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MIKE Ruddock's youthful Worcester Warriors side were blown away 49-12 by a Danny Cipriani-inspired Wasps in the Guinness Premiership at Adams Park.

The play-off chasing hosts ran in seven tries during a one-sided affair, but director of rugby Ruddock insisted he felt the experience would be a learning curve rather than a dent to the confidence of his up-and-coming youngsters.

With one eye on the forthcoming European Challenge Cup semi-final against Newcastle at Sixways, the Warriors chief opted to hand a baptism of fire to several of his academy prospects against the 2007 Heineken Cup winners.

A string of first-team regulars who have been carrying injuries recently were omitted from the squad, while there were starting debuts for scrum-half Jonny Arr and England Under 20 flanker Matt Cox.

Full-back Chris Pennell, front-rower Matt Mullan and flanker Tom Wood also started in an inexperienced Warriors line-up, while centre Mark Tucker was recalled to make his 99th Premiership appearance in the absence of Sam Tuitupou and Dale Rasmussen.

Despite the odds seemingly stacked against them, the men from Sixways made an impressive start but, as mercurial England fly-half Cipriani began to pull the strings, there was only ever going to be one winner.

Laden with international stars, Wasps crossed for tries through Riki Flutey, Pat Barnard, Cipriani, Mark van Gisbergen (twice), Simon Shaw and Tom Voyce, while the home stand-off enjoyed a flawless day with the boot, converting all seven scores.

Warriors replied with tries from young forwards Cox and Mullan, who switched from prop to hooker in place of the injured Aleki Lutui.

In the early stages, second row Craig Gillies got his finger tips to Joe Ward's throw-in after Shane Drahm had made a good touch-finder from the kick-off.

Warriors staged several drives and, as they seemed to have run out of ideas, referee Sean Davey called play back for an off-side against hooker Ward. However, Drahm pulled his penalty wide of the target.

From a scrum on half-way, Drahm fed Rico Gear, playing at outside-centre, who stepped inside his man and found number eight Drew Hickey. The Aussie gathered well one-handed, but couldn't hold on and spilt it forward.

Pennell and Wood linked well down the flank as Warriors burst into Wasps' 22. The ball was quickly recycled down the line where Tongan prop Tevita Taumoepeau found himself in unfamiliar circumstances. The giant front rower took the ball into contact, but was penalised for not releasing.

Miles Benjamin was hit for an offence at the breakdown and Cipriani kicked for the corner. Wasps claimed the line-out and put pressure on the visitors' defence before spinning the ball along the line to centre Flutey, who burst through Tucker's attempted tackle to score under the posts. Cipriani converted.

From the re-start, Drahm drop-kicked the ball directly into touch to give the hosts a scrum on the half-way line, but a knock-on by England wing Paul Sackey handed possession back to Worcester.

After 21 minutes, Cox's youthful exuberance at the break down saw him sent to the sin bin. From the resulting penalty, Cipriani made a good touch and the line-out was won. Several drives through the forwards later and Barnard crashed over for Wasps' second try, which was improved by Cipriani.

Worcester looked to hit back as Pennell tried to find Marcel Garvey with a grubber kick, but the pacy winger put a foot in touch, allowing Wasps to clear. Sackey sped down the right wing before feeding outside-centre Dominic Waldouck. The youngster then threw a fine inside-pass to Cipriani who eased over under the posts before converting his own try.

Drahm's pass was intercepted but, as Wasps looked to break, play was brought back for a penalty. Drahm took the quick tap, but his cross-field kick to Garvey gave the winger no time to attack.

However, Wasps infringed again and Drahm kicked to the corner. From the catch-and-drive, Cox was bundled over to open Worcester's account and Drahm added the extras.

Cox then burst into Wasps' 22 again before sending a deft off-load to Hickey but, with Arr tied up in the ruck, the Aussie number eight got to his feet and threw a terrible pass to Drahm. The ball was then hacked into Worcester's half where Garvey, after a nervous moment, managed to clear his lines.

In the dying seconds of the first-half, Voyce looked to have scored Wasps' bonus-point try, but play was called back for an offence by the hosts in the build-up.

Wasps were penalised early in the second-half for hands in the ruck and Drahm put a good kick into the corner. But, after Gillies claimed the line-out, Drahm knocked on.

Wasps immediately went on the attack, bursting down the right touchline, before replacement van Gisbergen crashed over.

Cipriani kept up his 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion.

Shortly afterwards, Cipriani showed excellent handling skills to send Sackey away. The England flyer stepped his man and burst into the Warriors' 22 but, as the try-line was beckoning, the hosts knocked on.

After 57 minutes, home captain Lawrence Dallaglio was spotted infringing at the ruck and was sent to the bin for 10 minutes.

Just after the hour mark, there was a considerable delay as Wasps' replacement Dave Walder had to be stretchered off the field. On the resumption, Cipriani kicked a penalty to the corner, which allowed the home side to build another attacking platform.

Cipriani yet again was to the fore as Wasps grabbed their fifth try. The classy stand-off picked up the ball at pace, before popping it inside to on-rushing replacement Shaw and the England second row barrelled over.

Cipriani made no mistake with the conversion. The outside-half then laid on try number seven for the hosts, setting up van Gisbergen for his second score of the game, before once more splitting the posts.

Having used up all of their replacements, Wasps rubbed salt into Worcester's wounds by opting to bring off Cipriani, who had picked up a knock, despite having no-one to replace him with.

Worcester managed to finish the game on a positive note when young fly-half Joe Carlisle chipped ahead, Miles Benjamin gathered and fed Pennell.

The full-back handed off his man before being hauled down just short of the line, but prop Matt Mullan was on hand to cross over.

6:41pm Sunday 13th April 2008

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