Harlequins 41 Worcester Warriors 35.

AS HALLOWEEN approaches Worcester Warriors will be haunted by their missed kicks in an 11-try thriller at Harlequins.

To cross the whitewash six times away from home in the Aviva Premiership takes some doing as Warriors gave Quins a fright.

But to score six tries – one more than their opponents - and return without a victory perhaps sums up what was a freakish encounter at The Stoop on Saturday.

While Warriors showed some excellent finishing skills and a huge amount of spirit to claw their way back from 38-18 down, their failings from the tee cost them dear.

Five missed conversions and a long-range penalty which fell short saw Worcester squander 13 points.

Quins, on the other hand, dispatched all seven of their kicks at goal with England prospect Marcus Smith slotting home six of them.

It seems a shame to be highlighting this fault when Warriors played so well and tripled their points tally for the season.

But if Gary Gold’s men are to avoid relegation they must shake off this dreaded curse and start striking the ball between the sticks.

Goal-kicking was also the only blemish in Jono Lance’s outstanding showing for Worcester as he got the backline moving.

But it was centre Wynand Olivier who sparked Warriors into life.

After falling behind to a Smith converted try on three minutes, the visitors hit back thanks to a piece of brilliance from Olivier.

The Springbok popped the ball out of the back of his hand to Lance who fed number eight David Denton to go over in the corner.

Two minutes later and the away side grabbed another try. This time, a crossfield kick from Lance found Perry Humphreys who pounced and scored.

Lance missed both conversions, but the number 10 was pulling the strings.

After cancelling out Smith’s penalty with a three-pointer of his own, the 27-year-old then set up Worcester’s third try as his pass was gathered at the second attempt by Josh Adams who dotted down.

But Lance’s inability to add the extras and a further penalty kick provided Quins with an opening.

And they capitalised moments before the break as Mat Luamanu squeezed over from close range.

Smith dispatched the conversion to close the gap to 18-17 before Olivier was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem.

With their tails up, Quins struck just five minutes into the second half. After the ball squirted loose from a scrum, Danny Care used his footballing skills to keep the ball under control before going over for a brilliant solo effort, which Smith converted.

Care then produced heroics down the other end as he denied Arr a try.

Warriors suffered another blow when Arr left the field on a stretcher and Quins threatened to run away with it.

Jamie Roberts powered over before Charlie Walker sprinted through Worcester’s defence to register his team’s fifth try.

Smith converted both as the Londoners opened up a 20-point cushion with 15 minutes left.

But Hammond triggered a rival as he scored with almost his first touch to claim Worcester’s four-try bonus point.

Tim Swiel landed a penalty, but Warriors kept believing and got their rewards.

Hammond bagged his second try before Jack Singleton used all his strength to touchdown in a thrilling final few minutes.

The pressure then fell on the shoulders of Heathcote, but he rose to the challenge as his conversion secured a second bonus point.