WORCESTER SAINTS 44

TELFORD RAIDERS 10

AN outstanding display from man-of-the-match Richard Whitehouse, who scored two tries and four conversions, earned Worcester Saints their first rugby league victory of the season.

The home team completely dominated the match in what was described by the Worcester coach Jason Spafford as the best Saints performance in the last four years.

The Saints completely controlled the match against a confident Telford side scoring nine tries and restricting the visitors to two late scores.

Bad tempers and frustration marred the match both teams having a player sent off in separate incidents.

The Saints only took three minutes to take the lead when Manny Samra scored his first try of the season. The conversion was missed and Worcester had to wait a further 20 minutes before Steve Holmes doubled the lead.

The Raiders' cause wasn't helped by the 18th minute dismissal of second row Matt Smith.

With half time approaching Richard Whitehouse made up for his earlier missed conversions when he ran 60 metres to score in the corner.

Within minutes of the restart Steve Halbert ran the length of the pitch to score beneath the post, Whitehouse added the extra points.

The Raiders replied with a converted try before the Saints moved further into the lead with tries from Tom Child and Shaun Walker.

Worcester were then re-duced to 12 players with the dismissal of Steve Holmes.

Telford rallied briefly scoring an unconverted try before Mark Sheen, Grant Fraser and Whitehouse completed the scoring with a try apiece for the Saints.

Worcester: Tries: Manny Samra, Grant Fraser, Steve Holmes, Tom Child, Shaun Walker, Mark Sheen, Steve Halbert, Richard Whitehouse 2. Goals: Richard Whitehouse 4 from 9.

Next week Worcester travel to Bristol to play the Sonics.

The Bristol side had lost their opening two fixtures be-fore a surprise victory away at Oxford on Saturday.