Saturday, October 16, 2004

AS an occasion this was a spectacular success.

Worcester pushed Gloucester all the way in this titanic tussle and only when referee Roy Maybank blew for the final time did the Cherry and Whites know they were safe.

Up until then, they played second fiddle to a Warriors side inspired by a combative scrum and line-out plus a rugged defence.

Ultimately, that wasn't quite enough to register their second success of this Premiership campaign but they were mighty impressive.

The game was utterly compelling from the moment the teams ran out to a phenomenal full house reception amid a wild kaleidoscope of colour. It was the sort of atmosphere which had the hairs on the back of your neck dancing to the sheer electricity as the occasion took hold. The first ever Worcester-Gloucester derby and it was some spectacle.

So much so that even England head coach Andy Robinson was in attendance to scan for potential back row candidates including Worcester's own Pat Sanderson who enjoyed another energetic afternoon.

Sanderson was in his element, making tackles galore and, with Maybank in full flow with some baffling decisions, the flanker had a hectic day with his familiar refereeing question and answer session.

Certainly, the former Quins man had to be on his toes against a Gloucester back-line which looked ready to explode into life at any moment. With Duncan McRae, Terry Fanolua and Henry Paul asking the most searching questions of Worcester's defensive substance, it was quite a test for the Premiership new boys.

However, despite McRae's second minute drop goal and Tim Collier's yellow card 10 minutes later for line-out shenanigans, Worcester took full advantage of some outrageous luck.

With the ball curiously popping out of a Gloucester ruck and into the hands of Tony Windo, the prop was suddenly faced with a 20-metre dash to the line. He did it with aplomb as he chugged under the posts to give James Brown the easiest of conversions. It was some moment for the former Kingsholm favourite and, as Sixways erupted, the Warriors were, incredibly, in control.

Henry Paul's penalty cut the deficit before half time only for Brown to add his own three-pointer, two minutes into the second period, to put Worcester 10-6 ahead. However, within the space of five minutes, Gloucester moved through the gears to, ultimately, put them out of sight.

First, Paul had enough gas to finish off and then convert Gloucester's move of the match and, after McRae's grubber kick, full back Jon Goodridge was first to the ball to give the visitors an 18-10 lead.

It was never enough to be comfortable, however, once Brown had added another penalty. As the temperature rose amid a frenzied finish, Steve Sparks and Phil Vickery were shown yellow for handbags as Worcester piled on the pressure.

Penalty after penalty, drive after drive and the Warriors were almost there until Maybank had the final say of the match. Lee Fortey's indiscipline in stoppage time led to a critical penalty reversal and Worcester's last chance had disappeared.

Gloucester left Sixways with the points but, as the final whistle echoed around the stadium, few would question the match as a contest.

This was an absolutely gripping sporting drama and one which, undeniably, has enriched the Premiership calendar.

Worcester: Delport 7; O'Leary 6, Rasmussen 8, Lombard 8, Hinshelwood 7; Brown 8, Powell 7; Windo 9, Van Niekerk 6, Horsman 8, Collier 6, Gillies 7, Gabey 7, Sanderson 8, Hickey 6.Replacements: Sparks (Windo 74), Fortey (Horsman 80), Daly 7 (Van Niekerk 21), Vaili 6 (Collier 69), Gollings (Kepu 79), Stuart-Smith, Kepu 5 (O'Leary 60). Man of the match: Tony Windo.