Bath 24 Worcester 16: Bath won their first trophy for 10 years to give departing England internationals Steve Borthwick and Olly Barkley a dream send-off.
England and Bath captain Borthwick held aloft the European Challenge Cup following a fascinating Kingsholm final highlighted by its punishing physical nature.
Despite an erratic refereeing display from French official Christophe Berdos, Bath did enough to deny Worcester a victory that would have secured Heineken Cup qualification next season.
Harlequins will now take England's sixth Heineken Cup place, joining Bath, Gloucester, Leicester, Wasps and Sale Sharks.