KO
Dylan Hartley leads out the Saints, with Jonathan Thomas bringing out the Warriors. Stephen Myler kicks off, with Saints playing from right to left
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
2mins
Saints get the first decent possession and put the ball through the hands, going from left to right. But when Sam Dickinson fumbles the move breaks down, and with Tom Collins holding onto the ball after being tackled Warriors are awarded a penalty. Ignacio Mieres goes for goal, but pulls the kick badly to the left
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
4mins
The second penalty of the day also goes to Worcester, with a Saints defender being penalised for coming in from the side of a ruck. Mieres kicks to touch for a home lineout 20 metres out
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
6mins
Worcester's pack gets a decent drive before picking and going around the fringes. But they can't break down the Saints defence, which holds the ball up to win a scrum. On comes the power, up goes Mr Wigglesworth's arm and Myler clears to midfield for a Saints throw
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
9mins
After an exchange of kicks Saints go through patient phases, going from left to right to left again. Luther Burrell is involved a couple of times, but can't reach the bouncing ball from a Lee Dickson grubber and it's a Worcester 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
10mins
A poor dropout from Mieres bobbles off Salesi Ma'afu to Sam Dickinson, and after an initial charge a good Glenn Dickson pass and nice hands from Christian Day put Tom Collins away down the touchline. James Stephenson is beaten, but full back Chris Pennell recovers to force a lineout
WORCS 0 SAINTS 0
12mins
Paul Hodgson box kicks from the lineout, but it's not a good kick and returned with interest by Saints. Warriors infringe and Myler opens the scoring
WORCS 0 SAINTS 3
14mins
Some good work from the Warriors pack there. Saints won the kick off and set up a maul, but the hosts hold it up to give themselves a scrum in a decent attacking position, 30 metres out and 15 metres in from the far touch line. Saints concede a free kick for going early, but Warriors can't make the most of the opportunity, Josh Matavesi fumbling in midfield
WORCS 0 SAINTS 3
16mins
Like the first scrum, Saints do a number on Worcester this time, Alex Waller winning a penalty. Myler kicks to just outside the home 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 3
18mins
Saints go off the top, and while Ken Pisi is dragged down a couple of metres out he keeps the ball alive for his team mates to come back infield. Dom Waldouck throws a wild pass that is hacked clear, and Saints are somewhat fortunate that Mr Wigglesworth has come back for offside in midfield. The penalty is right in front of the sticks, Myler extends the lead
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
21mins
Collins is having a lively game and by taking a Hodgson box kick on the full and at pace he puts Saints back on the offensive. They go through more phases, but eventually it's Worcester who win a penalty for Mieres to clear
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
24mins
Worcester are trying to break through the Saints defence, but the lime green line is holding firm, forcing Dean Hammond into touch. Lee Dickson sends up a decent box kick from the lineout, which prompts some Warriors attacking, a defensive Glenn Dickson kick and a decent nudge from Matavesi into the visitors' 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
26mins
Saints win the lineout cleanly with Lee Dickson and Pisi combining nicely up the blindside. More play in the 15-metre channel takes Saints 20 metres further upfield before a stray Worcester hand knocks the ball on. Another scrum, another penalty to Saints, another good Myler kick upfield to just outside the home 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
27mins
A real pity for Saints, as a Pisi try is ruled out for a forward pass by the TMO. It was a lovely lineout move that sucked in the home pack, with Christian Day peeling off the back and feeding Lee Dickson. Pisi had cut a great line off his wing, but drifted in front at the last minute and play restarts with a Worcester put-in just outside their own 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
29mins
Worcester get the ball out of the scrum, but Hodgson can only clear a few metres upfield from a box kick. No matter, as Saints lose their first lineout for quite a while and the Warriors recover. Pennell then gets a let-off after tapping the ball back into the 22 before a long clearance that doesn't get pulled back. But Saints win a penalty at their own lineout and Myler kicks back to the home 22
