Saturday, September 28, 2002

IT may well go unnoticed by rugby's power brokers locked away in their Premiership Bastille but something special happened in this suburb of Greater Manchester.

Worcester Rugby Club dismissed the threat of Manchester without too many hitches but amid their 10-try demolition came a moment of magic.

They were already 21-0 up when, on 26 minutes, Jim Jenner picked the ball up in his own 22 to begin a move of sublime quality.

David Officer ended it via contributions from Nnamdi Ezulike, Chris Garrard, Werner Swanepoel, Chris Hall and James Brown to score one of the best tries you are likely to see anywhere this season as the ball was passed 80 metres up and across the field.

It was not just one in the eye for rugby's aristocracy, who would happily deny Worcester access to the Premiership, more of a revolutionary bloody nose.

Manchester will pull up few trees in National One but it shouldn't take anything away from Worcester who, on this evidence, will seriously threaten Rotherham's crown.

The league champions will point to the fact that Manchester scored four tries against the Warriors but it is incidental when you look at the bigger picture. Worcester have now scored 128 points in their last two away games and going forward they look irresistible.

Duncan Roke set them on their way with another one for the scrapbook when he collected a defensive clearance on 30 metres and proceeded to scamper past the whole Manchester midfield before touching down. James Brown added the extra points and, soon after, Tony Windo made it two tries in successive matches when he finished off a move featuring fellow pack men Mark Gabey and Dan Zaltzman. Brown made it 14-0 and the visitors were out of the traps at pace. Gavin Pfister then embarrassed a sleeping Manchester defence with a quick tap penalty and Brown's conversion put them 21-0 ahead.

Following Officer's wondrous score, Manchester hit back with two tries in as many minutes as Karl Long and Alex Alesbrook took advantage of some generous defending to keep the home side in touch at the break.

Coaches John Brain and Andy Keast brought on Richard Bates and Jon Higgins for the second half and the changes took just 26 seconds to take effect. Straight from the kick off, Bates slammed open the defence, Higgins found Ezulike at pace and the flying winger left all in his wake as he made it five for the day. Higgins converted and, two minutes later, prop Adrian Olver got in on the act when he finished off a move sparked by Swanepoel's thrust.

Bates' introduction was becoming increasingly significant as he smashed holes in the midfield at every opportunity and once again Roke was on hand to turn on the power as he claimed his second try and Worcester's seventh of the afternoon.

In truth, they were now scoring almost at will and Officer's second, on 52 minutes, was simply the product of regulation passing and sheer speed as the Scot raced 60 metres to touch down. Higgins made it 54-12 before combining well with substitute John O'Reilly in a training ground set up for Officer to bag his hat-trick. It was the centre's second treble in consecutive away days and cemented his place as the club's top scorer on seven for the season.

The impressive Hall then took advantage of some tired Manchester play to set up Officer who, unselfishly, put in the hardworking Ezulike for his second of the day. Higgins converted but there was still time for the home side to claim a point from the match as Martin Worthington added to Dave Muckalt's second half try to keep just about everyone happy at Grove Park.

It was a game which will be remembered for some mesmerising tries but, in the wake of last weekend's officiating shambles, it must be mentioned that referee Trevor Fisher stood out a mile - by remaining completely anonymous.

Worcester: Roke 8, Ezulike 8, Trueman 7, OFFICER 9, Garrard 6, Brown 6, Swanepoel 7; Windo 8, Hall 8, Olver 8, Zaltzman 7, Morgan 8, Gabey 6, Pfister 7, Jenner 8.

Replacements: O'Reilly 7 (Swanepoel 48), Hinshelwood 6 (Roke 48), Higgins 7 (Brown 40), Davis 6 (Olver 61), Pearson, Bates 8 (Gabey 40), Nias 6 (Pfister 53).

Man of the match: David Officer -- second hat trick of the season . . . already!