DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons said it was “far too early” to give an assessment on injuries suffered to Sam Lewis and Marco Mama.

The back-row duo were forced off in Worcester Warriors’ “heart-breaking” 24-20 defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sixways on Sunday.

Lewis suffered a blow to the head after slamming into Exeter centre Sam Hill five minutes before the break and looked dazed as he left the field.

Mama, who replaced Lewis, was then helped off the pitch shortly after failing to stop Harry Williams powering over for the match-winning try on 75 minutes.

Solomons used six replacement forwards to cope with Exeter’s power-packed side but Mama’s injury resulted in centre Francois Venter going into the back row.

Asked whether the six-two split on the bench paid off, Solomons said: “I thought it did.

“We actually needed it in a way because Sammy went off with an injury.

“Strangely enough Marco had to go off so Francois had to finish the game on the flank.”

However, Solomons was unable to provide any further information on the pair’s injuries immediately after the Gallagher Premiership match.

“It’s far too early so I couldn’t tell you anything,” Solomons said.

“I have not spoken to the medics.

“Sammy went off for a HIA (head injury assessment).”

On Mama’s injury, Solomons said: “No idea, I couldn’t tell you.”

Academy scrum-half Gareth Simpson, who has yet to play in England’s top flight, was the only replacement that was not used.

But Solomons revealed a problem with full-back Chris Pennell forced him to keep the youngster on the bench.

“Gareth is a good, young player,” Solomons said.

“But Penns’ leg had been bothering him a little bit so we felt it was prudent to keep Gareth off.

“We held both of the backs off for that reason.

“The backs (that started) were going OK so there was no point putting Francois on and then suddenly Penns goes off.

“But he saw out the game.”

Warriors now face a six-day turnaround to prepare for Saturday’s trip to Harlequins (3pm) but Solomons was hopeful injured scrum-half Jono Kitto would be back available.

The New Zealander was ruled out with a groin issue ahead of Warriors’ meeting with Exeter.

“Jono should be alright,” Solomons said.

“That groin has just been bothering him and you can’t risk it, particularly with a six-two split (on the bench) as you could end up with major problems.

“If your scrum-half goes off after five minutes, you bring the new guy on and then he is off after five minutes you are in trouble.”

Warriors were without influential number nine Francois Hougaard who has been sidelined for three to four weeks following a shoulder injury sustained in the previous week’s loss at Northampton Saints.

But Solomons was impressed by Michael Heaney who was tasked with filling Hougaard’s place in the team.

“I thought Michael did very well,” Solomons added.

“That’s the tragedy as I thought the team played really well so to not get a win out of that was absolutely heart-breaking to be honest.”