WORCESTER Warriors will head to rivals Newcastle Falcons on the back of a second-half pummelling by Northampton Saints.

Dean Ryan’s side must pick themselves up for Friday’s important trip to Kingston Park after another demoralising away loss in the Aviva Premiership, going down 38-18.

Warriors led 15-12 at the interval against Saints at Franklin’s Gardens and then nudged 18-17 in front after 53 minutes.

But any hope of a rare top-tier away win for Warriors was crushed long before the final whistle after 21-year-old wing Tom Collins completed a maiden hat-trick.

Warriors are conceding too many soft tries and Ryan will also be concerned with an injury to lock Darren Barry, who had just returned from a nerve problem in his arm.

Replacement Dan Sanderson acquitted himself well but Warriors are light in that area with Tevita Cavubati serving a suspension for biting an opponent.

Warriors couldn’t hang on to beat Wasps in Coventry last month and they have managed only two victories in their last 35 Premiership away trips.

Saints ran in six tries altogether and could have had more because Warriors were guilty of making too handling errors and their defensive structure was too often pulled apart.

It was a tough afternoon for wings Bryce Heem and Cooper Vuna as Saints played with a lot of width and exploited gaps on the flanks.

Saints’ pack had the upper hand with former Springbok lock Victor Matfeld, prop Kieran Brookes and ex-Warrior Tom Wood all impressive.

Warriors were under the cosh at the set-piece throughout, although scrum-half Francois Hougaard did well under pressure on more than one occasion.

Warriors’ second-half slump began from the restart when Vuna’s fumble led to Donncha O’Callaghan being pinged for accidental offside.

After kicking to the corner, Saints drove towards to the line and Collins eventually crossed on the left after a long pass from Luther Burrell.

With Warriors leading 18-17, Tom Heathcote failed to find touch with a penalty which would have put the visitors deep inside Saints’ 22.

And, with the same scoreline on the board, Warriors will also rue the moment when prop Val Rapava Ruskin was held up over the line.

Clearly, Saints were still smarting from their opening night 13-12 defeat at Sixways and their four unanswered second-half tries powered them to victory.

It was not all doom and gloom for Warriors because full-back Chris Pennell was full of running and Hougaard and Dewald Potgieter worked hard.

Ryan Mills was off target with a penalty for Warriors, while Saints turned down three kickable penalties in the early stages as both teams played enterprising rugby in a breathless first half.

Heathcote’s three-pointer fired Warriors 3-0 ahead and Wynand Olivier’s break was halted just short of the line.

Warriors extended their advantage in the 29th minute, Ruskin dotting down in the corner after O’Callaghan and Carl Kirwan combined at a line-out move to send the prop down the blindside.

Ruskin’s score sparked a try avalanche and Saints hit back a minute later with Harry Mallinder crossing the whitewash after a surging run from Ken Pisi.

And Saints swiftly grabbed a second try, converted by Stephen Myler, after they sucked in Worcester’s defence to create an overlap for Collins.

However, Warriors finished the half strongly, Olivier cutting through to score from Hougaard’s flat pass with Heathcote adding the extras.

Saints made a flying start after the interval, scoring again through Collins before Warriors regained the lead with Heathcote’s 53rd-minute penalty.

But Saints took control from that moment onwards.

Tries from skipper Lee Dickson, Collins and George Pisi, converted by Myler (2) and JJ Hanrahan, completed the rout and Ken Pisi also had an effort ruled out for a block by Myler.