DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Ryan believes Worcester Warriors showed their “dangerous” side in the first half of their 28-20 triumph against Newcastle Falcons.

Warriors led 21-7 and then 28-10 in the first half of Saturday’s clash but did not match their attacking intensity in the second period.

Centre Alex Grove bagged a brace with Bryce Heem scoring a debut try and Chris Pennell also crossing the whitewash in the opening 40 minutes.

“Our form in the first half showed how dangerous we could be but I think we shrank a bit in the second half,” said Ryan.

“We were just counting down the time on the clock in the second half, which was probably just an illustration of this group not used to being in positions where they are so dominant in the first half.

“We are pleased with 10 points after four games but we are a little bit frustrated because in two or three of those games we could have done much better.”

Ryan was pleased with the impact of wing Heem, who played his first match for Worcester after starring for Auckland in New Zealand’s ITM competition.

“Bryce looked great every time he touched the ball but because we shrank in the second half we didn’t get him enough of the type of ball we wanted to,” said Ryan.

“We are dangerous when we get things right. A lot of people haven’t done their research if they don’t know about Bryce and Coops (Cooper Vuna) and Millsy (Ryan Mills).

“There’s Andy Symons and Wynand (Olivier) to come back into the mix so we look like a good side who are dangerous.

“Bryce looks a dangerous runner. He’s a big man, he’s good in the air and it looks like he glides when he runs.

“For a big man you lose sight of how fast he is moving and we are really excited by him. He’s only been here six or seven days. When he gets used to us, he will be a great addition.”

Val Rapava Ruskin partnered Nick Schonert and Niall Annett in the front row and Worcester looked solid at the scrum.

“I felt we were dominant at the scrum but I don’t think we got any reward for it,” said Ryan.

“I don’t understand how we can concede nine or 10 scrum penalties in a game at Gloucester and then none the next.

“When we get a platform and the sort of ball we want, I am pretty confident of how dangerous we can be.”

Newcastle’s director of rugby Dean Richards described his side’s defending in the first half as “woeful".

“If we defended in the first half like we had done in the second we would probably have come away with a win,” he said.

“Our defence was woeful in the first half. Oddly enough, we won the second half 3-0 and had a few try-scoring opportunities but we didn’t take them.

“We are frustrated more than anything because we are a far better side than our record in the first four games shows.

"There’s far more to come out of the side. Things will improve – and I wish that had started against Worcester.”

Richards added: “Worcester are a good side and reasonably well drilled.

"We felt going into the game there were opportunities all over the place but we didn’t exploit them and that came down to our lack of patience.”