PERHAPS it is time to check the perimeter of the Sixways complex for a burrow to see if Punxsutawney Phil has taken up residence with the Warriors.

For, the infuriating manner in which Worcester have taken to snatching defeats from the jaws of victory is beginning to make this season feel like a nine-month long version of the film Groundhog Day.

In fact, as the legend goes, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and casts a shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.

Given how cold it was at Sixways on Saturday, maybe there is something in it?

Worcester have thrown away winning positions by conceding scores late in games so many times this season, the players must feel they are trapped in the rugby version of Bill Murray’s classic 1993 comedy.

In fact, given the increasing familiarity to these gut-wrenching losses, maybe they should change their run-on music to Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe.

Dean Mumm’s 77th-minute match-winning try for Exeter was the sixth time this term that Warriors have seen a winning position evaporate in the final minutes of a game.

It’s wearing thin with the fans, that’s for sure, as are Richard Hill’s post-match comments after each new wasted opportunity.

While the outcome against the Chiefs was depressingly familiar for all connected to the Warriors, at least the performance was a vast improvement on the shambles at London Irish the week before.

As if to directly address my recent criticism of Nigel Redman and his pack of forwards in the wake of the Mad Stad mauling, the Worcester pack trampled all over the Exeter eight.

In fact, the hosts’ two tries resulted from powerful line-out drives — the exact facet of the game that had been such a glaring Achilles’ heel in Reading seven days previously.

Also, Lady Luck — or more importantly the match officials — failed to smile on Warriors once again as several key calls went the way of the Chiefs.

David Lemi had what appeared to be a good try ruled out for a knock-on seen only by the touch-judge, while the Exeter finger-tip that knocked Lemi’s pass to Jonny Arr fractionally forward went unseen but denied the home side a nailed-on try.

If referee David Rose had seen it, a penalty try would have been likely.

Credit, though, must be given to Hill for changing the side who were brushed aside by Irish as Euan Murray, Chris Jones and Semisi Taulava, who were all drafted into the starting XV, made big contributions for Warriors.

That trio can play a key part in helping Redman and co to rejuvenate the Worcester pack and help return it to its former glories.