HARD-to-please Francois Hougaard admitted to being "disappointed" despite Worcester's feast of tries in a 40-27 win over Saracens. 

Warriors got six of the 10 tries at Sixways with scrum-half Hougaard getting the ball rolling as part of the brace that brought up his third and fourth in two matches. 

But the South African revealed his joy had been reduced by affording a youthful Sarries side scoring opportunities in the second half.

“We’re pleased but in the same breath I think we’re a bit disappointed at the end, giving away four tries at home," he said. 

“With all due respect to Saracens we would have liked to have avoided conceding so many tries in the game.

“They have a side of champions, it doesn’t matter whether they brought young or experienced players, but it was up to us and in our control so while we were happy with the win, we are also somewhat disappointed.”

On his hit streak, Hougaard added: “I am enjoying it but I don’t think it is anything to do with me really, I am just there to finish it off and credit to the team for the build-up and hard work that go into the tries.

“I am hitting my stride but still making mistakes and learning. I work and learn every week, there is always something new.

“I am just trying to better my game every single week and hopefully those support lines keep paying off.”

Hougaard was one of four different scorers as Warriors overpowered an inexperienced-but-plucky Saracens outfit.

It backed up another free-scoring display at London Irish 17 days previously to secured back-to-back bonus-point wins for Worcester. 

Noah Heward, Ashley Beck and Ted Hill also crossed the whitewash with the third being a penalty try.

Warriors had the bonus point wrapped up inside 31 minutes thanks to a first half brace from Hougaard who also set up another for Heward.

Momentum was lost in a disjointed second half and Warriors required late tries from Beck and skipper Hill to finish the job. 

The positives for Warriors were the return to action of Perry Humphreys and Marco Mama after lengthy injury lay-offs and a debut off the bench for former Bristol Bears lock Joe Batley, recently recovered from a foot injury.

Heavy rain immediately before kick-off and for the first 20 minutes made handling difficult but Hougaard led the way with a close range effort after three minutes when Billy Searle kicked a penalty to the corner, Clegg winning the lineout and Saracens were drawn offside at the driving maul.

Referee Karl Dickson played advantage and Hougaard capitalised, picking a gap in the defence and powering over for the try which Searle improved.

Saracens drew level again with their first visit to Warriors’ 22 when they won a lineout, went through the phases and centre Charlie Watson crashed over with Manu Vunipola converting.

Warriors responded with a try from Heward, set up by a clever kick through from Hougaard. The referee checked with TMO Sara Cox for a possible offside but the try was good and Searle added a difficult conversion.

The scores were level again within a minute as Warriors failed to secure the restart and Rotimi Segun wriggled free and Watson followed up with his second try which Vunipola improved.

Warriors continued to look threatening in attack and were awarded a penalty try when Saracens Elliott Obatoyinbo was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. Obatoyinbo was yellow-careded immediately and the referee used the water break to study replays before deciding the full-back’s actions denied Warriors a certain try.

Warriors scored again just before Obatoyinbo returned to the fray, this time Heward setting up Hougaard with a lovely kick through which was superbly controlled by the scrum-half who secured the bonus point.

Heward got away again late in the half and found Matt Kvesic in support but the flanker lost the ball in contact and it was picked up in an offside position.

Saracens turned defence into attack when they kicked the penalty to halfway, won the lineout and worked wing Ali Crossdale free on the left for an unconverted try from his own kick through.

The second half was more disjointed and error-strewn and Warriors were heavily penalised at the breakdown which made it difficult to build momentum.

Saracens also pulled to within a converted try of taking the lead when Vunipola landed a 65th minute penalty, the first points of the half.

But Warriors soon slammed the door shut with a patient attack which created a gap for Beck who nipped in with Searle adding the extras.

The frenetic pace continued towards the end and Warriors produced their best try of the match when Perry Humphreys, back from an ankle injury, weaved his way up the right and excellent support play saw Hill plough over.

Hill scored Warriors’ first try at Sixways back in September last year and also the last of an unending season that will finally conclude at Sale Sharks on Sunday.

Saracens had the final say with Crossdale crossing with the final play of the match to secure a bonus point.

Warriors: Nanai, Humphreys, Lawrence, Beck (Pennell, 74), Heward, Searle, Hougaard, Waller (Black, 58), Annett (Cutting, 56), Schonert (Palframan, 58), Bresler (Batley, 63), Clegg, Hill, Kvesic (Mama, 54), du Preez.

Unused replacements: Simpson, Weir. 

RUN OF PLAY
3m | Hougaard try 5-0
4m | Searle con 7-0
11m | Watson try 7-5
12m | Vunipola con 7-7
16m | Heward try 12-7
17m | Searle con 14-7
18m | Watson try 14-12
19m | Vunipola con 14-14
21m | Penalty try 21-14
31m | Hougaard try 26-14
32m | Searle con 28-14
40m | Crossdale try 28-19
65m | Vunipola pen 28-22
68m | Beck try 33-22
69m | Searle con 35-22
78m | Hill try 40-22
80m | Crossdale try 40-27

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