THE business end of the season is fast approaching and Worcester Warriors were given an almighty fright in Saturday’s 32-17 victory at Bedford Blues.

With six league matches remaining before the play-offs, it is clear there is strong character and self-belief within the Worcester dressing room — but they cannot afford to switch off in matches.

Ryan Mills and Andy Symons — two of Warriors’ stars in recent weeks — had first-half performances they would want to forget.

Mills missed an early kick to touch and threw a pass which was intercepted for a try, but he hit back to force his way over the whitewash with seven minutes remaining.

Symons, who struggled to hold on to passes in the opening half and was turned over for a try, responded to kick three conversions and two penalties after the interval.

Centre Max Stelling will, no doubt, learn from an afternoon, which included spilling Jonny Arr’s pass close to the try-line, in the youngster’s poorest showing this term.

But there were some glowing performances with full-back Ben Howard and hooker Niall Annett both composed, late call-up James Percival showed plenty of aggression against his former club and lock Darren O’Shea was impressive in the line-out.

Ultimately, three converted tries in the last seven minutes spared Warriors a few blushes and also highlighted the power of their bench.

The chips were down for Warriors in an error-strewn first-half and Bedford’s Goldington Road ground was rocking at the break after the hosts sailed into a 17-0 lead.

But Dean Ryan’s men showed at Yorkshire Carnegie they are capable of clawing back deficits — they trailed 14-0 in the match at Leeds.

Sure enough, Warriors took full advantage of the infamous Bedford slope, dominated possession and territory in the second-half and were worthy winners at the final whistle.

Bedford claimed the first points when Jake Sharp landed a drop goal and the Blues were gifted a try when Mills’ pass was intercepted by Viliami Hakalo who sprinted under the posts.

James Pritchard’s conversion put Bedford 10-0 ahead and they were in dreamland when Hakalo turned over ball from Symons and passed to Pat Tapley who sprinted clear. Pritchard kicked the conversion.

Warriors made a bright start to the second period and Sam Smith capped his return to the fold after injury with their first try after Gerrit-Jan van Velze and Arr had combined at the back of a five-metre scrum.

With the visitors’ pack gaining control, Symons landed two penalties before prop Nick Schonert was harshly yellow-carded.

The home side were then reduced to 14 men soon when replacement Paul Tupai was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.

The mounting pressure on Bedford’s defence finally told.

Mills picked up at the back of a scrum to bulldoze his way under the posts to score, with Symons’ conversion putting Warriors 18-17 ahead.

Sam Betty then got on the end of a driving maul, which Symons converted, with three minutes remaining.

In the last play of the match, Betty scooped up a Bedford spill and the ball was shipped out for Biggs to score in the corner and Symons’ conversion completed a remarkable comeback.