Worcester (14) 22
Try: Lutui, Hickey, Rasmussen
Drop-goal: Drahm
Cons: Drahm (2)

Saracens (7) 7
Try: Scarbrough
Cons: Farrell

Worcester held their nerve to beat Saracens and retain their Premiership status on a tense day at Sixways.

Aleki Lutui burrowed over from close range to score for Worcester early on, with Drew Hickey adding another try when Saracens were down to 14 men.

Dan Scarbrough pulled one back before the break, scoring between the posts.

But Dale Rasmussen's try in the corner restored Worcester's cushion and when Shane Drahm's drop-goal put them 15 points clear they knew they were safe.

Worcester started the year nine points adrift of Northampton but with Phil Larder drilling their defence they had become a much tougher outfit to beat.

Their powerful pack has been the key to their revival and against Saracens' exciting backs the way to safety was always likely to be through the middle rather than out wide.

And so it proved, as the Warriors' eight took a strangle hold on the match from the first whistle, with Saracens pinned back in their half for much of the game.

Worcester landed the first psychological blow as Lutui's bonecrunching first-minute tackle floored rival hooker Fabio Ongaro, shortly before he set up and finished off their first scoring move.

It began with his long throw to the back of the line-out and was rounded off when the Tongan virtually crawled over the line, with Shane Drahm converting.

Saracens prop Kevin Yates was yellow-carded on 33 minutes for refusing to roll away and Worcester capitalised, with Lutui yet again involved in the build-up before Hickey stretched over to touch down.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the crucial match

Thinus Delport produced some big hits as Saracens' attackers rarely got a look-in, but good approach work by Kevin Sorrell and Andy Farrell set up Scarbrough to touch down between the posts to get the visitors on the board.

Farrell's conversion meant the gap was just seven points at the break.

The first score of the second half was always going to be vital and it came when Rasmussen went over in the corner, with the referee and touch judge giving the score immediately despite replays suggesting it was worth a second look.

Worcester's forwards attacked relentlessly, and when that pressure resulted in a Drahm drop-goal, the home fans knew they could start to celebrate Premiership survival.

"Our goal was a top-six finish but our dream was top four. We are euphoric about achieving that but you can't be euphoric about this display.

"We are competing with the elite at this level. We always wanted that.

"I don't think anyone would have suggested we would make the top four this season so we are very happy."

Worcester: Drahm; Best, Rasmussen, Tucker, Delport; Brown, M Powell; Windo, Lutui, Tuamoepeau, Gillies, Blaze, Hickey, Sanderson, Horstmann.
Replacements: Morris, C. Fortey, Murphy, Harding, Runciman, Lombard, Garvey.

Saracens: Castaignede; Penney, Sorrell, Farrell, Ratuvou; Jackson, De Kocok; Yates, Ongaro, Visagie, Fullarton, Raiwalui, Chesney, Seymour, Skirving.
Replacements: Cairns, Johnson, H Vyvyan, Rauluni, Powell, Scarbrough, Ryder.

Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)