WANDERERS 34
WORCESTER WARRIORS 27
Guinness ‘A’ League
Franklin’s Gardens
Monday, April 2, 2007
The Wanderers got off to a flying start and a penalty in the first attack was kicked to the corner. The forwards won the lineout, collected themselves and drove Matt Burke over for the first try in only the third minute. Matthieu Bourret’s conversion made it 7-0, and though Jamie Lennard’s penalty six minutes later pulled three points back, the next try opportunity fell to the hosts.
It was a marvellous piece of counter-attacking opportunism following a 20-metre Worcester maul. The ball was spilled and following Adam Barnard’s successful chip and chase Grant Anderson sent Beyers Visagie towards the line.
Unfortunately Charlie Fellows’ covering tackle won Worcester a penalty and the immediate danger was cleared. Nevertheless the home attacking remained constant and a Bourret penalty increased the lead to 10-3.
This became 15-3 on the half-hour when Will Harries – who had looked lively thus far – glided through the Worcester defence on the halfway line. It became a straight foot race between the home full-back and Marcel Garvey. And though the desperate Garvey caught up it was Harries who was victorious with a memorable try.
The forwards again created a third try before the break by winning a five-metre scrum against the head. Luke Myring side-stepped over the line, as did Charlie Beech in the seventh minute of injury time. Bourret converted the first but not the latter and the Wanderers went into half time not only with a healthy 27-3 lead but the bonus point as well.
Worcester got the early score they needed when Charlie Fellows dived over in the right corner. But eight minutes later the Wanderers replied in the best way possible. Bourret charged down Joe Carlisle’s attempted clearance and with men to spare on the right Adam Barnard’s try was a formality. Bourret’s conversion was good and the score going into the final quarter was 34-8.
Warrior replacement Uche Oduoza’s defensive qualities had already been demonstrated with good tackles on Bourret and Grant Anderson. But his running soon set up territory for Worcester deep in the home 22 and eventually a try for Callum Black which Lennard converted.
This brought Worcester back to 34-15 but with eight minutes left Daniel Browne’s yellow card gave the visitors the impetus to score two late tries through Fellows and Haloti Molatika that won Worcester two bonus points.
Teams:
Wanderers – Harries; O’Regan (Jones 48mins), Barnard, Anderson (Moore 68mins), Bourret (Lavery 64mins); Myring, Marczewski; Beech (Laws 73mins), Richmond (capt), Jenkins (Beech 76mins (Grey 79mins)), Cannon, Hoy, Visagie (Browne 40mins), Burke (Ives 53mins), Rae.
Worcester Warriors – Lennard; Garvey (Oduoza 40mins), Whatling (Grove 66mins), Rennie (Runciman 84mins), Fellows; Carlisle, Arr; Black, Mullan (Deacon 79mins), Gilding (Page 33mins), Collier (MacDonald 38mins), Bowley (Molatika 70mins), Everett, Hughes, Wood (capt).
Scorers:
Wanderers – Tries: Burke, Harries, Myring, Beech, Barnard; Cons: Bourret (3); Pen: Bourret.
Worcester Warriors – Tries: Fellows (2), Black, Molatika; Cons: Lennard (2); Pen: Lennard.
TIMELINE:
3mins WAND Try Burke Con Bourret 7-0
9mins WORCS Pen Lennard 7-3
25mins WAND Pen Bourret 10-3
30mins WAND Try Harries 15-3
40+2mins WAND Try Myring Con Bourret 22-3
40+7mins WAND Try Beech 27-3
HALF-TIME WANDERERS 27 WORCESTER 3
48mins WORCS Try Fellows 27-8
56mins WAND Try Barnard Con Bourret 34-8
65mins WORCS Try Black Con Lennard 34-15
72mins WAND Yellow card Browne
79mins WORCS Try Fellows Con Lennard 34-22
82mins WORCS Try Molatika 34-27
FULL-TIME WANDERERS 34 WORCESTER 27
