season. A derby is going to be a great occasion whenever it takes place. So play them in the middle of the season when teams are in their stride and we might see some more fluid rugby.

No doubt the fans of Bristol will disagree with that theory.

Speaking of Richard Hill's side, they are due at Sixways on November 18. Now that really does promise to be a mouth-watering clash.