WORCESTER Warriors conceded 26 unanswered points in the final quarter to suffer a 33-27 defeat against Northampton Saints in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Franklin’s Gardens.

Dean Ryan’s men led 27-26 until the last play of the match when Ethan Walker touched down for a converted try to seal the Saints’ a morale- boosting triumph.

Warriors opened up a 15-0 advantage at the break but Saints stormed back to score 33 second-half points.

It was a disappointing finale for Warriors, who will meet Northampton next Friday at Sixways in their much-awaited Aviva Premiership opener (7.45pm).

Ben Howard had an eventful match for Warriors - he scored a try and was sent to the sin-bin after coming on in the second-half.

Warriors had the better of the early stages and were rewarded for kicking a penalty to the corner when Sam Lewis was on the end of a driving maul.

Warriors almost crept over the line again but were held up and despite pressure at the scrum, Warriors opted to take a penalty.Tom Heathcote successfully slotted the kick.

Worcester continued to dominate and Gerrit-Jan van Velze finished off a fine passage of play with a try, which Heathcote converted.

Ryan brought on eight replacements at the break while Saints remained unchanged.

and they got themselves back in the game when Ben Nutley supported Ah See Tuala who leapt over Jonny Arr down the left flank.

The flanker collected the pass and waltzed over the tryline to get Saints’ first points of the day with JJ Hanrahan converting.

But Warriors replied. Arr found Ryan Mills who drew in the defence before gifting the ball to Howard to dive over the line. Ryan Lamb converted from wide out.

Saints looked to battle back but Darren O’Shea intercepted on the halfway and sprinted to the tryline.

However, the hosts didn’t roll over and David Waller picked a gap to run in unopposed under the posts with ful match for Warriors - he scored a try and was sent to the sin-bin after coming on in the second-half.

Warriors had the better of the early stages and were re - warded for kicking a penalty to the corner when Sam Lewis was on the end of a driving maul.

Warriors almost crept over the line again but were held up and despite pressure at the scrum, Warriors opted to take a penalty. Tom Heathcote successfully slotted the kick.

Worcester continued to dominate and Gerrit-Jan van Velze finished off a fine passage of play with a try, which Heathcote converted.

Ryan brought on eight replacements at the break while Saints remained unchanged Sam Olver converting.

Howard was then sin-binned, allowing Saints a chance to get back in the game and they took it with both hands when Pat Howard finished out wide.

Replacement Alex Mitchell dotted down and Olver added the extras to cut the deficit to one.

Warriors twice lost possession at the death and, despite Howard making a try-saving tackle, Waller was on hand to complete the turnaround with a last-gasp try which Olver converted.

Warriors: Pennell (Howard 40), Humphreys, Olivier (Stelling 40), Mills (Grove 62), Biggs, Heathcote (Lamb 40) (Mills 73), Arr (Mulchrone 56); Ruskin (Leleimalefaga 40), Annett (Sowrey 56), Schonert (Rees 40), O’Callaghan (O’Shea 40), Barry, Dowson (Mama 40), Lewis (Cox 40), van Velze