Half time: Worcester 14 Bath 10. Bath let a 10-point advantage slip when they were opened up twice in the space of four minutes in this Guinness Premiership clash against Worcester Warriors at Sixways this afternoon, writes Matt Cain.

Fly-half Butch James kicked Bath ahead on 11 minutes before Worcester handed the visitors their first try on a plate three minutes later.

The hosts' 21-year-old fly-half Joe Carlisle's long pass was intercepted by Andrew Higgins and the former Warriors winger strolled 80 metres and through an attempted tackle by Marcel Garvey to touch down. James converted for a 10-0 lead.

But Worcester were back in the match on 26 minutes, wing Rico Gear and full-back Chris Latham combining to send the former Australia No 15 over with Joe Maddock, James and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu left in their wake.

The Midlanders hit the front for the first time four minutes later. Carlisle opened up the Bath defence and sent No 8 Kai Horstmann racing clear following a neat offload.

The visitors recovered but, from the resulting ruck, were helpless to prevent centre Loki Crichton grabbing the try. Carlisle added the extras.

The young No 10 let Bath off the hook when he missed two penalties on 34 and 38 minutes and although they finished strongly, the visitors were unable to regain the advantage before the break.

Worcester: C Latham; R Gear, D Rasmussen, L Crichton, M Garvey; J Carlisle, R Powell; M Mullan, A Lutui, T Taumoepeau, G Rawlinson, W Bowley, T Wood, P Sanderson, K Horstmann. Reps: D Morris, C Fortey, C Gillies, N Talei, M Powell, W Walker, A Grove.

Bath: J Maddock; M Stephenson, S Hape, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, A Higgins; B James, M Claassens; D Flatman, P Dixon, D Bell, J Harrison, S Hooper, A Beattie, J Scaysbrook, D Browne. Reps: R Hawkins, A Jarvis, J Faamatuainu, C Goodman, S Bemand, S Berne, T Cheeseman.

Referee: D Richards (Berkshire).