But all eyes were on new signing Rico Gear as he made his long-awaited club debut and the New Zealand international did not disappoint as he created scores for Mark Tucker and Miles Benjamin in the eight-try demolition job - that set a new record high score for Warriors in the competition.

News that Euro rivals Montauban had lost at Bucuresti made it an even better weekend for Warriors and delighted Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock.

“I was very pleased, especially after I saw the weather forecast, it was a very professional display,” he said.

“To score 50 points against any team is an achievement and to not concede any points was a real plus after we put real focus on the defence this week.

“We are a step closer to qualifying but we will take nothing for granted, we go to Parma next week looking to build on this display and keep moving forward.”

Warriors were straight into their stride with fly half Shane Drahm slotting a kick into the corner as the home side exerted early pressure.

Gear got an early touch and nearly had an immediate impact as he flicked the ball to Netani Talei but the pass was called forward as the big flanker stormed clear.

But it was not long before the first break through as Drahm again kicked to the corner on seven minutes and the pack rumbled forward with real power as skipper Sanderson peeled off the back to touch down. Drahm missed the extras but Worcester took an early 5-0 lead.

Worcester were breaking through with ease in midfield as back row Kai Horstmann burst through a gap in midfield but his pas out wide left to Delport was called forward as the South African scorched over.

The play was all taking place in the Parma half with Tevita Taumoepeau taking the ball on before Craig Gillies just failed to hold onto a slick inside pass with the wet ball proving difficult to handle.

A saturated pitch after the heavy overnight rain was causing both teams problems but it was Warriors who were adapting the better and soon they crashed over again.

A lineout deep in the Parma half saw the ball driven forward and again the ball found the hands of Sanderson who bashed over from close range for a 10-0 lead.

It was a tidal wave of gold and blue pressure as a kick in behind caused huge problems for Diego Sacca and Marcel Garvey picked up the pieces with his flick back just failing to find Chris Pennell.

The pressure again paid off again when slick hands out right saw Talei go close before skipper Sanderson again showed his eye for the line as he dived over for a stunning 13-minute hat-trick.

Worcester were also attacking from deep with Drahm slicing a huge hole in midfield before his pass found Garvey who pressed the gas. The winger tore ahead before he found Horstmann who made big yards.

Parma finally had a chance to mount an attack in the Worcester half when Pennell was hit for holding on after taking a high ball in the swirling wind. But a scrum saw Worcester apply the pressure and the ball popped out and the chance was gone.

The Italians enjoyed a spell of pressure in the Warriors half but suddenly from nowhere Gear made a huge break and tore through before floating out a ball to Delport on the wing. The South African sped towards the line but handling just let down Worcester as they looked to add another try.

However, it was not long before Warriors celebrated a fourth try and bonus point as Pennell took the ball wide and handed off two men before dancing around his opposite full back to slide in under the posts. Drahm added the simply conversion for a 24-0 lead.

Worcester mounted another attack just before the break as Drahm’s little kick over the top was hacked on by Gear before the New Zealand international slammed the back tracking Sacca as he looked to mop up the danger.

Drahm thought he was in for a fifth when neat hands from Talei and Horstmann released him on the wing but the play was pulled back by referee Jerome Garces for a forward pass. But seconds later Worcester made a mess of a Parma scrum and Horstmann picked up to scramble over from 10 yards out. Drahm added the extras for a commanding 31-0 lead.

Young winger Miles Benjamin entered the fray for Pennell at the break but it was business for usual for Warriors as numbers out wide just three minutes after the break saw Horstmann grab his second of the game as he showed real strength to power over. Drahm added the extras for a 38-0 lead.

Drahm was proving the architect of everything Worcester were producing with the diminutive fly half making another piercing run before offloading to Delport on his shoulder as Warriors looked to rack up the points.

Benjamin impressed by taking a high ball and then wriggling free to set Talei and Sanderson free. Worcester opted to kick for the corner after Parma came in the side but the wet ball again squirmed out and the attacking platform was lost.

Soon Gear was in the thick of the action again as he burst clear and handed off two men before his inside pass found Tucker who blasted over. The score was greeted with chants of ‘Rico, Rico’ from the Worcester faithful who clearly appreciated the impact of All Blacks ace Gear in the score. Drahm added the extras for a 45-0 lead.

Worcester made the changes with Shaun Ruwers and Will Bowley introduced and local lad Jonny Arr on for Matt Powell. Parma enjoyed a spell on the Worcester line as they kept it tight only for the Italians to knock on with the line in sight and allow Warriors to continue the clean sheet.

Worcester supporters were on their feet nine minutes from the end after a quite stunning score. Gear was the creator as his pass outside found Benjamin, who he has agreed to mentor at Sixways, and the youngster showed real raw pace to burst clear and hand off two men before crashing through the last man to score to a huge roar. Crichton just missed with his conversion attempt.

Parma looked set to score a consolation in the rain when replacement Tim Dow looked to race in but was shunted into touch by Delport.

The impressive Benjamin again threatened a score from deep in the final five minutes as he burst past men to the delight of the home crowd but his final pass just failed to find Delport as he was crowded out.

Timeline:
7m Sanderson t 5-0
15m Sanderson t 10-0
20m Sanderson t Drahm c 17-0
36m Pennell t Drahm c 24-0
38m Horstmann t Drahm c 31-0
43m Horstmann t Drahm, c 38-0
51m Tucker t Drahm c 45-0
71m Benjamin t 50-0

Warriors: 01 Matt Mullan, 02 Aleki Lutui (Fortey 60 (Lutui 76)), 03 Tevita Taumoepeau (Ruwers 52), 04 Greg Rawlinson (Bowley 52), 05 Craig Gillies, 06 Netani Talei (Hickey 73), 07 Pat Sanderson, 08 Kai Horstmann, 09 Matt Powell (Arr 54), 10 Shane Drahm (Crichton 60), 11 Marcel Garvey, 12 Mark Tucker, 13 Rico Gear, 14 Thinus Delport, 15 Chris Pennell (Benjamin 40)

Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Loki Crichton, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Miles Benjamin