WORCESTER Warriors fought back from 24-3 down to secure a crucial losing bonus point from a 24-20 Aviva Premiership defeat to Harlequins in the mud and rain at Sixways.

Warriors gave Quins the fright of their lives and mounted a spirited comeback with two tries after Jamie Roberts was sin-binned on the hour mark.

Phil Dowson’s try with 10 minutes remaining, which cut the deficit to just four points, set up a grandstand finish.

It looked ominous for the hosts when Quins led 17-3 at the break and opened up a 21-point advantage early in the second half.

But Warriors will, once again, take heart from a tremendous fightback.

Worcester will rue their slow start as Quins opening the scoring in the third minute.

Charlie Walker held a difficult pass and then cut in from the left wing for the first try before Nick Evans slotted the conversion.

Warriors had an early chance but Tom Heathcote’s long-range penalty drifted wide.

Both sides were keen to kick for position in the early stages but Tevita Cavubati and Matt Cox got their hands on the ball.

Cavubati made a strong break through midfield and Warriors were denied a chance to secure quick ball at the breakdown as George Lowe came in from the side and was yellow carded by referee Wayne Barnes.

Heathcote calmed the hosts’ nerves with the resulting penalty in the 16th minute but struggled with his kicks out of hand and several sailed out on the full.

Despite dominating territory, Warriors fell further behind in the 28th minute after the visitors won a penalty following a sustained period of pressure.

Quins kicked to the corner and, after James Horwill gathered the line-out, flanker Luke Wallace dived over for the visitors’ second try.

Evans slotted the conversion before the Sixways crowd were baying for a yellow card against Quins lock Charlie Matthews, who clattered into Heathcote.

The injured Heathcote was replaced by Andy Symons but Barnes didn’t take any action against Matthews and Evans’ 40-metre penalty soon afterwards extended Quins’ lead to 17-3.

Worcester pressed towards the Quins line in the dying minutes of the first half but couldn’t make their pressure count.

The hosts had two attacking line-outs and, from the second, Niall Annett’s throw to the back evaded Cox and the chance went astray.

Warriors' line-out continued to struggle in the early stages of the second half and Quins showed their attacking potency.

Wing Walker ran on to a neat kick to touch down for Quins’ third try and Evans’ touchline conversion stretched their advantage to 24-3.

But Warriors rallied and Marco Mama, on loan from Bristol, was driven over for his first try for the club in the 50th minute.

Ryan Mills missed the conversion and Mama was immediately replaced by Sam Betty but the try gave Warriors renewed hope.

Warriors kept up the pressure and, after winning a penalty from an attacking five-metre scrum, Symons was halted illegally by Roberts just short of the line.

Roberts was dispatched to the sin-bin and Warriors were awarded a penalty try from the resulting scrum.

Mills’ conversion cut the deficit to just nine points.

Warriors made four switches in the 66th minute with the entire front row changed and Dan Sanderson came on for Donncha O’Callaghan.

With Roberts still off the field, Warriors scored their third try with 10 minutes remaining after the sprawling Walker failed to gather Mills’ kick through under pressure from Vuna.

Dowson picked up the loose ball to touch down and Mills’ flat conversion attempt rattled the upright.

Quins have won their last 15 league encounters against Warriors since Worcester’s 15-9 victory at the Twickenham Stoop in February 2005.