WORCESTER Warriors stormed back to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship with one of their most accomplished displays of the campaign.

Dean Ryan’s men issued a warning to their play-off rivals with a ruthless eight-try performance in a 58-3 rout at Lady Bay Sports Ground.

Max Stelling, Ben Howard and Charlie Mulchrone each bagged a brace of tries, while Andy Symons kicked 18 points for Worcester, who chalked up their 20th successive triumph at first team level.

Worcester stunned fourth-placed Nottingham with a dominant opening 40 minutes and opened up a commanding 29-3 advantage at the interval.

Nottingham, playing their second league match at Lady Bay, had the first chance of the afternoon after Leo Senatore was caught offside and Will Maisey slotted a third-minute penalty.

But Worcester immediately hit-back and Howard finished off a superb passing move which involved Tom Biggs’ burst down the left and an excellent carry from Senatore.

Worcester continued to dominate the early exchanges and Stelling crossed on the right after Ryan Mills had found Howard, who offloaded.

Symons made no mistake with the conversion to give Warriors a healthy 12-3 lead after just seven minutes.

Worcester remained on the front foot and Symons was stopped illegally 10 metres out and he slotted the resulting penalty to put the visitors 15-3 up with 14 minutes on the clock.

After a lull in proceedings, Warriors raised the tempo from a driving line-out and scored again.

The powerful Stelling forced his way over the line from close range after the visitors recycled the ball and Mills delivered the killer pass. Symons kicked the conversion to stretch Worcester’s lead to 22-3.

Warriors’ power and pace was proving too much for the hosts as Mills continued to cause the home defence problems. The visitors achieved a bonus point try in the 35th minute.

The lively Senatore burst through a gap in midfield and Worcester recycled the ball for Howard to cut through for his second try. Symons added the extras to put Worcester 29-3 ahead.

Warriors made a fast start to the second period and Symons’ penalty six minutes after the restart made it 32-3.

It got even better for Worcester soon afterwards when Mulchrone dived on to a loose ball after a powerful carry from Jonathan Thomas was supported by Symons and Stelling. Symons converted.

Mulchrone powered over the line from close-range four minutes later after the ball squirmed free from a line-out.

Symons kicked the conversion to put Worcester 46-3 ahead.

Nottingham enjoyed more possession as the game wore on without really looking like breaching Worcester’s backline.

Worcester finished with a flourish. Scrum-half replacement Jonny Arr made an immediate impact, touching down for the seventh try, converted by Symons.

Rampant Worcester were still not finished and Stelling’s pin-point cross kick found Biggs in yards of space on the left and the winger picked up for a simple touchdown to complete the rout.