AS sporting victories go, they don't come much sweeter than this.

When the fans' favourite player, who is in his swansong season with the club, scores a dramatic last-gasp try to snatch the team's first ever league win against the local rivals, you know it's been a good day for your team.

That was certainly the feeling the hordes of Worcester Warriors fans enjoyed as they poured out of a soggy Sixways after seeing South African full-back Thinus Delport slide in at the corner for the decisive try in their side's impressive 17-14 victory over near-neighbours Gloucester.

The Warriors faithful dared to dream that this might, at long last, be the day they got one over on their illustrious opponents when Kiwi centre Sam Tuitupou side-stepped his way to a second-minute opening try.

Aussie fly-half Shane Drahm slotted the conversion and, 20 minutes later, young wing Miles Benjamin sent the home fans into ecstacy with the second score.

Despite a Gloucester comeback that featured tries by England wing Lesley Vainikolo and scrum-half Rory Lawson which were both improved by outside-half Ryan Lamb to give the Cherry and Whites a two-point advantage, Mike Ruddock's men refused to give in.

The Kingsholm outfit employed a cute kicking game to dominate possession and territory in the second-half, but a loss of concentration saw them hand an attacking opportunity to Worcester, which resulted in Delport's thrilling last-minute try.

The former Gloucester player was clearly delighted with his effort, lapping up the adulation from the Warriors fans.

From the kick-off, Gloucester lost possession at a ruck and Warriors skipper Pat Sanderson fed All Black dynamo Tuitupou, who jinked past his man to touch down beside the posts and give Warriors a dream start.

The home side kept the pressure on, forcing Lamb to knock-on after a low pass from number nine Lawson.

Drahm cleared his lines with a huge boot, but the ball sailed over Vainikolo's head and out on the full. However, second row Craig Gillies earned his stand-off a reprieve by stealing the resulting line-out on half-way.

Fellow engine room men Gillies and Greg Rawlinson combined nicely in the loose to send Worcester on another attack but Gloucester snared the ball back at the ruck.

After 18 minutes, a fine midfield break from Dale Rasmussen saw the Samoan centre find Sanderson on the charge and the captain off-loaded to scrum-half Matt Powell as the home side surged into Gloucester territory.

Several phases ensued on the visitors' line before Powell darted over, but referee Sean Davey adjudged the ball to have been held up.

From the resulting scrum, Tuitupou came close to his second try of the afternoon only to lose the ball forward in contact.

However, Ruddock's charges didn't have to wait long for their next five points - and Benjamin's effort would have had his boss smiling.

A training ground move from a scrum on half-way saw Powell spin round on the loop and send the ball down the line to Delport, whose grubber kick was picked up by Marcel Garvey at pace. The former Gloucester wing then off-loaded to fellow wideman Benjamin who scorched over for a memorable try.

Gloucester roared back, though, winning a series of penalties, which Lamb kicked to the corner, but the home defence held firm.

The Cherry and Whites attacked again with Iain Balshaw looking set to score before a trademark massive hit from Tuitupou stopped the England man in his tracks, allowing Warriors to clear to touch. A fine try-saving tackle from Benjamin on flanker Akapusi Quera then denied Gloucester again.

However, the away side's period of dominance paid off as the ball was worked out to powerhouse Vainikolo, who stormed over Garvey's challenge to score.

Lamb added the extras, while Garvey received treatment for an injury sustained attempting to stop the rampaging winger.

The Warriors flyer, who was replaced by All Black Rico Gear, received lengthy treatment before being carried off on a stretcher in a neck brace with an oxygen mask.

An unconcious Garvey was rushed to hospital but, when he came round, had received no serious injuries.

Worcester continued to defend bullishly as the clock ticked down to half-time but Gloucester scrum-half Lawson sniped round the side of a ruck and sprinted 20 metres to dive over beneath the posts. Lamb converted to give the visitors a 14-12 lead.

Worcester's first attack of the second-half was launched by Drahm, who intercepted in midfield before feeding Rasmussen.

Delport joined the line and made good yards before sending Gear free to kick in behind Gloucester, but the away team managed to keep their line intact.

Former Gloucester prop Tony Windo made way for fellow front-row veteran Darren Morris, as the Welshman made his return to action after a month-long lay-off.

However, it was a short-lived return as the former British Lions prop was forced off with an injury after 12 minutes of action to be replaced by Tevita Taumoepeau, who himself had been taken off for Matt Mullan.

As the conditions worsened, Lamb, and then his replacement Willie Walker, continued to heap pressure on Worcester with good tactical kicking as Gloucester consolidated their lead with the lion's share of posession.

When Worcester did finally get hold of the ball, the ground they had gained was handed straight back by a Drahm up-and-under that went directly into touch in the swirling wind.

Gloucester captain Marco Bortolami was penalised for pulling down a Worcester driving maul and Drahm found a good touch, but the Warriors were guilty of delaying the throw-in, so the penalty was reversed.

A Walker forward pass handed the put-in to Worcester and Drahm's boot upfield was gathered at pace by Tuitupou. The Kiwi centre's through-kick was slid into his own in-goal area by James Simpson-Daniel to give the hosts a five-metre scrum.

Worcester's first drive was held up but youngster Jonny Arr, on for Powell, managed to get the ball out to Benjamin, who improvised brilliantly to flick it over his head to Delport who slid over in the corner for a dramatic winning score.

Drahm's conversion attempt was wayward but it heralded the final whistle and the Blue n' Gold contingent inside Sixways erupted with joy.

6:36pm Sunday 30th March 2008

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