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
32mins
Worcester's defence is considerably better than it had been at Sale last week, and Pisi's effort aside Saints have not been able to crack this particular nut. Eventually the Warriors win a penalty at a breakdown and Mieres puts his team on the front foot in Saints' half
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
34mins
That was a decent opportunity for Worcester, but a wild Mieres pass undoes the hard work that went before. Eventually a kick has to be sent up, and although Hammond recovers it Luther Burrell tackles the winger into touch for a Saints lineout 10 metres inside the home half
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
35mins
This time it is Saints who can't make the most of a decent position. They keep the ball alive well and go from one side to the other looking for a gap, but Ma'afu fumbles while going to ground and Worcester have a scrum on their own 10-metre line
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
37mins
The volume of Worcester's fans go up several notches as Pennell beats Glenn Dickson to a high Mieres bomb. But the supporting players can't keep up the momentum and Saints have a scrum
WORCS 0 SAINTS 6
38mins
It's taken some time but we finally have a try here at Sixways, and completely against the run of play it's gone to the hosts. Myler took too much time with a kick, Hodgson charged it down and Mieres recovered to go in between the sticks. The conversion is a formality and Worcester have the lead
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
40mins
The half ends with Worcester on the front foot. Mieres hits the crossbar with a long penalty, and Mariano Galarza recovers to take the ball within sight of the whitewash. Pennell tries to make the most of an overlap, but a great tackle from Waldouck brings down the full back, who concedes a penalty. Myler kicks to touch to end the first half
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
HT
After dominating the first half Saints have all of a sudden found themselves behind going into the break. Since scoring the try Worcester have had the bit between their teeth and Waldouck's tackle on Pennell saved what would have been a second score for the hosts. For Saints there have been some good aspects to their play, but aside from Pisi's non-try they have been unable to break a dogged Warriors outfit down
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
41mins
Saints receive the kick off from Mieres, with no changes to either team
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
42mins
Saints go through phases before Lee Dickson sends up a box kick. This is returned to the corner, but Collins feeds Glenn Dickson, who sends play back into the home half for a lineout
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
44mins
Saints send their first kickable penalty of the half to the corner, Dickinson having done some great work at a breakdown. But Burrell was somewhat lucky beforehand having dived on Hammond after chasing his own kick. Worcester make a change, Jeremy Su'a on for Hodgson
WORCS 7 SAINTS 6
46mins
Worcester do a good job holding out the lineout drive, and then the midfield defence remains resolute. But when a tackler fails to roll away at a breakdown in front of the sticks Myler goes for goal, putting Saints back in the lead
WORCS 7 SAINTS 9
50mins
One worrying aspect of Saints' play today has been an inconsistent kick chase, and with no challengers to a Myler bomb Pennell decides to run play back. Alex Grove chips and collects and a few phases later Worcester are on the Saints' line. A penalty is conceded by the visitors, Pennell goes for goal to re-take the lead. Worcester also make a change at hooker, Ed Shervington on for Chris Brooker
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
53mins
An exchange of kicks goes Saints' way as Mieres sends his second bomb in succession straight into touch. The first had been good, this one gives Saints a lineout 10 metres inside the home half. Changes - Paul Warwick for Mieres, Tom Mercey and Courtney Lawes on for Ma'afu and Christian Day
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
55mins
A good break up the blindside has Worcester rocking, and with a penalty conceded at a breakdown Myler kicks to the corner. It's a big moment, and while Lawes makes his first catch there is blocking at the start of the subsequent maul and instead of a drive it's a Warrior clearance to touch
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
57mins
