Saturday, January 1 , 2005

MATT Powell began this Premiership adventure as Worcester's third choice scrum-half.

On Saturday, he was once again hailed as the Sixways saviour. The hero of that momentous October victory over Harlequins put in another master class on New Year's Day as Irish were downed and Worcester hauled themselves off the Premiership deck.

All the talk at the start of the Warriors' campaign was the emerging talent of new signing Clive Stuart-Smith. We were told it was only a matter of time before a full England cap arrived, such was his growing reputation. But would it be so fanciful to think of Powell on such an elevated stage?

The key for the former Quins man, you suspect, is consistency. He has proved to be the catalyst for victories against his former employers and now the Irish. On Saturday's inspired form, he once again looked something special.

The 26-year-old began the ball rolling when he charged down Michael Horak's 25th minute clearance to sprint through and touch down. His intelligent box kicks put Irish on the back foot all afternoon, he looked dangerous on the break while his superb second-half pass set up Thomas Lombard for Worcester's second try. It was the score which ultimately killed off any thought of an Irish comeback and sealed a priceless fourth victory of the campaign for the Sixways club.

"We all knew we could beat London Irish," said Powell. "Our front five dominated in the scrum and all over the park. It made my life pretty easy because we did kick a lot.

"We were quite conscious that it was not the best weather to throw the ball around. In the two previous games, we'd tried to go around Irish. We wanted to pin them down in their 22 and, for the first time in the three games, we got a lead and we managed to hold on to it.

"Personally, this is the first time at Worcester that I've been playing most weeks. I've enjoyed that and you start to feel confidence when you think you're going to be picked for the next week.

"I'm reasonably happy with that but, then again, Clive Stuart-Smith and Neil Cole are two very good scrum-halves. I went from third choice at the start of the season straight into the Harlequins game so you're only a poor match away from being third choice again.

"I'm definitely not complacent about it!"

Worcester certainly couldn't afford that luxury against the Irish at a rain-sodden Sixways. Tommy Hayes, in at fly-half because of James Brown's concussion concern, traded penalties with Mark Mapletoft in the opening 13 minutes to give the Warriors a 6-3 lead.

However, after Powell's 25th minute solo effort, Worcester were forced to defend for long periods particularly in the closing minutes of the half following Tim Collier's yellow card for a line-out offence.

They may have been living on the edge of a penalty try for those closing moments on their own line but, crucially, they kept the Irish out and held on in the second-half before Collier's return.

All that Irish could muster was a penalty from replacement Barry Everitt and Worcester, buoyed by their dominance in the set piece, took full advantage on the hour. Brad MacLeod-Henderson stole Irish ball in the line-out and, after two minutes of constant pressure, Powell spun the ball out to Lombard for the telling try.

It was greeted by rapturous scenes among the 8,477 sell-out crowd and another glorious chapter in this historic season was written.

It was yet more evidence that this engrossing story is perhaps heading for a happy ending after all.

Worcester: Delport 7; O'Leary 8, Rasmussen 8, Lombard 7, Pieters 6; Hayes 7, POWELL 9; Windo 8, Van Niekerk 8, Horsman 8, Collier 7, Gillies 7, Hickey 7, Sanderson 7, MacLeod-Henderson 7.

Replacements: Fortey 6 (Windo 62), Hall 6 (Van Niekerk 67), Vaili 6 (MacLeod-Henderson 67), Gabey, Cole, Hinshelwood, Trueman.

Man of the match: MATT POWELL - Another inspired display by the scrum-half.

Attendance: 8,477.