WORCESTER Warriors’ 21-year-old full-back Ben Howard has seized his first-team opportunity with both hands.

Warriors director of rugby, Dean Ryan, admitted Howard had probably been given his Premiership bow too early and found it tough living in Chris Pennell’s shadow.

But Howard has shone in the absence of Pennell and was Warriors’ stand-out performer in Saturday’s 32-16 victory at Doncaster Knights in the Greene King IPA Championship.

Ryan said: “Ben Howard was outstanding again which, for a young lad coming in, has been great. He’s taken his chance really well and looks mature. He looked very composed at the back.”

Ryan added: “Ben is more self-confident and also more confident in his peer group.

“He probably got thrown in a bit early and knew he wasn’t quite ready for it but, this year, he’s a different person.

“We keep telling Ben to back himself and he looks pretty good and he’s really turned it around.

“You could see, at times, last year, he was eating himself up and he was really struggling.

“It’s tough playing with Chris Pennell as the major player here and I think Ben’s taken his chance really well and he does not have any baggage.

“I think he’s taken some major steps through his own self-confidence and maturity.”

Max Stelling, who can play at centre or full-back, came off the bench at Castle Park and crossed for Warriors’ third try in the bonus-point success.

Stelling, who is only 21, is set to play tonight for Worcester Cavaliers in an Aviva ‘A’ League fixture at Leicester.

Ryan said: “Lads like Ben Howard and Max Stelling seem to have something extra at this level and we will keep pushing them in.

“Some of our other lads have not necessarily found that bit extra which can beat a man or give us a little bit of an edge. I am really pleased for Max and tonight at Welford Road is another opportunity for him.”

Former Warriors head coach Clive Griffiths, who is now the director of rugby at Doncaster, believes his old club will push Bristol for the top spot this season.

“Worcester will have to show resilience when they come to places like Doncaster but they’ve got a good side and coaching set-up and they will be there in the mix,” said Griffiths.

“I don’t want to be negative — but this is a 10-team league — and I am not counting Bristol or Worcester.

“It will be interesting to see whether Bristol or Worcester are at the top of the pile at the end of May.”