THE players involved in Saturday's 41-17 defeat of Exeter Chiefs should be applauded because it was a great display.

I thought it was a good day all-round for the club.

It was the final game at Sixways this season and the player celebrations after the final whistle were a nice touch.

The crowd was also good and it was great to give the supporters a send-off with the right result.

Obviously I was desperately disappointed not to be involved because I would have loved to lead the team out at Worcester for the final time in this campaign. I am just hoping to be fit for the last match of the season at Moseley a week on Saturday. The abdominal injury is still proving troublesome but I would hope to be involved at Bournbrook for what looks likely to be their final match at the Birmingham University venue.

Exeter have proved this year that they are a vastly improved outfit on last season. They came to Sixways looking to do the double over us and had some good spells during the match.

With Chris Garrard about, though, you are always likely to score and once again he was the star of the show with another hat trick. His performance was also impressive when you take into account his work-rate. Duncan Roke and Ben Hinshelwood were also a big threat for us and took their tries very well.

Among the forwards, though, Nathan Carter had a great game when he came on for Richard Nias. He's been a true professional all season and every time he plays for Worcester gives 100 per cent. It's a testament to his mental strength that even in the penultimate game of the season, he came off the replacements bench and again put in an extremely good display. Nathan must be a coach's dream because he never grumbles, he simply gets his head down and works.

Jim Jenner was voted the supporters' player of the season after the match and deservedly so because since the turn of the year he has been extremely consistent. Jim is Worcester through and through and I think people like to see local players with the jersey battling on the pitch. He's a really nice guy and I know he feels that his one year in the Premiership has improved him as a player.

I imagine the vote would have been tight, however, because there have been some very consistent players this season. If you look at Richard Smith, for example, he has played almost every game this year and his level of consistency has been top class. It is difficult to maintain such a high standard week in, week out but he's done that. His contribution from scrum half has been immense and he's unfortunate not to be going up because he deserves to be playing in the top flight. Christian Evans is a bit of an unsung hero as well and I'm sure he would have had some votes.

Players such as Ben Hinshelwood would have also been close to taking the trophy. He has also had a big impact in a variety of positions and scored some vital tries. I'm delighted for the supporters that he is staying next season because he is a proven match winner.

Hopefully now Chris Garrard will sign on again to give the fans another boost for next season. In the last few weeks he has been outstanding and certainly likes the hard, dry pitches at the start and end of seasons.

The players who are staying on next season have been enjoying some time off this week with no game. We are all due in for post season training after the Moseley match so it's a chance for some to put their feet up before the summer begins. Hopefully, though, the fitness work I've been doing will help me to make that final game for Worcester.