Bath claimed the European Challenge Cup with a 24-16 final victory over Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm.

First-half tries by Jonnie Faamatuainu and Nick Abendanon helped the West Country outfit to their first trophy in ten years as departing centre Olly Barkley struck 11 points with the boot.

After a ferocious opening, Bath were rewarded for playing expansive rugby despite wet and blustery conditions when Barkley opened the scoring with a long-range penalty after 15 minutes.

Warriors fly-half Shane Drahm - also making his farewell appearance before a summer move to Japanese rugby - levelled the scores eight minutes later after a poor throw by Bath hooker Lee Mears on his own try-line had led to his team-mates conceding a penalty in front of the posts.

Worcester came close to taking the lead two minutes later when lock Greg Rawlinson found himself sprinting for the try-line in the left corner. But the second row lacked the pace to make it over and moments later it was Bath who were celebrating a try.

After a massive clearance by fly-half Butch James, some slick passing between winger Matt Banahan, Mears and James sent flanker Faamatuainu sprinting over the Worcester line in the left corner.

Barkley added the two points with the conversion via the post, and two minutes later the Gloucester-bound half-back had the chance to add another three points with a penalty just inside the Worcester half.

Barkley's kick again hit the post - but this time bounced back into play, almost resulting in a try for his side as some schoolboy defending from Drew Hickey and his Worcester team-mates gave Banahan the chance to drive for the line.

Bath were held up, but they added a second try from the resulting scrum as they played the ball through the backs for full-back Abendanon to crash over.

Barkley failed with the resulting conversion, giving Worcester hope of a comeback. And the Warriors brought themselves back to within one score thanks to two penalties from Drahm either side of half-time.

But another six points from Barkley - through another penalty and a beautifully struck drop-goal from 30 yards out - stretched Bath's lead to 12 points with just 14 minutes remaining.

Worcester boss Mike Ruddock threw on a flurry of substitutes in the hope of turning things around, but they couldn't wrestle possession off Bath in the closing stages.

Bath replacement Zak Feau'nati, making his final appearance before retirement, came desperately close to scoring a third Bath try in the final minutes as his fellow forwards drove inch by inch for the Warriors try-line.

That pressure finally paid off when referee Christophe Berdos penalised Worcester on their own line to give Bath an easy penalty. With Barkley having been withdrawn, James added another three points to make it 24-9.

Worcester managed to score a consolation try with the final move of the match through full-back Thinus Delport - another man leaving the Worcester ranks next season. Substitute fly-half Joe Carlisle reduced the deficit to 24-16 with the conversion, but the full-time whistle was blown seconds afterwards.

Ben Phillips / Eurosport