WORCESTER Warriors’ two longest-serving players, Chris Pennell and Alex Grove, topped the class against Newcastle Falcons.

Centre Grove capped his two-try showing with 14 tackles – the most made by a Warriors player in last Saturday’s 28-20 Aviva Premiership victory at Sixways.

Full-back Pennell, who also crossed the whitewash, made 15 carries in the match and totalled 132 metres with the ball in hand.

Wing Bryce Heem marked his debut with a try and totalled 96 metres with the ball, according to the latest Opta statistics from Premiership Rugby.

Experienced back row Phil Dowson captained Warriors in the absence of the injured Gerrit-Jan van Velze and is proving an inspired signing by director of rugby Dean Ryan.

Dowson took over the number eight jersey and made 12 tackles against Falcons to take his season's tally to 57- the highest in the competition after four rounds.

Warriors face a different challenge on Saturday, hosting French Top 14 club La Rochelle in their opening group match in the European Challenge Cup.

La Rochelle are ninth in the top tier of French rugby, with three wins and five defeats from eight matches, including a 38-3 home success against Oyonnax last weekend.