Worcester Warriors put a poor start in the Guinness Premiership behind them and took a long stride towards winning the pool with a bonus-point win over a hapless London Irish side. Eoghan Hickey had an attack of stage fright and missed four regulation kicks at goal. All were in front of the posts and all pushed right. Hickey also missed the crucial kick in the defeat by Bath last month.

But it was not only Hickey’s performance that failed to impress Toby Booth, the London Irish head coach. “I am slightly disappointed that some people, who were given the opportunity, did not turn up,” Booth said.

There were thin pickings for Martin Johnson, the England team manager, in the crowd. Shane Geraghty, making his first appearance after turning his ankle in pre-season, looked far from ready to play for England next month. “I think it is too early,” Booth said of the back. “Shane needs to put a series of games together before he’s expected to spark the England revival.”

Peter Richards, the scrum half and a member of Johnson’s elite squad for the autumn’s internationals, showed that he retains some speed at 30 with a tap, go and a strong hand-off of Johnny Arr to score from 45 metres out.

Worcester do not have anyone in either England’s elite or Saxons 32-man squads, but Mike Ruddock, Worcester’s director of rugby, said he would be recommending Miles Benjamin, the wing, and Matt Mullan, the 21-year-old who can play prop and hooker, but was rested yesterday.

Matthew Jones, the Wales fly half, controlled the game well for the home side and his delicate chip over the defence and then double miss pass put Benjamin over in the fifteenth minute.

Graham Kitchener, the lock who has just turned 19, marked his debut first-team start by scoring after a break by Benjamin. But Hickey missed two kicks and a third straight after half-time as the exiles failed to capitalise on Jake Abbott being sent to the sin-bin for a late tackle on Richards on the stroke of half-time.

Hickey then missed the conversion of Richards’s try and with it Irish’s belief ebbed. The home side got their fourth try in the 78th minute after Charlie Fellows rescued the ball on the floor 15 metres out and Abbott quickly worked it left, where Loki Crichton touched down.

Worcester’s chances of going through to the semi-finals are helped by having another home game, against Harlequins, to come in this lopsided three-game pool stage.

Scorers: Worcester Warriors: Tries: Benjamin 2 (15min, 62), Kitchener (31), Crichton (78). Conversion: Jones. London Irish: Try: Richards (55).

Scoring sequence (Worcester first): 7-0, 12-0 (half-time) 12-5, 17-5, 22-5.

Worcester Warriors: C Latham (rep: L Crichton, 66); C Fellows, A Grove, S Tuitupou, M Benjamin; M Jones (rep: J Carlisle, 78), B Jones (rep: J Arr, 52); D Morris, C Fortey (rep: A Lutui, 52), C Horsman (rep: S Ruwers, 52), G Kitchener (rep: G Rawlinson 62), C Gillies, M Cox, J Abbott (sin-bin, 40-51), N Talei (rep: T Wood, 62).

London Irish: J Bailey; T De Vedia (rep: C Gower, 37), D Shabbo, S Geraghty (rep: T Homer, 60), A Thompstone; E Hickey, P Richards (rep: T Parker, 72); D Murphy, J Buckland, F Rautenbach (rep: C Dermody, 40), G Johnson, R Casey (rep: C Hala’ufia, 64), J Fisher, D Danaher, R Thorpe.

Referee: R Maybank (England). Attendance: 7,433.