WORCESTER Warriors suffered a 33-19 defeat against a Bath Rugby XV on the club’s return to Sixways Stadium after three years away.
Warriors led by two points at the break courtesy of tries from Louis Brown and Tom Seabrook at a sold-out Sixways.
However, Premiership champions Bath showed their class after the break to deny Warriors a fairytale return to their home ground.
Worcester took to the pitch at Sixways for the first time since September 2022 when the club entered administration.
And the players entered the field to a guard of honour as almost 9,000 fans cheered Matt Everard’s side onto the pitch.
Warriors made a dream start as Brown dotted down the game’s opening try after just three minutes after Matt Kvesic and Siva Naulago broke down the right and fed Lloyd Williams.
Former Worcester man Ollie Lawrence then received a yellow card soon after on his return to Sixways.
However, Bath ran in two quickfire tries as Guy Pepper went over from close range before Ben Spencer dotted down after a break from Kepu Tuipulotu.
Warriors responded two minutes before half time when Seabrook dove over from close range and Tiff Eden converted.
The visitors made a raft of changes at the break as Spencer scored his second try of the game two minutes into the second period.
And close-range tries from Tom Dunn and Vilikesa Sela took the game out of Worcester’s reach.
Warriors eventually scored a third try with the clock in the red as replacement full-back Will Trewin finished off a flowing move.
Worcester begin their league campaign with a home game against Coventry Rugby on Saturday, October 4 with kick-off at 2pm at Sixways.
