AN ill-disciplined and error-strewn display from Worcester Warriors kept London Irish’s survival hopes alive as they slumped to a 22-9 defeat at the Madejski Stadium.

Warriors had the chance to all but secure their place in the Aviva Premiership for next season with a third successive victory.

But three Chris Pennell penalties was all Worcester could muster as they failed to create a try-scoring chance against the basement boys.

Mistakes and a rising penalty count also cost them dear as Piet van Zyl’s first-half try and 17 points from the boot of Greig Tonks saw the Exiles end a run of 14 straight league defeats.

The gap between Worcester and Irish has now been cut to 12 points with six games left.

Victories over leaders Exeter Chiefs and local rivals Gloucester had lifted the pressure off Warriors as they arrived in Reading full of confidence.

Worcester also welcomed back influential scrum-half Francois Hougaard who had overcome an ankle problem to start.

But they suffered a double blow before kick-off as Jackson Willison pulled out with a hand injury and Jack Singleton had to withdraw with a back spasm.

Willison’s absence forced a reshuffle to Warriors’ back-line with Dean Hammond coming in on the wing, Pennell moving to outside centre and Wales ace Josh Adams dropping to full-back.

Kurt Haupt replaced the injured Singleton at hooker but it was Irish who were rattled early on as they quickly went down to 14 men.

Teofilo Paulo was sin-binned for an off-the-ball no-arms tackle on Alafoti Fa’osiliva and Pennell landed the resultant penalty on three minutes.

But the hosts came storming back as Alex Lewington chipped the ball over for van Zyl who was stopped by Bryce Heem.

Warriors were penalised though and Tonks fired home the three-pointer to level the scores.

With Paulo back on the field, Irish started to test their opponents and took the lead on 18 minutes thanks to another Tonks penalty.

This was soon followed by the hosts’ opening try as James Marshall gathered a poor kick from Ryan Mills and released van Zyl.

The scrum-half chipped, chased and slipped by a wrong-footed Hougaard to score.

Tonks added the extras to put Irish 13-3 in front on 28 minutes.

Warriors were coming under heavy pressure but they held firm with GJ van Velze making a valuable steal on the try-line.

Worcester’s tenacious tackling was rewarded with a penalty down the other end which Pennell dispatched to cut the deficit to 13-6 at half-time.

Hougaard hobbled off just before the break to be replaced by Arr while Anton Bresler was introduced in place of Donncha O’Callaghan for the second period.

But Warriors were struggling to curb their mistakes and they soon offered a chance for Tonks to go for goal.

The fly-half missed the target but he made amends moments later with a penalty on 53 minutes.

Fortunately for Worcester, Irish were also making errors as they were penalised at the scrum and Pennell slotted home from the tee.

But the away side rarely troubled the hosts in attack and when they did get in their opponents' 22 a mistake cost them.

In the final 10 minutes Irish pressurised Worcester who kept gifting Tonks opportunities.

After missing his first attempt, the number 10 made no mistake with his next and with one minute left he added another to seal their first league win since September.