Newcastle 16 (6) Tries: Harris, Burke Pens: Burke 2 Worcester 21 (8): Tries: Pieters, Sanderson. Con: Hayes. Pens: Brown Drops: Brown (2)

Giscard Pieters claimed the game's first try after Newcastle had gone in front, and the first of Brown's drop goals ensured they led at the break.

Cory Harris's try drew Newcastle level before Brown's second goal and Pat Sanderson touched down under a pile of bodies to restore Worcester's lead.

Matt Burke's late try gave Newcastle a bonus point but Worcester took the win.

The Warriors had been pushed to the foot of the table after Leeds' victory over Gloucester, but another battling display ensured their stay lasted only 24 hours.

They started with purpose and Pieters almost put them ahead with an early try but then made amends on the half-hour after Burke's penalty had given Newcastle the lead.

As the tension rose, Newcastle's Colin Charvis, on his return from a broken foot, and Worcester's Siaosi Vaili both found themselves in the sin-bin.

I can't find the words to describe how proud I am of the players Worcester coach Andy Keast

But the visitors kept battling to the end to ensure the battle against relegation from the Premiership will go right to the wire.

Worcester boss Andy Keast was full of praise for his side's efforts.

"That was the biggest pressure game in our history and I can't find the words to describe how proud I am of the players," he said.

"The effort the players put in through the whole game was fantastic.

"It is so tight, it's going to go to the wire. Let's hope those four points can go a long way to securing our Premiership survival."

We didn't play well today Newcastle's Rob Andrew

Newcastle boss Rob Andrew admitted his side did not deserve to beat Worcester.

"It was very poor. We were beaten by the better side and we lost because we were outplayed at the set piece.

"We were under pressure on our own set-piece ball and we gave some stupid penalties away on their line-out possession," he said.

"We didn't play well today. It was a disappointing result and performance but we have got to regroup."

Newcastle: Burke, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Tait, Walder, Charlton, Wilson, Long, Ward, Gross, Grimes, Charvis, Harris, Dowson.
Replacements: Parling for Burke (55), Taione for Tait (40), Grindal for Charlton (72), Quinones for Wilson (40), Thompson for Long (55), McCarthy for Ward (69), Flood for Harris (80).
Sin Bin: Charvis (35).

Worcester: Delport, Pieters, Rasmussen, Lombard, Hinshelwood, Brown, Powell, Windo, van Niekerk, Lyman, Murphy, Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, Hickey.
Replacements: O'Leary for Pieters (40), Cole for Brown (69), Hayes for Powell (69), Daly for van Niekerk (58), Sparks for Lyman (58), Blaze for Murphy (72). Not Used: MacLeod-Henderson.
Sin Bin: Vaili (35).