Saturday, January 15, 2000.

WORCESTER responded to their desperately disappointing defeat against Leeds by comprehensively dismissing Orrell 41-3.

But the day will be remembered as much for an horrific broken leg suffered by Orrell's utility back Darren Fletcher.

The youngster was left writhing in agony after his left leg was shattered in a sickening collision with Worcester's Andrew Higgins and Nick Baxter.

It was an unfortunate accident which marred an already wretched second half.

Worcester knew they needed a big win to restore confidence and Premiership Two momentum and their display in the first 40 minutes decide the contest.

They played quick, simple rugby and their straight and strong running tore through the home defence.

Sateki Tuipulotu started the scoreboard ticking over in the forth minute after Rob Hitchmough's clearance had failed to find touch.

His powerful surge which broke through several tackles providing centre Andy Currier with a short run to the corner for his first Worcester try.

Tony Yapp added the touchline conversion plus a penalty and although a knock-on by Worcester lock Chris Raymond led to stand-off Neil Liptrot replying immediately with a drop-goal Orrell never threatened Worcester's supremacy.

Lock Richard Denhardt scored from a back row move at a scrum before Currier turned provider by making a half break for Higgins to score from close range.

Tuipulotu then gained reward for his industrious running by scoring Worcester's fourth and secure a 29-3 half-time lead. It was game over.

For Orrell it was a wretched afternoon which they started with a long injury list and ended with enough to fill their own ward.

Such are their problems that 45-year-old Sammy Southern was named on the bench but he was not called upon.

Stand-off David Slemen, centres Ian Wynn and Guy Holt along with flanker Mat Lacey were all ruled out and they needed to use four replacements in the first half.

Fletcher had been one of the first half replacements and his injury put the whole game into context.

It numbed the already stifled play and Worcester could not muster another score until the game's lengthy injury time when Baxter came at a nice angle to score under the posts and Tuipulotu scored his second in the dying moments.

Worcester are back on track and emphasised the huge gulf in class between the league's pacesetters and also rans.

They have now have three more winnable games against strugglers Waterloo, West Hartlepool and Wakefield games which will restore their confidence.

But Orrell face a long slog plus an unenviable trip to Gloucester in round five of the Tetley Bitter Cup when a cricket score looks likely.

Worcester: Tuipulotu, Walker, Higgins, Currier, (Connolly 49), Baxter, Yapp, Fenley, Windo (Yates 79), Richards (Caputo 64), Lyman, Raymond, Denhardt (Sims 69), Cockle (Devereux 69), Carter, Jenner. Replacements not used, Harvey, Martens.

Attendance: 950.