Worcester booked their place in the European Shield final after surviving a late Leeds rally at Headingley tonight.

The Sixways side, who boasted a nine-point advantage from their first-leg victory, always looked a threat out wide as both teams took a break from their Premiership survival battles.

Both teams are facing a battle to avoid relegation from the Zurich Premiership and, with important league fixtures in mind, played weakened sides.

Ultimately, Worcester's reserves were too strong for Leeds' fringe players despite the Tykes scoring two late second-half tries to level the scores on the night.

The visitors began much the brighter and breaks from Jon Hylton and Duncan Roke set out their early ambition to play an open, running game. And after an early penalty from Tommy Hayes, Paul Sampson's lightning interception try awoke the paltry 1,335 crowd when the former England wing sped 90 metres for the score.

Leeds, though, were always in with a chance against Worcester's second-string and once hooker Chris Hall was sin-binned for killing the ball on 19 minutes, the Headingley side took full advantage following Tim Stimpson's penalty.

A couple of drives on the Worcester line led to an opening for the prolific kicker - who bagged 24 points in the first leg - and the former England man made no mistake as he crashed over to level things up.

In a topsy-turvy game - which mirrored the big-scoring first leg - Roke and Hylton once again broke free and skipper for the night Daren O'Leary was on hand to finish off a class Worcester score.

Their pace and skill was proving too much for the hosts and with Hylton and former Tyke Clive Stuart-Smith combining well, Roke cashed in with the Warriors' third try which looked to have finished the tie as a contest late in the half.

Leeds hit back early in the second period when centre David Rees finished off a nice move on the left to narrow the deficit but Hayes made sure Worcester kept their noses in front with their fourth try soon after.

With French referee David Rosich enjoying the Euro stage, Worcester's Siaosi Vaili and Leeds' Michael Cusack found themselves in the sin-bin as the game became increasingly stretched.

David Doherty's 65th-minute try looked to have given Leeds a way back and when Jon Dunbar powered through, with three minutes left, the overall gap was just 13 points.

A stoppage time converted try from Dan Hyde almost completed the comeback but Worcester, assisted by a last-gasp James Brown penalty, survived to book their final place at the Kassam Stadium on May 21.