WORCESTER Warriors received “full marks” from boss Gary Gold for turning down a number of kickable penalties to set up attacking line-outs.

Gold leaped to the defence of his team after they opted to kick for the corner rather than the posts in Warriors’ 18-14 defeat to 14-man Sale Sharks.

Chris Pennell converted three of his four kicks and with Sale’s penalty count rising he could have had more attempts at goal.

But Worcester chose to drive at Sale who had Faf de Klerk sin-binned and Byron McGuigan sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

And it was a decision which back-fired as Warriors had to settle with a losing bonus point.

“We have to back ourselves as we want to score tries,” said Gold whose side are six points ahead of London Irish who visit Gloucester today.

“Bonus points are critically important at this end of the table, so full marks for the intent.

“If it means we are going to lose maybe the odd game of rugby because we are not just kicking at goal all day long I think that intent is very positive.

“If we had won that last line-out and scored a try we would be sitting here having a completely different conversation right now.

“We had our opportunities to win the game, but it wasn’t because of a lack of kicking penalties.

“Massive credit to the guys for their intent as other teams in our position might have gone into their shell and been conservative.”

Gold was left baffled by an “incredibly bizarre” performance from referee Greg Macdonald last weekend in Worcester’s 31-27 win at Leicester Tigers.

But Warriors’ chief was full of praise for the way referee Matthew Carley managed the game against Sale .

“I thought the referee was outstanding as he made good decisions around the park,” Gold added.

“(Byron) got two yellows which led him being sent off but that was the right decision.”