Paddy Lennon reports from Sixways Stadium.
In a match where the starting line-ups of both teams were reasonably evenly matched albeit featuring some unfamiliar names, the outcome was likely to be determined by the team that took the chances that came its way. Yesterday at the ever-improving Sixways Stadium, it was the home team that created the chances and took them.
In the first half the Warriors created two try-scoring opportunities and crucially scored from them. London Irish on the other hand had one chance but nothing came of it. The Exiles did have two kickable penalties that would have put valuable points on the board but both were missed.
Two more kicks at goal went astray in the second half which meant that Irish had to rely on try-scoring for their points. Their solitary try came from a tap penalty quickly taken by the lively Peter Richards 14 minutes into the second period. The home team added two further tries.
Both coaches used this opening fixture in Pool C of the EDF Energy Cup to give a number of players essential game time and the chance to stake a claim to a place in the starting line-ups in Guinness Premiership and European competitions. Eleven of the 22 players in the London Irish match squad had not featured in a competitive fixture so far this season. James Bailey and James Buckland made their debuts since signing during the summer, Academy players Adam Thompstone, Jonathon Fisher, Tom Homer, Tom Parker and Charlie Gower made the first starts of their senior careers. Tomas de Vedia, Shane Geraghty and Clarke Dermody also made their first appearances of the season, the latter two having recovered from injuries picked-up in pre-season training.
The match started in damp conditions with a biting cold wind blowing from the Malvern Hillsto the west, on a pitch that had been soaked by heavy overnight/early morning rain. Just the kind of conditions where it was important to take control and ensure your team played on the front foot as much as possible.
Unlike in recent Premiership fixtures, Irish never established sufficient control of the game to allow them to generate consistent, forward momentum. When they had possession the ball was passed laterally and they struggled to cross the gain line.
Worcester on the other hand generated plenty of possession off an uncompromising pack and had a set of half backs in Ben and Matthew Jones that controlled the ball to telling effect. They were backed-up by Chris Latham at full back and even if the former Australian international has lost a metre or two of pace, he more than compensates in terms of experience and expertise.
Irish had a fair share of possession in the opening quarter and regularly crossed into the Warriors’ half of the pitch where they met a well organised and committed defence. When they won control of the ball the home looked dangerous in attack with the experienced centre Sam Tuitupou and winger Miles Benjamin always a threat.
The young England star showed his pace and strength in the 16th minute when he touched down for his team’s first try. Mathew Jones kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Irish attacked from the re-start and the energetic Gary Johnson was unlucky to be pulled down when he broke from a lineout on the right. In the 20th minute Irish were awarded a penalty for offside in the middle of the field, 25 metres from the Worcester posts, Eoghan Hickey’s kick went wide of the right upright.
The platform usually supplied by the set pieces failed to function for either team as both struggled in the lineout and scrum. The result was a scrappy sequence of play that the home team narrowly had the better of.
Worcester’s second try in the 30th minute came after another telling drive through the Irish defence by Tuitupou. He found second row Graham Kitchener and the 19-year-old powered through to touch down. Jones failed with the conversion to leave the score at 12-0.
The final exchanges of the opening period were taken up with an injury to Tomas De Vedia who had to retire from the action with a dislocated shoulder; the sin-binning of Worcester flanker Jake Abbott for a late tackle on Richards and the resulting kickable penalty being missed by Hickey.
Clarke Dermody replaced Faan Rautenback at half-time for Irish and it was good to see the All Black return to action. Charlie Gower took over from the injured De Vedia.
Worcester set about extending their lead from the re-start and Irish had to defend and respond to well directed tactical kicking by Jones and Latham. The Australian star gave Irish another opportunity to get some points on the scoreboard when he has penalised for not releasing the ball in the 47th minute. Hickey failed once again from another scoring position.
The home team, reinforced by a series of replacements, continued to have the better quality possession. Enterprising breaks by Richard Thorpe and Charlie Gower gave the small contingent of travelling Exiles’ fans something to shout about. They were cheered by Peter Richards’ characteristic quick tap penalty and mazy run through the home defence that resulted in Irish’s try in the 54th minute. Hickey missed the relatively straightforward conversion to leave the score at 12-5.
Just on the hour Worcester launched another multi-phase attack which finished with Benjamin crossing the whitewash in the left corner for his team’s third try. Jones missed the conversion.
The quality of the game didn’t improve in the final quarter as a series of replacements by both teams disrupted what pattern there was. The home team had the better of the territory and possession. A three to one overlap in the 73rd minute on the left should have brought a fourth try for the Warriors but they were called back for a forward pass. That only delayed the inevitable for two minutes as replacement back Loki Crichton drove over on the left in the 76th minute for the bonus point-winning score. Jones missed from the touchline to leave the final score 22-5.
Scorers: Worcester Warriors: Tries: Benjamin 2 (16, 61), Kitchener (30), Crichton (76); Conversion: Jones.London Irish: Try: Richards (67).
Scoring sequence (Worcester first): 7-0, 12-0 (half-time) 12-5, 17-5, 22-5.
Worcester Warriors: 15. C Latham (captain)(rep: L Crichton, 67), 14. C Fellows, 13. A Grove, 12. S Tuitupou, 11. M Benjamin, 10. M Jones (rep: J Carlisle, 76) , 9. B Jones (rep: J Arr, 50), 1. D Morris (rep: S Ruwers, 50), 2. C Fortey (rep: A Lutui, 50), 3. C Horsman, 4. G Kitchener (rep: G Rawlinson, 62), 5. C Gillies, 6. M Cox, 7. J Abbott (sin-bin: 39-49), 8. N Talei (rep: T Wood, 62).
London Irish: 15. J Bailey, 14. T De Vedia (rep: C Gower, 37), 13. D Shabbo, 12. S Geraghty (rep: T Homer, 60), 11. A Thompstone, 10. E Hickey, 9. P Richards (rep: T Parker, 71), 1. D Murphy, 2.J Buckland, 3. F Rautenbach (rep: C Dermody, h-t) , 4. G Johnston, 5. B Casey (captain)(rep: C Hala’Ufia, 64), 6. J Fisher, 7. D Danaher, 8. R Thorpe.
Referee: Mr R Maybank (RFU)
Attendance: 7,422