The lack of a Saints chase is giving Warriors the time to run the ball back and get their team in the game. This time it's Warwick who sets off on a run, and although Hammond gets away the ball back inside is fumbled for a Saints scrum just outside their own 22. Phil Dowson comes on for Calum Clark
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
59mins
Saints take their time, but get the nudge on, and though the ball pops out it is from an unbound Worcester flanker, and Myler kicks his team midway inside the home half for a lineout. The ball comes cleanly from Dickinson, but Lee Dickson's pass to Burrell is forward and Worcester have the scrum
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
62mins
Another potentially big moment as Saints get a lineout five metres out. They did brilliantly to win the ball back from Worcester at a breakdown, and eventually Myler sends through a grubber that's taken into touch by a home player
WORCS 10 SAINTS 9
63mins
Finally a breakthrough! Worcester held out the initial drive, but Saints go through the phases patiently, Lee Dickson coming within inches before Samu Manoa diving over from close range. Myler converts
WORCS 10 SAINTS 16
66mins
A silly penalty conceded by Ofa Fainga'anuku allows Myler to push Saints into home territory once again. Dickinson wins the lineout superbly and the visitors go through the phases again. A penalty comes in midfield, Myler puts his team two scores in front for the first time
WORCS 10 SAINTS 19
68mins
Worcester's chase of the kick off is good, but they concede another penalty at a breakdown. Myler clears to the 10-metre line, but the throw is off line and Worcester get a scrum, which becomes a free kick as the new props, Ethan Waller and Mercey push early. The tap is taken, but Pennell fumbles as the ball goes wide and it's the visitors who get the put in
WORCS 10 SAINTS 19
70mins
Different Waller, same outcome, as Saints win another scrum penalty. Myler kicks to the 22
WORCS 10 SAINTS 19
72mins
More work for the TMO as Mr Wigglesworth goes upstairs after Collins slides in. Lovely interplay between Manoa and Dickson created the overlap, with Dowson giving the scoring pass for Collins's first senior try. Myler converts, and Saints ring more changes, Tom Stephenson replacing Burrell for his Aviva Premiership debut and Mike Haywood coming on for Hartley
WORCS 10 SAINTS 26
75mins
Stephenson has an immediate impact, giving a scoring pass as Saints make the most of a massive overlap. Tom Wood is the beneficiary, marking his first return to Sixways since leaving Worcester with a try. Myler's conversion is superb, and Saints are now chasing a bonus point with a few minutes still to play
WORCS 10 SAINTS 33
76mins
Another call for the TMO, this time to double check some foul play during a Worcester attack. Wood's tackle was a bit high, but the ball carrier was ducking into the tackle and anything more than a penalty would certainly have been harsh. Worcester get a decent position from the lineout, but can't make the most of it and send the ball into touch. Vasily Artemyev is on for Glenn Dickson at full back
WORCS 10 SAINTS 33
80mins
The game ends with a bit of a whimper, with neither side capitalising on their last pieces of possession. After having struggled to break down Worcester for an hour Saints have run away with this in the last quarter and deserve the win
WORCS 10 SAINTS 33
FT
The margin may have been comfortable, but this win has been far from easy. Worcester's try was against the run of play, for sure, but it roused Sixways into life and for the next 30 minutes the Warriors were very much in the contest. Still, fitness and patience told in the end and while Saints may be frustrated to not get the bonus point they didn't quite deserve it, if truth be told. A win is very much a win, and it's back to the Heineken Cup next week for the small matter of a home game against Leinster. See you there!
WORCS 10 SAINTS 33
TEAMS
WORCESTER Pennell; Stephenson, Grove, Matavesi, Hammond; Mieres, Hodgson; Fainga'anuku, Brooker, O'Donnell, Percival, Galarza, De Carpentier, Betty, Thomas (capt)
Replacements - Shervington, Porter, Andress, Williams, Jones, Su'a, Warwick, Stelling
SAINTS G Dickson; K Pisi, Waldouck, Burrell, Collins; Myler, L Dickson; A Waller, Hartley (capt), Ma'afu, Manoa, C Day, Clark, Wood, Dickinson
Replacements - Haywood, E Waller, Mercey, Lawes, Dowson, A Day, Artemyev, Stephenson
REFEREE Tim Wigglesworth
ATTENDANCE 7,808
TIMELINE
2mins WORCS Miss pen Mieres
12mins SAINTS Pen Myler 0-3
18mins SAINTS Pen Myler 0-6
38mins WORCS Try Mieres Con Mieres 7-6
40mins WORCS Miss pen Mieres
HALF-TIME WORCESTER 7 SAINTS 6
51mins WORCS Pen Pennell 10-6
63mins SAINTS Try Manoa Con Myler 10-16
66mins SAINTS Pen Myler 10-19
72mins SAINTS Try Collins Con Myler 10-26
74mins SAINTS Try Wood Con Myler 10-33
FULL-TIME WORCESTER 10 SAINTS 33
