FORMER Bath flanker Mat Gilbert typified Worcester Warriors’ spirit with a try-scoring full debut and a man-of-the-match display in the Midlands derby at Billesley Common.

Gilbert was outstanding for Warriors and opened their try-scoring account after picking up an inside pass from Tiff Eden and then raciing through under the posts.

Fit-again Ryan Mills made a promising debut for Warriors and almost marked his appear - ance with a touchdown in the early stages.

Perhaps with more minutes under his belt, Mills would have slipped a pass to Richard de Carpentier for a simple run-in rather than choosing to go for the line himself.

Eden, who is growing in confidence, scored a try after a quick-tap penalty and collected a 19-point haul.

Scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier was en - ergetic in attack and defence and has led the Warriors to the top of the Pool Three in the British and Irish Cup after three straight wins.

The outstanding Gilbert said: “It was tough, especially in the second-half when Moseley managed to get hold of the ball and we had to keep defending. The lads showed a lot of char - acter and courage to keep Moseley to nil.

“We do a lot of defensive stuff in training but, on the whole, it’s about putting your mind to it and putting your body on the line – things you can’t really coach.”

Warriors had de Carpentier and Andy Sy - mons yellow-carded in a backs-to-the-wall sec - ond-half but the home side could not breach Worcester’s try-line.

It was Warriors winger James Stephenson, who was lively throughout and made some crucial tackles, who scored the only try of the second period.

Hooker Ben Sowrey had made the initial break after Drew Cheshire had lost the ball for Mose - ley and combined with skipper Bruzulier and Huw Taylor to set up Stephenson’s opportunity.

Warriors had wrapped up their victory – and a try bonus point – before the end of the first- half when they powered into a 32-0 lead at the interval.

However, it was far from one-way traffic and Moseley had the lion’s share of possession in the opening 15 minutes and dominated terri - tory and possession in the second-half.

Moseley declined at least five possible penal - ty attempts at the posts in favour of kicking to the corner and, ultimately, their tactic proved fruitless.

Caolan Ryan had a difficult afternoon for the hosts – his yellow card in the first half led to three Warriors tries in three minutes.

Seconds after he returned to the field, Ryan dropped the ball over the Warriors try-line af - ter bustling through from a quickly taken tap penalty.

Gilbert got Warriors up-and-running with their opening try after a neat inside pass from Eden, who converted the score and then slotted two penalties.

Eden extended Warriors’ lead to 18 points, taking full advantage of Ryan’s yellow card to dive over from a tap penalty after Moseley’s de - fence were ruing the sin-binning.

The floodgates opened and Max Stelling fin - ished off a slick move, involving Bruzulier and Mills, which Eden converted.

Perry Humphreys notched his maiden first- team try, after Stelling broke through and off- loaded to Dean Hammond.

Eden’s conversion was greeted by the half- time whistle and ensured there was no way back for Moseley.