WORCESTER Warriors’ first Aviva Premiership appearance at Twickenham was a sobering affair – and one from which they will learn plenty.

Reigning champions Saracens are a formidable side and were clinical in attack as they demonstrated why they will be challenging for the European Champions Cup this season.

Table-topping Saracens finished with six tries, with former England wing Chris Ashton – lucky to avoid a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Wynand Olivier – notching a brace.

Some fearful Warriors fans left the stadium as Saracens took a 48-6 lead – with Worcester’s Phil Dowson in the sin bin.

But character isn’t lacking in Warriors’ squad and they struck with tries from prop Joe Rees and skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze.

Warriors saw the fixture as a chance to showcase their skills – and at least gave their supporters – in the 42,680 crowd – something to cheer with the two late tries.

Wing Bryce Heem looks a special talent, recovering from a couple of early spills with several bulldozing runs. He created both Worcester tries.

The New Zealander’s deft offload set up replacement Rees to hold off three attempted tacklers to dive over with nine minutes remaining.

And Heem saved his best until last – using his power and pace to charge 80 metres, brushing aside Ben Ransom and Owen Farrell – in the lead up to van Velze’s try.

Chris Pennell did his England prospects with no harm with a solid performance and caught every high ball on a cold afternoon in London.

But Worcester were on the wrong end of line-out and scrum penalties throughout, which will frustrate director of rugby Dean Ryan.

Two Saracens players who had shone at Sixways in January’s Aviva A-League final – scrum-half Ben Spencer and Maro Itoje – caught the eye.

Spencer’s vision put Saracens ahead in the third minute after he sped through a gap at the breakdown and his clever kick saw Ashton gather to touch down.

Charlie Hodgson, who converted six tries and two penalties, added the extras before Warriors hit back with a sustained spell of pressure.

Tom Heathcote sliced a penalty wide and Hodgson was off target with an effort before Saracens bagged a second try through Spencer after Itoje had won a turnover and linked up with wing Chris Wiles.

Jackson Wray had a close-range effort ruled out by the television match official but Hodgson added a penalty soon afterwards to give Saracens a 17-0 lead.

Two penalties from Heathcote got Warriors on the board but, on the stroke of half-time, Na’ama Leleimalefaga was pinged for not rolling away and Hodgson’s three-pointer sent Worcester into the break with a 20-6 deficit.

Worcester’s hopes of getting back into the contest were blown away by a three-try blitz from Saracens, who turned on the style in the early stages of the second half.

Wray was driven over for Sarries’ third try and Ashton scored his second after Schalk Brits had fielded a stray box kick from Jonny Arr and ran 30 metres to link with Hodgson.

Warriors looked in serious trouble when Brits was driven over and then Dowson was yellow-carded before Ransom exploited space to barge his way over for Saracens’ sixth try of the afternoon.

But Ryan rang the changes and two late tries, one converted by Heathcote, ensured Worcester left the home of English rugby battered and bruised – but on a positive note.

Warriors skipper van Velze admitted Warriors had lost to the better side.

He said: “I think Sarries played very well, executed under pressure and there was a big difference between the teams. They punished us on every opportunity when we made mistakes, which turned into tries.

“We had a slow start and had opportunities to get back but we missed a line-out which could have given us a chance to get a score.

“We knew there would be tough days during the season but we now have to take our medicine and move on. The true challenge is how we react from it.”

He added: “Saracens put a lot of pressure on the breakdown and their kicking game was very accurate and they make you do stupid things under pressure by not clearing your lines properly.”