Worcester Warriors 16 Bath 7 (From Worcester News)

Worcester Warriors 16 Bath 7

7:00pm Sunday 27th November 2011 in Match Reports By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

WHILE the confidence-boost Worcester Warriors will have received from their win over Bath cannot be understated, it could be seen as a Pyrrhic victory, such was the devastating injury toll suffered by the hosts.

Back row talisman Neil Best will be on the sidelines for up to six weeks after suffering a broken arm and, more concerning given his wretched injury history, Matt Mullan was forced off with another shoulder problem.

Prop, especially on the loosehead, is becoming a real area of concern for head coach Richard Hill as Mullan joined fellow front-rowers Ceri Jones (shoulder), George Porter (burst appendix) and Oliver Tomaszczyk (hamstring) on the treatment table.

Hill only has Tevita Taumoepeau and Bruce Douglas as recognised first-team props, while James Currie is highly-rated, but lacking in experience. Expect the Warriors chief to be forced into the transfer market this week for reinforcements.

The Sixways dressing room is beginning to look more like an A&E department with James Percival, Kai Horstmann and Alex Crockett also among the wounded.

On the positive side, Hill does have some great versatility in his squad with Chris Jones and Matt Kvesic both switching positions for the visit of Bath and the duo put in stand-out performances.

Former England man Jones deserves special praise. Having been signed as a second row, he has been impressing at number eight during Horstmann’s absence.

However, with Percival struck down by a broken thumb, Jones returned to the boiler room on Friday night and was immense, defending magnificently as well as carrying the ball ferociously.

Kvesic looks more and more like a future England player each week and his transition from the openside to number eight was seamless. Up against the likes of former England captain Lewis Moody, Springbok Francois Louw and Scotland international Simon Taylor, 19-year-old Kvesic was head and shoulders the best back-rower on display.

However, having thrown away winning positions countless times already this season, the victory over Bath will have given Warriors a much-needed shot in the arm.

Against the likes of Harlequins, Wasps and Newcastle, Worcester have wilted in the face of late barrages. Therefore when Charlie Beech barged over late on to bring Bath within six points, it seemed like history may be about to repeat itself.

Not this time, though, as Warriors stood firm in the face of a late rally from the visitors to claim a well-deserved four points.