WORCESTER ACADEMY 22

SAINTS ACADEMY 7

Friendly

Sixways

Monday, March 6, 2006

Diggin made the most of his 20-minute run-out - his first action since New Year's Day - and looked to get involved at every opportunity. "I'm glad I got through it," he said afterwards. "Obviously I'm a bit ring-rusty. But I'll be looking to get a good week's training in and be back next week against Henley."

Two first-half sinbinnings proved crucial. In the 25th minute Matt Grove saw yellow for holding on five metres short of his line, and in the 37th minute Mark Hopley followed, this time for a late tackle. And both times Worcester took full advantage, scoring tries through Greg Evans and Jamie Lennard while Saints had a reduced complement.

Evans' try - which Lennard converted - was set up by Will Morgan, and the Warriors fly-half and centre combination was to be a thorn in Saints' side all match. But it was second-row Tom Wood's charge a few minutes after the break that pointed to a long second half for the visitors. Fortunately a pass in the next phase was ruled forward, and instead it was this that set the tone.

Worcester had the edge throughout the second half and on more than one occasion Saints had to rely on Ben Patston's long clearance kicks to reduce the pressure. The deadlock was only broken in the 73rd minute, thanks to a Saints mistake. A pass in Worcester's half went to ground and was hacked ahead. Dom Wareing swept up but was penalised, and, from the kick to the corner, James Collins was driven over, Harry Owens converting.

Wareing made amends immediately after Simon Pitfield had recovered the kick-off, handing off a despairing tackle on his way to the posts. Patston converted and Saints had turned their only genuine second-half chance into points. Owens had the final say though, slotting a 79th minute penalty.

Teams:
Worcester Academy - Lennard; Oduoza, C Robinson, Evans, Freeman; Morgan, Hallam; Whitehall, Clunis (capt), Tideswell, Payne, Wood, Collins, O Jones, Brown.
Replacements (all used) - White, Samra, Hughes, Southall, W Jones, Owens, A Robinson, Bryan, Rowley, Ridgers.

Saints Academy - Elliot; Chester, Barnard, Diggin (Wareing 20mins), Maggs; Patston, Bishop; Beech (Laws 56mins), Grove (Beech 79mins), Bassett, Pitfield (Laws 28-38mins), Rae (Burke 63mins), Powell, Yellowlees (Grey 28-38mins)(Hodgkins 56mins), Hopley (capt)(Grey 67mins).

Scorers:
Worcester Academy - Tries: Evans, Lennard, Collins; Cons: Lennard, Owens; Pen: Owens.

Saints Academy - Try: Wareing; Con: Patston.

Yellow cards:
Grove (25mins)
Hopley (37mins)

CLOCKWATCH:
27mins Saints: Yellow card Grove
29mins Worcs: Try Evans Con Lennard 7-0
37mins Saints: Yellow card Hopley
40+3mins Worcs: Try Lennard 12-0
H-T 12-0
73mins Worcs: Try Collins Con Owens 19-0
74mins Saints: Try Waring Con Patston 19-7
79mins Worcs: Pen Owens 22-7