Worcester Warriors fall defeat against Hartpury - takeaways

The visitors dominated the first half and despite Warriors looking as though they may mount a comeback in the second, Hartpury ultimately claimed a 28-34 victory.

First half woes

Warriors got off to the start they wanted - an early score from Austin Wallis after back-and-forth opening period, but then everything changed.

Four unanswered Hartpury tries followed where the game looked completely under their control. Warriors struggled to break out of their half as the visitors consistently reclaimed possession and seemingly charged through with relative ease.

Warriors gave away penalty after penalty and continually tried to run it out of danger while Hartpury, in truth, ran riot to claim a first-half bonus point.

Hallam Chapman's late first-half score gave Warriors a chance at a comeback in the second half, but they had left themselves a monumental hill to climb.

Was it rust after two weeks off? Or were Hartpury more up for the occasion, travelling to Sixways Stadium in front of a Warriors crowd? One thing is for sure - if Warriors endure too many more first halves like that, more disappointing results like this one will undoubtedly follow.

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Issues in the set piece

Many of those issues can be put down to failings in the set piece - penalties conceded in the scrum and losing possession in the line-out.

With shades of the first meeting of these two sides in round two, Hartpury took full advantage of the Warriors mistakes and converted them into points on the board.

The set piece drastically improved in the second half, with James Tyas' introduction improving the line-out, while Fraser Balmain's improved the scrum, but the mountain to climb was too far as Harry Bazalgette's two penalty kicks ensured the victory for Hartpury.

Second half improvement

The first half left a lot to be desired and that, twinned with the final score line, can cloud the second half performance.

Warriors crossed over twice in the second half while Hartpury didn't score a single try. If it wasn't for Bazalgette's kicking game with Hartpury taking full advantage of the penalties, then it would have ended all even.

As aforementioned, the set piece drastically improved and Warriors looked far more threatening - with dangerous solo moments from the likes of Will Trewin and Hallam Chapman.

Had they played as they did in the second half throughout, Warriors would likely have walked away with a win and far happier with their performance.

Four in a row

Four defeats in a row. Bedford Blues, Chinnor, Ealing Trailfinders, Hartpury.

Ahead of this poor run of form, Warriors were undefeated at home but within in this run they have tasted defeat on home soil twice.

Three of those have left a sour taste in the mouth, however admittedly the one-point Ealing defeat was arguably the best we have seen the side play.

A favourable match awaits - a trip to Ampthill, their third meeting with a side they have convincingly triumphed over twice already.

It is almost integral they come good next Saturday to put this poor run behind them and ensure it doesn't extend further into the second half of the season.

Four points currently split Warriors in third and Nottingham in seventh, with Hartpury, Coventry and Chinnor all in that mix.

In an incredibly tight division in the play-off spots, with more tough ties on the horizon, Warriors need to ensure they quickly put this behind them and move forward.