WORCESTER WARRIORS 39

WANDERERS 17

Guinness ‘A’ League

Sixways

Monday, March 19, 2007

Although the hail and wind had abated by the time kick-off came around, a quick glance at the team sheets indicated a long night for the visitors. Worcester had nine first teamers to the Wanderers’ five, and the visitors’ inexperienced back row was always going to struggle against a home trio including Gavin Quinnell.

Nevertheless the visitors tried manfully to stay in touch and the tackle of the first half was a try-saver on Quinnell by John Brake, although an effort by the returning Rob Laird on Charley Fellows came close. Brake also created the Wanderers’ first points with a clever strip and run that won a penalty converted by Matthieu Bourret.

However by that time Worcester had already scored two tries through Quinnell and James Collins. Bourret’s success was also followed four minutes later by a third home try for Tom Woods and at 17-3 a rout looked a distinct possibility.

But the Wanderers stuck at their task and twice threatened with backline interplay between Will Harries and Matt O’Regan. And with the clock ticking into injury-time Adam Barnard strolled over between the sticks for a try that rewarded the visitors’ hard work.

Bourret converted but Phil Hoy’s yellow card, Simon Whatling’s subsequent penalty and conversion of Quinnell’s second try saw the teams head into the break with Worcester 27-10 ahead.

Despite now playing into the returning wind and a heavy flurry of sleet – and still being down to 14 men – the Wanderers started the second half brightly with Laird to the fore. And it was he who scored the next try, helped by a good bounce. Bourret converted this and the visitors were back to within 10 points.

Worcester did have a scare following Quinnell’s hat-trick try thanks to yellow cards for Matt Cox and Callum Black in quick succession which gave the Wanderers possession on the home line. But a penalty conceded 15 metres out gave Worcester not just the chance to clear, but with Whatling’s massive clearance the platform to score their next try through Ben Gotting from a five-metre line-out.

That try came just past the hour, and despite returning to a full complement Worcester couldn’t score again. But neither could the Wanderers and the match ended at 39-17.

Teams:
Worcester Warriors – Whatling (Grove 69mins); Garvey, Avramovic, Feaunati (Mullan 80mins), Fellows (Lombard 49mins); Carlisle, Powell (Runciman 40mins); Fortey (capt)(Tideswell 23mins), Gotting, Black, Blaze (McDonald 65mns), Bowley, Quinnell (Mullan 60-73mins), Collins (Cox 47mins), Wood.

Wanderers – Harries; Bourret, Laird (Pointon 52mins), Barnard, O’Regan; Myring (Lavery 40mins), Brake; Beech, Richmond (capt), Budgen, Rae, Hoy, Visagie (Wareing 32mins), Ripol (Laws 51mins), Burke.

Scorers:
Worcester Warriors – Tries: Quinnell (3), Collins, Wood, Gotting; Cons: Carlisle, Whatling (2); Pen: Whatling.

Wanderers – Tries: Barnard, Laird; Cons: Bourret (2); Pen: Bourret.

Yellow cards:
Hoy (40+5mins)
Cox (56mins)
Black (59mins)

TIMELINE
3mins WORCS Try Quinnell 5-0
4mins WORCS Try Collins 10-0
6mins WAND Pen Bourret 10-3
10mins WORCS Try Wood Con Carlisle 17-3
40+2mins WAND Try Barnard Con Bourret 17-10
40+5mins WAND Yellow card Hoy (hands in the ruck)
40+6mins WORCS Pen Whatling 20-10
40+9mins WORCS Try Quinnell Con Whatling 27-10
HALF-TIME WORCESTER 27 WANDERERS 10
46mins WAND Try Laird Con Bourret 27-17
54mins WORCS Try Quinnell 32-17
56mins WORCS Yellow card Cox (killing the ball)
59mins WORCS Yellow card Black (killing the ball)
63mins WORCS Try Gotting Con Whatling 39-17
FULL-TIME WORCESTER 39 WANDERERS 17