Saturday, October 2, 1999

WORCESTER took their fans on a rollercoaster of a ride at London Welsh but still had them going through the familiar routine of celebrating a cherished win.

Since the Exiles stunned Worcester with a comprehensive victory at Sixways almost three years ago revenge has been total.

Worcester have now won the last five meetings but none have been as accomplished as Saturday's 20-19 success.

Yet the Allied Dunbar Premiership Two league leaders were still forced to cling on to victory after Welsh mounted an unlikely escape plan in the final minutes.

The first half turned on the decision of referee Chris Rees to deny Worcester claims for a penalty try.

Four times they shoved the London Welsh scrum back towards their own try line and four times they collapsed under the strain.

But after awarding Worcester the first three penalties he inexplicably awarded the fourth the other way.

London Welsh made full use of their let-off with lock Paul Jennings barging over from a line-out and, despite losing replacement scrum-half Tom Lewsey to the sin-bin, they extended their lead.

Tony Yapp's clearance failed to reach touch, number eight Colin Alexander broke through three tackles to charge 40 metres into the Worcester 22, and the prolific Andy Currier went over for the first of his two tries.

Worcester looked shell-shocked but they refused to panic and by half-time were back in the match.

Yapp opened his account with a penalty before sweeping play involving forwards and backs gave full-back Duncan Hughes space on the half way line.

His magnificent run saw him gave Worcester a deserved try and Yapp converted before edging Worcester in front for the first time with a penalty seven minutes after half-time.

All of the play was now in and around the London Welsh 22, so when number eight Jim Jenner scored from a pushover scrum on the hour the result looked secure.

But five minutes from the whistle, left winger Scott Roskell intercepted a pass and the Welsh marauded forward.

Spaces appeared in the Worcester defence as the Exiles pulled them across the pitch before Currier added his second with just two minutes left.

Tulsen Tollett's conversion put London Welsh just a point behind but despite a nerve jangling last few minutes they could not find a way through - Worcester's forward dominance had been rewarded.

Worcester: Hughes, Walker, Higgins, Connolly (McLaughlin 62), Baxter (Myler 64), Yapp, Fenley, Windo (Linnett 72), Richards, Lyman, Lloyd (Denhardt 26), Raymond, Merlin (Cockle 46), Carter, Jenner. Replacements not used: Harvey, Ball.