Worcester 37 Otley 12

TONGAN Sateki Tuipulotu rattled up another 22 points to lead Worcester to a convincing 37-12 win over Otley yesterday.

The full back-cum-winger was once again the star of the show as the Sixways side kept their six-point advantage over Leeds Tykes intact at the top of National Division One with a performance which at times hit the heights but also sank to the depths.

Adrian Skeggs's champions-elect were outstanding in the final 20 minutes of the first half, playing the best rugby seen at Sixways this season.

However, with four tries and a bonus point in the bag, his side let their foot slip alarmingly off the accelerator in the second half, failing to add any points to their 37-3 half-time lead.

Indeed, visiting Otley won the second period 9-0 - a worrying statistic for the Gold'n'Blues because the Yorkshire team were without doubt the poorest side seen at Worcester this season.

Promoted to National One this year, they came into the game with the worst defensive record and it was easy to see why.

Tuipulotu put the home side 6-0 up with two well struck penalties within the first seven minutes as Worcester looked to put last week's cup exit at Saracens to the back of their minds.

However, Otley could have brought those memories flooding back after 12 minutes when former Sixways star Lee Denham looked certain to go through for a try only to knock the ball on with the line six yards away.

They narrowed the gap soon after though as James Lofthouse slotted home a penalty.

Tuipulotu put Worcester six points ahead again with another penalty in the 16th minute.

Five minutes later, Worcester finally penetrated Otley's defence as hooker Andrew Lamerton powered over for his fourth try of the season.

Tuipulotu converted as Worcester began to relax and play some entertaining rugby.

However, handling errors were still apparent as first Ally McLean and then Lamerton spilled the ball when in good positions to score.

The home side were not to be denied though and after a good spell of possession, Tuipulotu jinked past two challenges to touch down. He then converted his own try before linking magnificently with the returning Earl Va'a for a fine try two minutes later.

The Somoan, back after four weeks out with a hand injury, passed to Tuipulotu on the right wing before getting the return and running through. Tuipulotu converted as Worcester began to turn on the style.

If the supporters thought Va'a's try was good though - the next one was a real treat. In a move which involved 20 passes, Worcester passed the ball right to left before skipper Alistair Murdoch administered the coup de grace after a trademark 20-metre sprint for the line.

It was his ninth try of the season and reward for a sparkling display.

Tuipulotu kept his 100 per cent kicking record with the conversion and Worcester went in at the break buoyed by a 37-3 lead and a precious bonus point already in place.

However, if you saw the best of Worcester in the first half, you certainly saw the worst in the second.

The only scores came from Otley with Lofthouse bagging two penalties and a cracking dropped goal.

The nine points narrowed the gap to 37-12 but realistically, the visitors were never in the game after the first half.

Come to think of it though, Worcester might as well not have been for the final 40 minutes. A repeat of that at London Welsh on Saturday and they could well be licking their wounds after another defeat down south.

Worcester: Back, Tuipulotu (Baxter 58), Murdoch, Keil, McLean, Va'a, Jarman (Simpson-Daniel 58), Windo, Lamerton (Moretti 68), Lyman, Sims (Zaltzman 68), Denhardt, Evans (Broughton 72), Carter, Fryday