The Welsh region were on course to secure a second pre-season victory, after their one-point triumph over Free State Cheetahs in South Africa, when Ceri Sweeney fired over a long-range penalty following Tom Williams’ hat-trick.
But they failed to secure the restart Ollie Frost sniped over in the last minute to snatch the win.
“Despite the result I was pleased with the performance,” said Davies.
“The boys displayed a lot of spirit and tenacity which is all you can ask for as a coach.
“Worcester brought a very experienced team. Just in their forwards they had eight internationals on display and it showed.
“But we coped reasonably well and lots of the things we have been working on came through.
“Overall we are improving. Only a week ago we were in Bloemfontein, so the boys deserve credit for what they have done.
“It would have been sweeter if we had got the result but knowing the team they were bringing I would have taken that score before the game.”
The Blues enjoyed a bright start and dominated the early exchanges with young trio Lewis Jones, Rhys Patchell and Dan Fish all prominent in attack.
They were rewarded for their early enterprise with a penalty which Jason Tovey duly slotted – his first points for the region since moving from Newport Gwent Dragons.
But the hard work was instantly undone when they were penalised at the restart and former England fly-half Andy Goode levelled the scores.
Worcester piled on the pressure but were hampered by mistakes in the final quarter as the Blues hung on.
Goode edged the visitors into the lead and they eventually got their breakthrough when Semisi Taulava powered over following a driving lineout.
Cardiff were hampered by their miss-firing lineout and Worcester continued to lay seige. But the Blues pounced with a break-away try.
The Warriors coughed up possession and Macauley Cook cantered clear before drawing the covering defence and releasing Williams, the brother of Wales international Lloyd, for his first.
Tovey added the extras but the Warriors again responded. Taulava made the initial inroads and Ravai Fatiaki threw a pinpoint pass to Errie Claassen, who offloaded for Chris Pennell to score.
Goode again added the extras to bring the scores to 20-10 at the interval, with the Blues fielding an almost entirely changed side in the second-half.
Ceri Sweeney made an early break to provide the opening for the Blues’ second try. The ball was spread wide for Williams to squeeze in the corner.
And the electric wing pounced for his hat-trick with ten minutes to spare, intercepting Joe Carlisle’s pass to race 80 metres. Sweeney added the extras to put the Blues in the lead and exchanged penalties with Carlisle.
But with less than a minute to spare the Blues failed to secure the restart and Frost sniped over from close-range.
The Blues next face Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday but are likely be without Chris Czekaj.
The wing-cum-fullback turned his left ankle in the second-half and is in a protective boot. He will undergo scans today.
Cardiff Blues
First half
D Fish; T James, G Evans (c), R Patchell, T Williams; J Tovey, L Jones; N Trevett, R Williams, B Bourrust, L Reed, J Down, M Cook, J Navidi, A Pretorious
Second-half
C Czekaj; O Williams, G Evans (c), G Davies, T Williams; C Sweeney, R Lewis; T Filise, A Kyriacou, S Andrews R Copeland, J Down, R Watts-Jones, T Young, A Pretorious.
Tries – T Williams (3); Cons – J Tovey, C Sweeney; Pens – J Tovey, C Sweeney.
Worcester Warriors: C Pennell, E Claasses, J Clarke (A Grove, 62), R Fatiaki (J Matavesi, 45), B Howard (J Nellany); A Goode (J Carlisle, 60), S Perry (O Frost, 62); C Jones (M Mullan 39-40, 62), A Lutui (O Hayes 62), J Currie, D Schofield (J Percival 76), J Percival (C Gillies 62), C Jones, S Betty, S Taulava (B Cowan)
Replacements: 16 Ollie Hayes, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Ryan Furniss, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Josh Matavesi, 24 Alex Grove, 25 Joe Nellany
Tries – S Tualava, C Pennell, O Frost; Cons – A Goode (2), J Carlisle; Pens – A Goode (2), J Carlisle.
Referee: Gwyn Morris
Attendance 4,539Â
