AN opportunist try from full-back Perry Humphreys guided Worcester Warriors into the final of the British and Irish Cup.

Humphreys raced home from around 45 metres and replacement Andy Symons kicked a vital late penalty in a scrappy semi-final at Sixways.

Centre Noel Reid scored a last-gasp try for Leinster, converted by Cathal Marsh, but it was too late to save the holders.

It certainly wasn’t a classic — Worcester missed four penalties — but Warriors' forwards were outstanding and Mat Gilbert crossed for the hosts in the first-half.

Warriors will now travel to either Greene King IPA Championship rivals Doncaster Knights or Bristol in the final on Friday, April 3.

Warriors edged a scrappy first-half 7-6, turning down two kickable penalties but taking full advantage of the sin-binning of Leinster prop Peter Dooley.

Leinster made a quick opening, winning a second-minute penalty, but Marsh struck his effort wide of the posts.

Warriors won a penalty after Leinster were caught offside but Tiff Eden’s attempt drifted wide.

Humphreys was pinged for an offence at the breakdown but Marsh’s second penalty attempt of the evening sailed wide.

Winger Tom Biggs almost broke the deadlock after Gilbert spotted a gap, but the winger was bundled into touch by Dan Leavy.

Warriors’ ambition cost them soon afterwards when Eden kicked two penalties to touch but Ben Sowrey couldn’t find his intended target from the line-outs.

Leinster immediately burst into life and Sam Coghlan-Murray’s scorching break down the right was halted by Sam Smith.

However, Coghlan-Murray passed inside to Cian Kelleher, who found Mick McGrath but the winger dropped the ball with the try-line at his mercy.

Leinster remained on the front foot and Marsh’s 28th-minute penalty fired the holders 3-0 ahead.

Worcester had the upper hand in the scrums and Eden missed his second penalty of the contest.

But the patience of the referee ran out and Dooley was sent to the sin-bin after the visitors’ scrum was penalised for a third time in quick succession.

The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage and, within seconds, Gilbert was driven over and Eden slotted the touchline conversion.

But Marsh slotted his second penalty, from Matt Cox’s indiscretion, to cut Warriors lead to 7-6.

Warriors had a chance to increase their lead early in the second period but Eden’s long-range penalty attempt fell short.

It wasn’t a night for the kickers as replacement Symons took over the duties and was off target with his first penalty attempt.

Warriors struck a crucial blow with 13 minutes remaining when, out of the blue, Humphreys spotted a gap and ran 45 metres to run to the line.

Symons’ late penalty gave Warriors a cushion before Leinster’s last-gasp converted try added a few nerves.

Warriors: Humphreys, Smith, Grove (Symons 57), Fatiaki (Hammond 79), Biggs, Eden, Bruzulier (Arr 60), Fainga’anuku (Bower 70), Sowrey (George 54), Rees (Daniels 54), Percival, Sanderson, Cox (Taylor 76), Gilbert, De Carpentier.

Attendance: 3,760.