WORCESTER Warriors have one foot in the quarter-finals of the British and Irish Cup, but their inability to cut loose in the second-half of matches remains.

They were clinical in the opening 40 minutes against Midlands rivals Moseley and, in reality, had the result sewn up before the interval after building a commanding 24-0 lead.

But their second-half fall-off is fast becoming a talking point in the Sixways’ stands.

Warriors led 17-5 at the break in their last Greene King IPA Championship fixture against Jersey before falling over the line in a 32-29 success.

The week before that, Warriors led 17-0 at the turnaround against a struggling Plymouth Albion before labouring to a 22-10 success.

The situation is not lost on head coach Carl Hogg, who admitted his frustration in his post-match press conference for the need for Warriors to put in an 80-minute display.

Clearly, with a place in the last-eight of the British and Irish Cup beckoning and a run off 11 league and cup wins under their belt, Warriors are stretching for a panic button.

But Warriors’ worrying second-half slump has become an irritating trait because director of rugby Dean Ryan has set their benchmark high as the club looks to bounce back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

Warriors will have an opportunity to end their frustration in Cork on Friday against Munster ‘A’ in a defining match in Pool Three of the British and Irish Cup.

Warriors have now beaten Moseley three times this season – 23-7 in the Championship, and 39-0 at Billesley Common in the cup after roaring into 32-0 lead at the break.

The Birmingham club’s head coach Kevin Maggs has certainly built a gritty side, who refuse to accept defeat, and that will be no different when Warriors head to Moseley for a Championship fixture next month.

Flanker Richard de Carpentier enjoyed one of his best displays of the season for Warriors, carrying the ball well, as he caught the eye.

Fly-half Tiff Eden continues to grow in confidence, capping his display with a 27th minute interception try after catching the ball, turning and streaking clear from half-way.

Fit-again Chris Pennell showed some of the touches which attracted the attention of England head coach Stuart Lancaster, on his first start since the opening-day defeat at Bristol.

The full-back was unselfish in the first minute, off-loading to Dean Hammond, who crossed for Warriors’ opening try, after Alex Grove had burst through midfield to create the chance.

Flanker Sam Betty gave a committed display, putting in plenty of tackles and was driven over for Warriors’ second try after just 10 minutes.

Betty’s copybook was blotted, however, when he was yellow-carded early in the second-half after a scuffle and Moseley took full advantage to grab their first try through Alex Day.

Hooker Dan George also got on the scoresheet, again, from a powerful drive from a line-out which Warriors used to clinical effect in the first-half, to seal the hosts’ try bonus point.

In a stumbling second-half which was marred by a high error count from both sides, Joe Carpenter’s forward-driven try after 68 minutes cut Warriors’ lead to 24-12.

But centre Grove, who looked bright and energetic, particularly in the first-half, deservedly crossed the whitewash, and Eden converted, to complete the scoring.