WORCESTER Warriors were undone by a clinical second-half display from French giants Clermont Auvergne in a 35-14 pre-season friendly defeat in Issoire.
Noa Nakaitaci gave Clermont the lead early on but a lively Warriors side fought back with Cooper Vuna touching down as the sides went in level at the break.
But Nakaitaci's second, a brace for Judicael Cancoriet and a superb solo score for Damian Penaud put the game to bed late on.
However, Ben Howard's last-minute score demonstrated Warriors' desire and endeavour off the back of a two-week altitude training camp in Tignes.
Ryan Lamb and Tom Heathcote kicked the conversions for Warriors on a sunny evening.
Warriors: Howard; Hammond, Olivier, Willison, Vuna; Lamb, Baldwin; Rapava Ruskin, Annett, Johnston, Cavubati, Barry, Mama, Kirwan, van Velze. Replacements, used: Williams, Leleimalefaga, Schonert, O'Callaghan, Dowson, Heathcote, Stelling, Betty, Faosiliva, Short, Humphreys, not used: de Cothi, Shillcock, Butler.
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