WORCESTER Warriors claimed the Champ Rugby title in a battling display against Bedford Blues.
In their first season back from non-existence, Worcester Warriors claimed a 14-27 away victory over Bedford to secure the gold.
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Warriors started the match hungry and it took them just over seven minutes to put their first points on the board.
Siva Naulago found Hugh Bokenham on the outside in successive plays. Bokenham was brought down just short at the first time of asking but made no mistake the second time to cut inside and crash over.
Bedford responded almost immediately, making a break up-field before sending Fyn Brown through to come within touching distance of the line, with Joey Conway following to crash over.
Will Maisey's successful conversion handed the hosts a two-point lead after 12 minutes.
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Bedford doubled their account soon after, quickly swinging it out wide to race through with pace before nudging it back inside into the path of The Champ's top try-scorer Dean Adamson, to cross under the posts.
Maisey was again on target, increasing the Bedford lead to nine.
With just under five minutes to play of the second half, Tim Anstee recreated back-row partner Bokenham's early try to put Warriors back within one score of the hosts.
The visitors swung it out wide to the big man, who cut back inside to dive over through contact.
Billy Twelvetrees was on the mark at the second time of asking to add the extras and move the difference to just two points.
And Warriors came hunting again to ensure they went into the break with the lead.
After repeated attempts to find a way through, it was Louis Brown to combine with Will Reed to see the latter stretch over the line, with Warriors heading into the break with a three-point lead.
Bedford flew out the gates in the second half and spent the opening 10 minutes repeatedly piling pressure on the Warriors defence, but a string of defensive sets ensured they couldn't find a way over.
Warriors grew back into the tense second half, with neither side able to get the better of the other to find a score in the opening 20 minutes.
Fred Tuilagi was showed yellow for a dangerous clear-out in the maul, handing Warriors a player advantage for 10 minutes.
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Almost immediately after the sending off, Warriors got the first score of the second half and increased their lead.
Louis Brown raced through a gap in the defence before finding Siva Naulago on the inside to cross under the posts.
Twelvetrees again confidently converted, bringing the Warriors lead to 10 with 15 minutes to play.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Twelvetrees stepped up to kick home a penalty and increase the lead to 13.
Warriors held on to the ball for the final exchanges to claim the 13-point triumph.
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