Worcester coach Clive Griffiths says it took his team a long time to get to grips with Saturday's European Challenge Cup opponents Bucuresti Oaks.
Warriors beat the Romanian side 38-19 but only a late burst took them clear.
"We were ring rusty after three weeks without a game, and there were some uncharacteristic errors," Griffiths told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"There were 32 infringements called by the referee, and it ended in a game of disjointed rugby."
Two late scores from replacement scrum-half Matt Powell gave the scoreline a flattering look, but Warriors struggled against a stubborn Bucaresti side.
The game was not helped by a piece of bizarre refereeing by Frenchman Patrick Pechambert, which saw him blow the final whistle early and point to the tunnel. However, the game went on and Worcester scored another try.
Griffiths admits that he was confused: "The crowd weren't the only ones to leave when he pointed to the tunnel.
"I had gone to the changing rooms but came back out when I heard a roar."
Of his players, Griffiths says he was pleased with the contribution of former All Black Rico Gear.
"What he did today was a step up to what he has been doing," said Griffiths. "And he will get a lot of confidence from that.
"Hal Luscombe got eighty minutes under his belt, Ryan Powell was very industrious and Kai Horstmann was the man of the match in his 100th game for us."
Griffiths says he was once again impressed by the Bucaresti side who made it hard for Worcester at times.
"This is the fourth time we have played them," he added. "And we had to work hard to win all four, although one of them in the arctic conditions was never going to be an easy game.
"They never give up. It's in their nature, they are big boys and they take a lot of putting down."
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