Worcester 18 (8)
Tries: Havili, Harding
Cons: Drahm
Pens: Drahm (2)
Northampton 23 (13)
Tries: Robinson, Thompson (2)
Cons: Spencer
Pens: Spencer (2)
A late try by hooker Steve Thompson gave Northampton a hard-fought victory at Premiership strugglers Worcester.
The home side had drawn level at 18-18 with a little more than a quarter of an hour to go when Tom Harding crossed for a try and Shane Drahm converted.
But with eight minutes left on the clock, Thompson regained the lead for the visitors with his second try.
Carlos Spencer missed the extras but the Saints held on for their third win of the season - Worcester stay winless.
The hosts did, however, pick up a third losing bonus point of a difficult season.
Worcester actually opened the scoring when wing Aisea Havili touched down in the right corner, but Spencer replied with two penalties to get Northampton's noses in front.
They increased their lead on the half hour when scrum-half Mark Robinson scampered over after a break from flanker Paul Tupai.
Spencer added the conversion before Shane Drahm landed a penalty to make it 13-8 to the Saints at the break.
Worcester started the second half well and Drahm soon added his second penalty.
But the Warriors were badly affected when lock Craig Gillies was shown a yellow card for pulling down at the line-out.
Saints took advantage of the extra man with ex-England hooker Thompson scoring in the corner from a catch and drive.
Harding then did the same for Worcester to level things up only for Thompson to seal the win when he cruised through after a short line-out.
Worcester director of rugby John Brain:
"I don't think you can fault the players' desire and commitment today but what we lack is composure which is letting us down at times of basic execution.
"It is not really for me to comment on my future. That rests with others. Until they tell me different the answer lies with getting the players we have to play better."
Northampton director of rugby Paul Grayson:
"When we had the ball in hand we were reasonably comfortable but it was always going to be a close game after their run of six league defeats.
"We ran the clock down brilliantly and defended well. They were never going to score once we had that third try as we had bodies all across the field.
"You have to take the points when you can as this was a must-win game as far as we were concerned."
Worcester: Best; Kaufusi, Rasmussen, Lombard, Tucker; Drahm, Powell; Fortey, Gotting, Morris, Blaze, Gillies, Horstmann, Harding, Hickey.
Replacements: C Fortey for Gotting (60), Collier for Blaze (41), Quinnell for Hickey (61).
Not Used: Black, M Powell, Brown, Delport.
Sin Bin: Gillies (49).
Northampton: Vass; Howard, Davies, Quinlan, Wyles; Spencer, Robinson; Smith, Thompson, Barnard, Browne, Gerard, Tupai, Fox, Easter.
Replacements: Tonga'uiha for Barnard (69), Diggin for Wyles (41), Going for Davies (75).
Not Used: Hartley, Lord, D Browne, Mallon.
Att: 9,240
Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)
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