WORCESTER Warriors gave themselves the best chance of qualifying for the European Challenge Cup knockout stages on Saturday as they ended their long run without an away win with a five-try victory over Italian side Zebre.

Warriors knew they had to win with a bonus-point to stand any chance of progressing from Pool A and they did just that as tries from Tom Howe and Ted Hill after the break added to Niall Annett's double and Billy Searle's score in the first half.

Worcester now sit second in the pool on nine points but have played all four games and will have to wait and watch the final round of matches to see whether their European adventure will continue.

Warriors need Biarritz to not get anything from their final group game with Toulon to progress but even if they fail to progress, at least Worcester managed to end a 14-month run without an away win in any competition.

It was the perfect start to the game as hooker Annett opened the scoring from a lineout catch-and-drive and went over again 13 minutes later before Zebre eventually turned their pressure into points with a try from South African centre Erich Cronje.

Searle responded by unleashing Clegg with a perfectly-timed pass, then arriving in support to dot down and convert.

But Zebre were back within a try when wing Giovanni D’Onofrio nipped in for a converted try just before the break.

Warriors’ pragmatic approach in the second half denied Zebre the opportunity to apply more pressure while Howe rounded off a sustained attack with a try in the corner that Searle converted from the touchline for the all important bonus-point try.

Captain Hill came on as a second-half substitute and his battering ram effort saw him cross for the fifth try of the afternoon and Searle’s penalty made the game safe at 36-19.

But Zebre finished strongly with replacement wing Jacopo Trulla and Enrico Lucchin each scoring a try to help them to a bonus point and ensure they do not finish the group pointless.