WHILE Dean Ryan admitted his side were outclassed by Bath, the Warriors director of rugby was buoyed by aspects of his side’s performance.

League defeat number seven of the season leaves Worcester still adrift at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table but Ryan believes a turning point is in sight.

He said: “We have to take positives and our scrum was outstanding against the supposed feared pack of the Premiership and I don’t think we got the reward for it in the first-half.

“It was a movement forward. We have a little bit of consistency in the group now and hopefully we can see those sort of standards week in, week out. Bath are a very good side and, when the game shrinks to that level, their breakdown work is very good and they have a 10 who keeps pumping the corners.

“Last week was the first time this season we had a consistent group to work with and, if we keep making those strides, there will be sides that come along that aren’t in the same sort of shape as Bath and, if we can retain those levels, we will cause some problems.”

Ryan praised the crowd, saying: “If they want the players to give everything they’ve got, then that relationship will be pretty solid. What we can ask for is an outstanding commitment and the supporters will get behind that — I thought that relationship grew on Friday night.”

On Bath’s performance, Ryan said: “I thought George Ford was outstanding and it helps when you have that sort of leadership and kicking around the field.

“We were pretty unfortunate to have the TMO decision (Dean Hammond try claim) go against us and then our own detail let us down, which was a big hit just before half-time.

“However, that was as on-script and good as I have seen us. We just have to get better at some of the small content around things like discipline, which leaks points.”