WORCESTER WARRIORS 34

European Challenge Cup quarter final

Franklin’s Gardens

Saturday, April 1, 2006

In none of the three previous meetings between the Saints and Warriors this season had the home team won, and for much of this European Challenge Cup quarter-final the pattern looked in no danger of being ended as Worcester slowly took control in attack and defence.

The visitors were worth the win and showed a clinical edge that by and large eluded the Saints. Two plays just before the hour mark summed up the match. Dale Rasmussen had just put Worcester back in front for the fourth time when Bruce Reihana brilliantly eluded two tackles to weave his way into the visitors’ half. Jon Clarke chipped into space and with the line beckoning came within a hands-width of collecting the ball and scoring between the sticks. Instead the ball went forward, former Saint Shane Drahm slotted a penalty, and the Warriors then were in possession of a lead they would not give up.

To that point the match had been nip-and-tuck between two clubs with a history of such encounters, with the lead changing hands six times in the first half. Saints opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Paul Tupai, who dived over after Carlos Spencer’s jink and Sean Lamont’s drive had taken the hosts into striking range.

But from then until the half-hour it was all Worcester, as repeatedly – with second-row Phil Murphy to the fore – they called Saints’ defence into action. Two knock-ons around the fringe saved the home side, but there was the feeling that it was only a matter of time before the Warriors, aided by a series of penalties and lineouts, crossed the whitewash.

And so it proved. A drive steered by Pat Sanderson proved irresistible, and it fell to Thomas Lombard to crash over by the posts. Drahm added the extras and Worcester had a well-deserved lead.

Saints had seen precious little of the ball, but when they were awarded a penalty 45 metres out, Bruce Reihana stepped up to land a beautifully judged goal. The lead had been retaken, and a period of consolidation until half-time was required.

It did not materialise, as before the cheers had faded Worcester had crossed for a second try. Kai Horstmann, sent off in the clubs’ November meeting, collected the kick-off and charged forward. The ball was recycled quickly, Aisea Havili dotted down in the corner, and the visitors were ahead – although only for two minutes.

Saints emerged with the ball from the restart and Robinson charged down the right to within five metres. Clarke fed Spencer, who in turn found Reihana to score a well worked try. Reihana converted, but once again the lead was short-lived as Havili crossed in the Shrubbery Corner for his second score in six minutes. Thinus Delport’s blind pass inside to Gary Trueman split the defence in the build-up, and the Tongan’s try was a formality. Less so was the conversion, and with the swirling wind Drahm did well to hit the post. But the ball stayed out and Worcester went into the break 17-15 ahead.

Eight minutes into the second period and Saints were up once more, again through Tupai. The try rewarded powerful, controlled forward play set up by three penalties kicked to the corner and helped by Chris Fortey’s sin-binning.

But the conversion was missed, the seesawing refused to stop and five minutes later the lead changed hands once more. Lamont’s pulling up for offside had given the Warriors the perfect platform, and Rasmussen was the beneficiary of havoc created by Drahm’s grubber. The Australian converted and Saints were facing a four-point deficit with just over 20 minutes left, increased to seven by his aforementioned penalty.

Now needing two scores to win, Saints upped their effort and again came close to scoring when Chris Budgen was held up and David Quinlan turned over around the 70-minute mark. The hosts were keeping it tight at this stage, a tactic that perhaps did not make full use of the dry but blustery conditions, but nevertheless came within five metres of paying off.

However, Mike MacDonald’s smart thinking at the ruck base won the ball for the visitors and sparked a spectacular counter-attack in the process. And who else but Havili was at the end of the 95-metre move, put in by former Saint Tevita Taumoepeau to collect his hat-trick and seal the win.

Darren Fox scored a consolation try but Saints were out of Europe, and now have to rely on the Guinness Premiership for Heineken Cup qualification.

Teams:
Northampton Saints – Reihana (co-capt); Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan (Kydd 78mins), Cohen (Rudd 78mins); Spencer, Robinson; Smith (Barnard 74mins), Thompson (co-capt), Barnard (Budgen 40mins), Browne, Gerard (Lord 57mins), Tupai, Harding (Fox (54mins), Soden.

Worcester Warriors – Delport; Havili, Rasmussen, Lombard, Trueman; Drahm, Powell; Windo (MacDonald (61mins), Van Niekerk (C Fortey 40mins), Taumoepeau (L Fortey 85mins), Murphy (Blaze 74mins), Gillies, Vaili (L Fortey 55-61mins)(Taumoheloa 74mins), Sanderson (capt), Horstmann.

Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Tries: Tupai (2), Reihana, Fox; Con: Reihana; Pen: Reihana.

Worcester Warriors – Tries: Lombard, Havili (3), Rasmussen; Cons: Drahm (2); Pen: Drahm.

Yellow card:
Fortey (48mins)
Taumoheloa (86mins)

Travis Perkins man of the match:
Aisea Havili

Attendance:
9,531