Worcester beat Bedford in Champ play-off final

Worcester Warriors won 15 and lost 11 of their 26 regular-season games

>Tries: Bokenham, Anstee, Reed, Naulago Cons: Twelvetrees 2 Pens: Twelvetrees

>Worcester Warriors marked their first season back in English rugby by winning the Champ play-off final against Bedford Blues.

>Warriors finished fourth in the regular season but shocked previously-unbeaten table-toppers Ealing Trailfinders in the play-off semi-finals - and they did the same to second-placed Bedford.

>Victory caps a remarkable turnaround for Worcester, who were expelled from the Premiership in the 2022-23 season after financial issues placed the club into administration and ultimately led to its disbanding.

>However, the club eventually reformed in time for this season, although they will remain in the second tier after the traditional format of promotion and relegation was scrapped earlier this year.

>A Hugh Bokenham score gave Worcester an early lead but Bedford bounced back to go 14-5 ahead with tries from Joey Conway and Dean Adamson.

>But Tim Anstee went over in the corner for Warriors and late first-half pressure was rewarded with a Will Reed try to give Worcester a narrow three-point half-time lead.

>In a tight second half, a sin-binning for Bedford's Fred Tuilagi, for an off-the-ball incident, proved key as Siva Naulago went over to extend Worcester's lead to 24-14.

>A Billy Twelvetrees penalty sealed victory as Worcester ended a historic campaign with silverware to show for it.

>Worcester story is 'unique and special' - Everard