WORCESTER Warriors marked their return to the pitch after three years away with a dominant 54-12 pre-season win against Ampthill.
Warriors ran in eight tries as Matt Everard’s newly-assembled squad took to the pitch for the first time at Dillingham Park.
A busy off-season has seen head coach Everard sign more than 30 players as Worcester made their return following a three-year absence after the club entered administration in September 2022.
And Everard named two different starting XVs in either half as the Warriors made a winning start to their pre-season campaign against Champ Rugby rivals Ampthill.
Worcester made the perfect start as Will Lane scored the game’s first try after just three minutes after good work from Taite Fortey and Alfie Garside as Will Reed kicked the extras.
And Garside then dotted down Worcester’s second try on 10 minutes after flying down the left wing.
Warriors crossed again five minutes later as Thabo Ndimande scored his first try of the game from a driving maul.
And the South African flanker touched down his second try of the game on 22 minutes when he emerged from under a pile of bodies with the ball.
Ampthill responded on 28 minutes when Mason Cullen finished out wide as the home side troubled the scoreboard for the first time.
Worcester scored their fifth try three minutes later as James Short dotted down following Lane’s snipe from the ruck.
The home side crossed for their second try just two minutes before half time as Ampthill captain Fraser Strachan capitalised on a bouncing ball to score with Louis Grimoldby adding the extras.
Worcester fielded an entirely new starting XV for the second period with Josh Bassett first to touch down after the break from Lloyd Williams’ pass as Tiff Eden converted.
Bassett crossed again on 71 minutes after he intercepted a pass out wide and sprinted to the line.
And Archie Vanes scored the game’s final try two minutes from time when he powered over from close range.
