Worcester (17) 29 Tries: Garvey 2, Sanderson, Grove Con: Jones 3 Pens: Jones Brive (8) 18 Tries: Moore 2 Cons: Palisson Pens: Goode, Palisson
Garvey made the most of defensive mistakes for his two tries
Two tries from Marcel Garvey saw Worcester clinch a semi-final away to Bourgoin in the European Challenge Cup after a hard-fought win over Brive.
The winger pounced on a loose ball on 11 minutes before Pat Sanderson touched down a second try nine minutes later.
Brive hit back with a sweeping move finished off by Ronnie Cooke, who added a second three minutes after the break.
An error from Brive centre Ben Johnston saw Alex Grove score before Garvey pierced the defence on 70 minutes.
The visitors, fifth in France's Top 14 league, were made to pay for defensive lapses despite playing some eye-catching rugby.
Their frailties were exposed inside the first 11 minutes when the ball rolled loose from a ruck, swooped upon by Garvey, who sprinted unopposed from 40m for the first try of the game.
Brive's next error saw England fly-half Andy Goode fail to bring down opposite number Matthew Jones, whose smart offload to Sanderson just inches from the posts allowed the Warriors captain to extend his side's lead.
But the French side hit back with a superb try involving smart interchanges between forwards and backs, finished off by Cooke.
The half-time team-talk had its desired effect as Brive struck minutes after the restart when efficient recycling from the forwards allowed Cooke to touch down for his second.
But once again the visitors were undone by another defensive lapse, albeit in bizarre circumstances.
Jones missed a penalty attempt from the right, only for Johnston, set to catch the ball as it sailed wide of the posts, to turn his head to shield his eyes from the sun.
His error allowed industrious chaser Grove to touch down on 51 minutes, much to the disbelief of the visitors, with Jones inflicting further damage with the conversion.
A huge Brive shove in the scrum on 63 minutes forced Warriors scrum-half Ryan Powell to concede a penalty, duly dispatched by the left boot of Alexis Palisson, reducing the deficit to just four points.
But Garvey secured the victory following a smart break from opposite winger Miles Benjamin, cutting inside from the 22m line to touch down for his second on 70 minutes.
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock:
"It was a great game to watch but it was a nerve-jangling for the coaches.
"It was a great start from us but with two tries (for Brive) - one before half-time and one just after - the initiative was back with them and I was concerned.
"But we tackled hard and a bit of brilliance from Marcel got us home."
Worcester : Gear, Garvey, Grove, Rasmussen, Benjamin, M. Jones, R.Powell; Black, Lutui, Morris, Rawlinson, Bowley, Wood, Sanderson, Horstmann.
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