Worcester caused one of the upsets of the Zurich Premiership season as they overcame Wasps at Sixways.

The Premiership new boys were too hot for the European champions to handle as they shocked Wasps with some clinical finishing.

Tries from Dale Rasmussen, Giscard Pieters and Tim Collier gave the Warriors an incredible 24-10 lead at the break after Stuart Abbott had given Wasps the lead with a try after seven minutes.

Worcester went into the match boosted by their first away victory in the big time - a 17-6 win at Northampton - and their confidence showed in the opening 20 minutes as they pushed their opposition onto the back foot.

Wasps, with one eye on Sunday week's Heineken Cup showdown against Leicester, rested scrum-half Matt Dawson while Lawrence Dallaglio was named as a replacement.

And they were given the best possible start as Ayoola Erinle charged down Thinus Delport's clearance and Abbott had the simplest of jobs to stroll through for the score which Edd Thrower converted.

It should have settled Wasps down but Worcester hit back almost immediately with a Tommy Hayes penalty and then, following turnover ball, Rasmussen peeled off to go over for the Warriors. His 17th-minute try was converted by Hayes and Worcester were on a roll.

A superb try from Pieters followed on 26 minutes and, after another turnover from an under pressure Wasps side, lock Collier ran through for Worcester's third try. Hayes added the conversion to keep up his 100% record and the Warriors went in 24-10 up.

Such was Wasps director of rugby Warren Gatland's frustration that he made four changes at half-time with Dallaglio entering the fray.

However, Worcester just kept on playing the percentages and Hayes extended their lead with a 44th-minute penalty.

The visitors did hit back, six minutes later, when Erinle burst through and Thrower converted but Worcester would not lie down as they scented blood.

Drew Hickey broke through on the hour for what looked like a certain try but Wasps somehow pegged him back. The London side, though, are not European champions for nothing and once again they hit back when Erinle burst through and Thrower again converted.

It brought about a grandstand finish but, despite heavy pressure, Wasps could not quite complete the comeback and Worcester held on for a momentous win.

Teams:

Worcester: Delport, O'Leary, Rasmussen, Lombard, Pieters, Hayes, Powell, Windo, van Niekerk, Horsman, Collier, Gillies, Vaili, Sanderson, Hickey.

Replacements: Sampson for O'Leary (25), Hall for van Niekerk (52), Gabey for Collier (78), MacLeod-Henderson for Hickey (72).

Not Used: Sparks, Cole, Trueman.

Tries: Rasmussen, Pieters, Collier.

Cons: Hayes 3.

Pens: Hayes 2.

Wasps: van Gisbergen, Thrower, Erinle, Abbott, Voyce, King, Richards, Dowd, Gotting, Green, Shaw, Skivington, Hart, Rees, Haskell.

Replacements: Brooks for King (63), Biljon for Richards (40), Greening for Gotting (40), Nwume for Green (40), Lock for Rees (52), Dallaglio for Haskell (40).

Not Used: Hoadley.

Tries: Abbott, Erinle 2.

Cons: Thrower 3.

Pens: Thrower.

Att: 8,477

Ref: Steve Leyshon (RFU).