WORCESTER Warriors ended Saracens 100 per cent record in the Guinness Premiership by holding them to a 12-12 draw — the second such scoreline at Sixways in the space of a week.

In another try-less encounter which was dominated by the sound of leather on leather, four penalties from home fly-half Willie Walker cancelled out a quartet of successful kicks from Sarries’ stand-off Derick Hougaard.

The South African number 10 slotted three kicks in the space of nine second-half minutes as the visitors came back from 9-3 down at the interval to lead 12-9 before Walker held his nerve with a 73rd-minute leveller to secure back-to-back two-pointers for Mike Ruddock's men.

Hougaard was off target with a seventh-minute drop-goal attempt, before coming up short with a penalty effort three minutes later as Sarries looked to assert themselves.

However, it was Worcester who showed more ambition in the first-half as the visitors constantly hoisted their possession skywards and Warriors were rewarded with three successful penalties from Walker.

Worcester scrum-half Jonny Arr looked to inject some pace into the Warriors attacks after replacing Ryan Powell, who suffered a rib injury, early in the game. From such a counter-attack, Saracens’ number eight Ernst Joubert infringed while desperately trying to slow the ball and Walker opened the scoring, but Hougaard levelled shortly afterwards with a simple penalty.

From the re-start, Worcester secured possession, Sarries infringed at the ruck and Sam Tutitupou's snap drop-goal came back off the crossbar. However, play was brought back for the penalty and Walker made no mistake.

The former Gloucester man extended the lead seven minutes before the break with another penalty after power-packed carries from hooker Aleki Lutui and blindside flanker Tom Wood caused panic in the Sarries’ defence.

In the 53rd minute, Hougaard pegged Worcester's lead back to just three points with a fine penalty after a Warriors infringement on the floor, but the former Leicester Tigers kicker was way off target when trying to level the scores with a drop-goal.

However, straight after, Arr was penalised for holding on and Hougaard made amends by stroking the ball between the sticks, before making it nine points in as many minutes with another well-struck kick.

Chris Fortey became only the fifth player to rack up 200 Premiership appearances when he replaced Lutui in the 68th minute, but Worcester had begun to struggle for possession and territory.

However, when Hougaard put a foot over the dead ball line, Warriors were awarded a scrum five metres out with eight minutes remaining. A huge shunt from the hosts saw the Sarries front row eating turf and Walker held his nerve.