MATCH FACTS Worcester: (24) 27 Tries: Rasmussen, Pieters, Collier Cons: Hayes (3) Pens: Hayes (2) Wasps: (10) 24 Tries: Abbott, Erinle (2) Cons: Thrower (3) Pens: Thrower

The home side scored tries from Dale Rasmussen, Giscard Pieters and Tim Collier to lead 24-10 at the break after a Stuart Abbott try for Wasps.

One further penalty from Tommy Hayes stretched Worcester's lead before Wasps hit back hard with two tries from Ayoola Erinle.

But the Londoners, shorn of international stars, fell just short.

Wasps, with Matt Dawson rested and Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench, were given the best possible start as Erinle charged down Thinus Delport's clearance and Abbott strolled through for the score.

The players have shown they are a quality side, they can compete with the best and take it to anyone Worcester coach Andy Keast

Worcester hit back almost immediately with a Hayes penalty and then a 17th-minute try from Rasmussen following a turnover.

The home side were buzzing and Pieters crossed on 26 minutes before lock Collier added a third.

Hayes added his third conversion to give his side a 14-point lead at the break.

Wasps director of rugby Warren Gatland made four changes at half-time with Dallaglio entering the fray.

Worcester extended their lead with a 44th-minute penalty and managed to hang on despite Erinle's late tries.

We were probably thinking a bit more about the next two weeks rather than Worcester Wasps coach Warren Gatland

"We've come off the rails a couple of weeks ago and everybody wanted to throw the towel in. That was ridiculous," said Worcester coach Andy Keast.

"This was a massive performance. The players have shown they are a quality side, they can compete with the best and take it to anyone.

"They're not frightened of anyone. The forwards gave us the platform and played with fantastic commitment. They thoroughly deserved to win."

Gatland blamed next weekend's Heineken Cup tie with Leicester for the loss.

"If there is any criticism then we were probably thinking a bit more about the next two weeks rather than Worcester," said Gatland.

"They came out fired up and quite frankly they embarrassed us. We were smashed up front in that first half.

"Worcester were hanging on at the end after scoring a couple of opportunist tries that were enough."

Worcester: Delport, O'Leary, Rasmussen, Lombard, Pieters, Hayes, Powell, Windo, van Niekerk, Horsman, Collier, Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, Hickey.
Replacements: Sparks, Gabey, Hall, MacLeod-Henderson, Cole, Trueman, Sampson.

Wasps: Van Gisbergen, Thrower, Erinle, Abbott, Voyce, King, Richards, Dowd, Gotting, Green, Shaw, Skivington, Hart, Rees, Haskell.
Replacements: Greening, Nwume, Lock, Dallaglio, Biljon, Brooks, Hoadley.