Saturday, January 4, 2003

THE sight of Mark Gabey leaving the Sixways field with a broken arm soured what had been a hugely positive afternoon for Worcester.

Ten tries against Coventry was an impeccable way to start 2003 and underlined just how devastating Worcester's backs can be when they are given the platform to perform.

Part of that platform, however, was pulled from under their feet on the half hour when, after crashing to the floor awkwardly following a tackle, Gabey was led from the field with his arm in a splint.

It was a cruel blow for coaches John Brain and Andy Keast who saw Richard Bates drop out of first team contention last month with a dislocated shoulder as their back row problems continue to haunt them.

The only welcome relief was that Christian Evans - out for two months following his dislocated collarbone - made a successful comeback as a replacement for Gabey and now looks a certainty to start at Orrell on Saturday.

Gabey's absence, though, has come at exactly the wrong time for Worcester as they go into a crunch January period which will test their promotion credentials all the way.

"Mark's injury is a huge blow, absolutely huge," said Keast.

"Everyone saw against Coventry what a big player he is for us. He missed pre-season after coming back from his knee operation and he is just coming into his own now. We are not having much luck in that department. It seems as though we're a bit cursed."

It was a pity that Gabey's injury was the main talking point afterwards because some of the action on the field had been top drawer.

Chris Garrard claimed another hat-trick at Sixways while Ben Hinshelwood again showed the class which has made him a Scottish international. There was no masking the fact though that this Coventry side was a mere shadow of the type of team we are used to from Coundon Road. Their set piece was appalling and, on three occasions in the first half, their fly half Luis Criscuolo's kick-off was simply an open invitation for Worcester to counter and score.

Indeed, they found themselves 34-0 up after 33 minutes following some of the most fluent rugby you are likely to see at National One level. Martin Morgan started it all off on six minutes when he took advantage of good work by Tim Walsh and Gabey. Hinshelwood then shimmied his way to the line from 45 metres before Garrard ended the move of the match when Worcester moved the ball from their 22-metre line to the goal-line following contributions from Hinshelwood, Nnamdi Ezulike and new loan signing Chris Catling.

Catling, on a two-month loan from Gloucester, oozed class as he linked effortlessly with the back line and rarely disappointed with his distribution. On this evidence, top scorer Duncan Roke will have his work cut out to replace the former England A man when he returns from his broken finger.

Gary Trueman, Garrard and Hinshelwood wrapped up a convincing first half's effort with three more tries but Coventry hit back with a Lee Crofts effort and a Kurt Johnson try before the break.

The second half never lived up to the first for Worcester but they began well and once Tony Windo had dived over in the 49th minute, the result was put beyond any possible doubt. Catling then joined in with the scoring on 55 minutes and it was left to Garrard to complete his treble with four minutes remaining. Jim Jenner capped a solid display with the final score of the game.

Worcester: Catling 8, Ezulike 8, HINSHELWOOD 9, Trueman 7, Garrard 8, Walsh 7, Swanepoel 7; Windo 8, Hall 6, Lyman 7, Zaltzman 7, Morgan 7, Gabey 8, Pfister 7, Jenner 7.

Replacements: Chalmers 6 (Walsh 65), O'Reilly 65 (Swanepoel 65), Ogilvie-Bull 6 (Trueman 42), Gillies 6 (Morgan 58), Evans 7 (Gabey 34), Pearl 6 (Hall 62), Olver.

Man-of-the-match: Ben Hinshelwood - Another superb display from the rampaging centre.