Worcester held off a determined Brive fightback to seal a semi-final trip to Bourgoin in the European Challenge Cup.

After the opening quarter Worcester led 17-3 but, inspired by young South African Scott Spedding, Brive got it back to 22-18 before a late try from the impressive Marcel Garvey saw Worcester home.

Brive fielded a powerful side with a strong British flavour. Barry Davies and Alix Popham, both Wales internationals, were included in the starting XV as were England internationals Ben Cohen and Andy Goode, with Steve Thompson on the bench.

Brive had the first chance to open the scoring after five minutes but Goode badly mishit a drop goal attempt.

Two minutes later Worcester had their first opportunity when the French were penalised and Matthew Jones made no mistake with the penalty.

Worcester were then dealt a blow when Kai Horstmann, their influential number eight, left the field with an injury, but no sooner had he departed than the home side

extended their lead.

Callum Black stole Brive's ball from a ruck on halfway, Goode knocked down the prop's pass but Marcel Garvey was on hand to pick up and run 50 metres to the line with the Brive defence nowhere to be seen. Jones converted.

After 16 minutes Brive got on the scoresheet with a simple penalty from Goode when Worcester infringed at a scrum but the home side were soon on the attack, producing the movement of the game to date with Dale Rasmussen being heavily involved.

A try looked a probability but Alexis Palisson, the Brive wing, went offside to deny Worcester the score and earn himself a yellow card in the process.

Worcester continued to press and after 21 minutes Pat Sanderson scored after being set up by Jones, who evaded Goode's tackle to send the flanker over. Jones converted and Worcester were 17-3 ahead.

Ryan Powell, the Worcester scrum-half, was then involved in an altercation with his opposite number and was penalised but Goode was unable to take advantage from the penalty.

Goode was replaced after 35 minutes by Spedding, who made an immediate impact with a number of key contributions in a try scored by Ronnie Cooke. Palisson missed the conversion to make it 17-8 at half-time.

Four minutes after the interval Brive further reduced the arrears when a Spedding pass sent Cooke past Jones' tackle for the centre's second try.

Palisson converted but Worcester responded with a try of their own after 50 minutes.

Jones miscued his penalty attempt but Alex Grove followed up to collect a French fumble and score. Jones missed the conversion.

Brive were now playing some exceptionally creative rugby but careless passes at vital stages and a lack of discipline were costing them dear.

With 15 minutes to go Palisson kicked a penalty to reduce Worcester's advantage to only four points and set up an exciting finish.

With 10 minutes to go Worcester increased their effort with Miles Benjamin being narrowly denied on the left flank before the ball was moved wide where Garvey finished off with aplomb. Jones converted and at 29-18 Worcester were home and dry.