WORCESTER Warriors were beaten 33-7 by Brive in a torrid rearranged game in Tulle as the French side took second place in European Challenge Cup Pool 5 to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

With the game scheduled to take place at the Stade Amedee-Domenech at 3.30pm local time, a waterlogged pitch forced it to be postponed and moved to 8pm in nearby town Tulle – half-an-hour away from Brive.

The conditions weren’t much better in Tulle, although a playable pitch meant the game would go ahead, but in a dour encounter, Brive played the conditions and deprived Warriors of the ball.

Warriors managed to hold the hosts out for almost half-an-hour before Sisa Koyamaibole struck twice to give Brive a healthy lead at the break following first-half yellow cards for Matt Cox and Simon Kerrod.

And they put the tie to bed in the second period with scores for Benito Masilevu, Dominiko Waqaniborutu and Seremaia Burotu despite a consolation score for Tom Howe, to ensure their place in March's quarter-finals.

Masilevu should have touched down early on as he chased a kick through but the winger failed to ground the ball, losing it forward.

The big wideman then looked to exploit some space out wide but was brought down illegally by Cox who was sin-binned for a high tackle - and Brive soon applied the pressure in the battering rain.

And they finally got their reward when Koyamaibole burrowed over from close range.

Kerrod then found himself in the bin as the Brive pack got the upper hand.

But Warriors continued to dig in and deny the hosts who needed a four-try win to have a chance of qualifying.

But with Worcester struggling to get ball in hand, the hosts made the most of the man advantage and Koyamaibole got his second after Brive patiently knocked on the door.

Masilevu then darted through after the break and with Gaeten Germain’s third successful conversion, the game was almost beyond doubt.

But Brive needed a fourth try for their all-important bonus point.

And they got it when Waqaniborutu went over before Warriors got a late consolation through Howe following a kick in behind from Jamie Shillcock.

There was still time at the death for Brive to put some gloss on the result as Burotu crashed over to secure the win.

Warriors’ wait to reach the European knockout stages for the first time since 2009 will go on while Brive march on to the quarter-finals.

Warriors: Howard; Humphreys (Alo 35-39 {Howe 39}),Pennell, Willison, Hammond; Shillcock, Dowsett (Baldwin 26); Bower (Milasinovich 60), Haupt, Kerrod (Alo 51), Barry, Phillips (Taylor 56), Faosiliva, Cox, van Velze (c) (Williams 70). Not used: Singleton, Olver.