Dean Ryan hopeful of survival

Dean Ryan has maintained that Worcester Warriors can avoid relegation this season following their victory against fellow strugglers Newcastle Falcons.

The Warriors, who came out 17-12 winners at Kingston Park, climbed within nine points of their opponents in the Aviva Premiership table with the win.

"We've got some tough opposition to come, but let's see what a win does to us and if it takes off that suffocating pressure we've been under," Ryan is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"Of course we can [avoid relegation]. If we hadn't won today we would have been really up against it. We have to get a win somewhere, a bonus point or two and get it in the last game of the season. Things go weird on the last day of the season.

"We're not pretending we're suddenly a top-six side or any rubbish like that, but we've become a pretty strong group and that's the first place to start for us to move forward."

Worcester are back in action in a fortnight's time when they face Exeter Chiefs at Sixways.