WORCESTER Warriors fought back from an early 14-0 deficit to earn a richly deserved losing-bonus point at home against a lacklusture Exeter Chiefs at Sixways.

The visitors scored two tries in the opening quarter to open up a healthy lead before an Oli Morris try and Duncan Weir penalty reduced the deficit to four points at half-time.

Ollie Devoto crossed for Exeter's third try shortly after the break before Weir scored a try of his own to keep the hosts within a score.

The reigning Premiership and European Champions were made to work hard for their win but do cut the gap to Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol to five points whilst Worcester remain in 11th. 

Exeter piled on the pressure early doors and after a series of penalties against the hosts, and seeing hooker Niall Annett sent to the bin, Chiefs scored two tries through Jonny Gray and Ian Whitten to take control. 

Worcester fought back well and after Billy Searle was carried off with a leg injury on 20 minutes, Scotland's Weir came on and directed the home side and they got themselves back in the game with Morris' try.

Winger Perry Humphreys found himself in space on the right-hand side and used his feet to get around Tom O'Flaherty before a clever back-door offload inside to Morris set the centre free and over the line for the score.

Weir added the conversion and then a penalty to cut the lead to four points at the half-time whistle. 

Chiefs came out of the sheds with purpose and instantly went on the front foot and after some stern Worcester defence, Whitten finally broke through and set Devoto in for the five pointer after a brief TMO check from referee Tom Foley.

It was a hammer blow so early in the half but a few minutes later Devoto turned villain as his high tackle on Sam Lewis was punished with a yellow card from Foley and seemed to spark Warriors into action.

The home side went to the corner and after a few phases, Weir profitted from a mistake from Chiefs' winger Olly Woodburn to dot down.

Woodburn tried to avoid making the ball dead in his own goal area but instead provided an easy chance for Weir to pinch the ball and score, in rather strange fashion.

The soon-to-be Glasgow man converted from the touchline and now it was a four point game again. 

Both sides looked nervy and there was plenty of turnover ball from both sides as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

Weir had a chance to reduce the gap to a single point but missed his penalty attempt from the tee.

Exeter tried to finish the game off but the Warriors' defence held firm as it had for the most part of the game.

But the champions held on in the end and go back down south with the points but know they were very much tested this afternoon by a much improved Worcester side.

Final score: Worcester Warriors 17 Exeter Chiefs 21