Number Eight Blair Cowan crashed over for a first half try but an early score from opposite number Ernst Joubert and the boot of Ben Spencer put Saracens into a 13-7 half-time lead.

Wing Josh Drauniniu looked to spark a second half revival for the home side with a well worked effort.

But the boot of Ben Spencer sent Saracens clear and booked the Londoners a place in the last four and left Warriors to concentrate on Aviva Premiership rugby for the rest of the season.

Chris Pennell carried strongly to break tackles in the opening minute, but it was Saracens that struck when they used an overlap wide left to send Joubert away who side-stepped the last man and raced over.

Worcester responded by Goode kicking into space for Matavesi to beat Joe Maddock to the loose ball, but on a slippery surface the ball was spilled and the visitors cleared their lines.

Both teams traded kicks to look for a position to play from, although it was Saracens who had started the better and were using the difficult conditions to more effect.

Saracens looked to open up Warriors with quick hands from forward trio Alistair Hargreaves, Nick Auterac and Petrus du Plessis forcing space down the middle before a penalty from Ben Spencer from in front of the posts extended the advantage.

The visitors were enjoying the greater share of possession and territory in the opening 15 minutes, but when they infringed on the floor Goode pumped the ball to the corner.

The forwards drove the ball up close with a driving lineout and although the first was repelled the home side regrouped and went again with a huge surge sending them over under the posts with Cowan crashing over.

Pennell continued to impress as he broke the game line every time as he returned the high ball and after Josh Drauniniu also went through tackles on the flank the penalty was secured.

Goode turned down the easy kick to go for the lineout, but after Lutui and Cowan carried into contact the ball was lost forward in the tackle.

Worcester were enjoying their best spell of the game but could not turn possession into points as Saracens held firm under relentless pressure.

Scrum half Spencer and fly half Nils Mordt was kicking Worcester into some difficult positions off the tricky turf and another nudge into space forced Drauniniu and Pennell into a hurried clearance.

But they still had enough to edge further ahead with a kick from Spencer on the stroke of half-time.

Warriors looked to respond early in the second half as the always busy Jake Abbott broke past men and James Percival led from the front while Richard de Carpentier secured a big turnover on the floor.

The home side were back on it on 54 minute as Drauniniu sparked an attack from deep with a brilliant run down the right as he linked with Pennell and twice broke into space.

Warriors then hunted in numbers as they rattled up close and, as they drew in the Saracens defence, Goode saw the space out wide to cross kick for Drauniniu to touch down.

Saracens hit back with Spencer slotting his third penalty of the afternoon for a 16-12 lead with 20 minutes left of the cup encounter.

Hill looked to freshen up his team with four changes and a new front row as the game entered the final quarter with everything to play for.

Goode kicked for the corner after successive penalties for Warriors at the breakdown and slick handling almost sent Draininiu away, only to be halted by a tap tackle, from Short's final flicked pass.

Spencer saw a penalty attempt strike the upright and bounce clear, but less than a minute alter made amends to send Saracens into what looked an unassailable 19-12 lead with time running out.

Warriors looked to keep the ball alive in the final five minutes to create an opening, but they were penalised for holding on and Spencer ended the clash as a contest with his fifth penalty of the afternoon.

Timeline:

03m Joubert t Spencer c 0-7

10m Spencer p 0-10

16m Cowan t Goode c 7-10

40m Spencer p 7-13

54m Drauniniu t 12-13

58m Spencer p 12-16

74m Spencer p 12-19

78m Spencer p 12-22

Warriors: 01 Ceri Jones (O'Donnell 63), 02 Aleki Lutui (Shervington 63), 03 John Andress (Currie 63), 04 James Percival, 05 Craig Gillies, 06 Richard de Carpentier (Best 55), 07 Jake Abbott, 08 Blair Cowan (Kvesic 55), 09 Jonny Arr (Hodgson 55), 10 Andy Goode, 11 David Lemi, 12 Josh Matavesi (Short 63), 13 Jon Clarke, 14 Josh Drauniniu, 15 Chris Pennell

Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Rob O'Donnell, 18 James Currie, 19 Neil Best, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Paul Hodgson, 22 Danny Gray, 23 Andy Short