WORCESTER Rugby Club's promotion bid has been dealt a near fatal wound with a 12-6 defeat against one of their main rivals Leeds.

The Sixways club face having ro win all of their remaining 12 games and hope both Leeds and Rotherham slip-up on the run-in.

Within five days they have been knocked out of the Tetley's Bitter Cup by London Irish and suffered their first home league defeat of the season.

Leeds have now recorded home and away victories over Worcester and again replacement stand-off John Benson was to the fore, scoring all 12 of his team's points with four penalties from four attempts.

Ben Harvey and Sateki Tuipulotu landed kicks for Worcester, but Tuipulotu also missed another two.

Although Leeds can move four points clear of Worcester by winning their game in hand over Wakefield, neither coach accepted the race is over.

"It's in the hands of other sides and Leeds are a good team but it's never over in rugby just as it's never over in sport," said Worcester's Director of Rugby Les Cusworth.

"I don't think Leeds deserved the win, I said before the game that whoever kicked their goals would win and while they kicked four out of four we kicked two out of four.

"Tactically they kicked a bit better than we did, but I felt we should have had a penalty try in the last minute.

"We got the shove on them at the scrummage, their loose head popped it but the referee only gave us a penalty. That's rugby at this level -- it hinges on decisions. But there's no excuse, they were two evenly matched sides. "

Worcester had the added handicap of losing stand-off Tony Yapp to illness so David Pears started his first game along with centre Andy Currier.

"It was a gamble but that's not the reason why we won or lost," added Cusworth.

Leeds' Director of Rugby Phil Davies agreed the title is still there to be won, but thought referee Graham Hughes was right about the penalty try decision.

"The referee didn't give one, maybe today they didn't deserve one," he said.

"Overall I was pleased with the way we played and the effort was phenomenal, you can't ask for more than that.

"But I don't think it's over, there are 13 other teams in this league."