LEICESTER have been warriors throughout history but surely they have rarely had to work so hard for a victory as they did in this tumultuous, wonderfully compelling battle. For their heroism and willpower alone they may have deserved it, but Worcester for the most part were wonderful themselves, and could quite easily have won the greatest victory in their history.

The newly-extended Sixways looked wonderful, and here at last, in defiance of the laws experiments, was a rapid, skilful and powerful contest, extremely well refereed and in which moments of drama and heroism became almost two-a-penny.

Leicester finally took the lead when a juddering barrage of attacks inside the last 10 minutes made space for Julien Dupuy to dummy his way over, and Dupuy’s own conversion put them ahead.

The phase of play that led to this try contained the steaming running of Martin Corry and Jordan Crane and the endless prompting of Geordan Murphy, who was quite magnificent in rallying Leicester in the bad times. Yet the phases also contained typically stunning Worcester defence, and at the end of it, as Dupuy prepared for his conversion, Chris Latham had to be led from the field with concussion.

But Worcester came on strongly. They hammered away through the closing stages with the Sixways record crowd in a ferment. However, Matthew Jones, the replacement fly-half, missed with a penalty from 40 metres, normally well within his range; and as Worcester thundered on in the dying moments, they did not quite have the angles or the composure to set up Jones in the pocket for the drop-goal.

They may not have won, but this may have been the game which persuaded the hearts and minds of Worcester themselves that they belong in this division, and conceivably, near the top of it. They had a rock-solid foundation up front, and an immaculate lineout led by Will Bowley and Tom Wood which took Leicester to the cleaners. They had the frightening aggression of Dale Rasmussen and Sam Tuitupou in midfield, and there was a heady mix of exuberance and skill about them which made you realise forcefully that their victory away at Wasps last week was no fluke.

Frankly, they lacked a little authority at fly-half, where Loki Crichton has neither the gas nor alacrity needed, and they also missed four kicks at goal. But if you cannot beat Leicester then probably the next best thing is to win their respect, and a bonus point.

Leicester were not from the top drawer at half-back either, and they had to rely heavily on their willing shire horses, on the remarkable power of Corry, Crane and Ben Herring on the flank. But they will be thrilled with the win, and the escape.

Worcester first broke in front in the first half with one of the best passages of play for months. They were under pressure near their own corner, but calmly and cleverly drove the ball out of danger. On their way, they set the ball through several phases, carried on by taking a tap penalty to maintain momentum and could easily have scored had the ball bounced kindly for the sprinting Miles Benjamin after a chip ahead by Crichton.

But the score duly came. Worcester attacked to the right of the scrum, the front row took it on and Matt Mullen blasted through Ben Kay on the fringes to run on and score a try to cue major celebrations. That took Worcester ahead 7-3.

And they kept on coming. They launched a brilliant attack heavily involving Tuitupou and only desperate Leicester cover hauled down Latham after the Australian pinned back his ears from the outside break. So all in all, it was something of a travesty when a Toby Flood penalty took Leicester in trailing at only 7-6 at half-time.

There was further concern for Worcester when they could not cash in on the absence of Leicester’s Jordan Crane, who was in the sin bin either side of half-time; and also when Flood put Leicester into the lead in the third quarter with a penalty when James Collins took out Croft in the air and was sent to the bin.

Worcester, however, were indomitable, and Leicester were still seeking rhythm. They did put in a series of attacks to try to cash in on their numerical advantage but Worcester magicked a try out of thin air. Chris Pennell caught a Leicester drop-out and Worcester sent the ball into midfield. They unleashed Netani Talei, and the giant Fijian forward took off as if supercharged, scorching clean through the first lines of defence, going on for the try. Worcester had reestablished themselves in the grandest style, to lead 14-9.

Flood then kicked his fourth penalty, yet as Leicester pressed, Latham had his wits about him. Herring tried to pop a final pass out of a tackle on the Worcester line, Latham read it and took off on the interception with around 98 metres to cover. Flood came racing back, and although Latham avoided him, he was submerged by the cover. However, Flood played the ball on the deck, was sent to the sin bin and Crichton’s penalty made it 17-12.

Yet Leicester refused to allow the shock victory, letting loose a decisive barrage of attacks, and Dupuy scored. That was that, although the reception Worcester received from their fans suggested that mingling with cruel disappointment, was a healthy dose of admiration.

Star man: Will Bowley (Worcester)

Referee: A Small (RFU)

Attendance:10,800

Scorers: Worcester: Tries: Mullen 22min, Talei 49min. Cons: Crichton (2). Pen: Crichton
Leicester: Try: Dupuy 68min. Con: Dupuy. Pens: Flood (4)

Yellow cards: Worcester:Collins 57min Leicester: Crane 36min, Flood 60min

Worcester: C Latham (M Jones 69min); C Pennell, D Rasmussen, S Tuitupou, M Benjamin; L Crichton (C Fellows 80min), R Powell; M Mullan, A Lutui (C Fortey 64min), C Horsman (T Taumoepeau 33min), G Rawlinson (capt; C Gillies 71min), W Bowley, T Wood, N Talei, J Collins

Leicester: G Murphy; T Varndell, M Smith, A Mauger, J Murphy (A Erinle 80min); T Flood, J Dupuy (B Youngs 71min); M Ayerza, B Kayser (G Chuter 59min), J White (D Cole 64min), M Corry (capt), B Kay, T Croft, J Crane, B Herring (B Woods 72min)