Worcester's LV= Cup campaign got off to a flyer on Saturday with a comfortable four-try 32-6 win over Newcastle at Sixways.
It took the Warriors some time to subdue the stubborn Falcons but three close-range tries in the second half eventually killed the visitors off.
Worcester fielded their strongest available side in an attempt to regain some form and avenge last week's league defeat at Newcastle.
The visitors, however, made 12 changes from last week's starting line-up at Kingston Park.
Worcester began the game strongly and had the better of the opening exchanges but it was Newcastle who were first on the scoreboard when Rob Miller kicked a 15th-minute penalty after a Worcester forward was penalised for kneeing an opponent in a ruck.
Worcester soon equalised when debutant flanker, Mark Wilson, was sin binned for killing the ball at a ruck and from the resulting penalty Willie Walker kicked the goal.
The loss of Wilson spurred Worcester to greater efforts with impressive bursts from Miles Benjamin and Sam Tuitupou troubling the visitors' defence.
The Warriors' pressure was rewarded when from a ruck 10 metres from the Newcastle line, Ryan Powell went blind to put Benjamin over for the try which Walker was unable to convert.
Worcester should have taken further advantage of Wilson's absence when they created an ideal platform for a score when camped under the visitors' posts but Walker's poor attempt at a chip through was charged down.
Danny Williams, the Falcons wing, broke away and it took an excellent effort from Chris Latham to get back to save the day for the Warriors.
Wilson returned and almost immediately the Falcons had a chance to reduce the arrears but Miller was well wide with an ambitious penalty from inside his own half but two minutes from the interval he did kick a simple one to leave Newcastle behind 8-6 at the break.
Worcester had the early pressure in the second half which was rewarded when Walker dropped a goal from 22 metres.
Despite this reverse the Newcastle pack was putting increasing pressure on the Warriors' scrum causing Powell to play on the back foot.
This enabled the Falcons to have their best spell of the match but some determined tackling by the home side kept them out.
The Warriors battled back from a lineout close to the Newcastle line the impressive Netani Talei made the catch from which the home pack drove over for the try from Tom Wood which Walker converted to give Worcester an 18-6 lead going into the final quarter.
Newcastle were dealt a further blow when Rob Vickers was yellow carded for punching.
The replacement hooker had only been on the field for four minutes before the commission of the offence and Worcester soon took advantage.
From a lineout close to the Falcons' line the Worcester pack drove forward and replacement scrum-half, Ollie Frost, was on hand to pick up and score the try which Walker converted.
Worcester lost Tuitupou to the sin bin for a high tackle after 72 minutes but despite this they extended their lead when once again their pack constructed an impressive drive close to the Newcastle line from which replacement flanker, Jake Abbott, scored with Walker converting to ram home the Warriors' second-half superiority.
The scorers:
For Worcester:
Tries: Benjamin, Wood, Frost, Walker
Cons: Walker 3
Pens: Walker 2
For Newcastle:
Pens: Miller 2
Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Ryan Powell, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Pat Sanderson (capt), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Will Bowley, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Jack Gilding, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Michael Hill, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Adam Black, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Jake Abbott, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 George Crook, 23 Calum MacRae.
Newcastle: 15 Tom Catterick, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Alex Tait, 12 Gcobani Bobo, 11 Uche Oduoza, 10 Rob Miller, 9 Hall Charlton (capt), 8 Adam Balding, 7 Mark Wilson, 6 Peter Browne, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Micky Ward, 2 Alex Walker, 1 Laurence Ovens.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Grant Shiells, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Josh Afu, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Tom Biggs, 23 Charlie Amesbury.
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle (England), Andrew Pearce (England)
Assessor: Steve Lander (England)
Television match official: Matt Peters (England)
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