Saturday, December 29, 2001

CRAIG Chalmers once again showed his immense worth to Worcester Rugby Club as he led them to a 33-12 win over Moseley.

The Scot, who has struggled all season to overcome injury problems, managed Worcester's game-plan with the minimum amount of fuss as the home side ran in five tries to clinch the all-important bonus point.

They stay second because of Rotherham's 48-6 win over Henley but Chalmers' display on Saturday was a timely reminder that if they can keep him fit, he has a major part to play in Worcester's promotion bid.

The rest of the squad made light of his problems at their recent Christmas party when they brought along the physio's table, stripped him to his underpants and sat him on it during the evening. However, if Chalmers can stay fit during 2002, Worcester could be at the Premiership table come April.

The fly-half looked the brightest player on show from the off at Sixways and within two minutes, he had carved out two good positions for Worcester. However, he made his first telling contribution on four minutes when, after jumping all over Greg McDonald to charge down his clearance, he gleefully grounded the ball for the opening try. Sateki Tuipulou, restored to full-back with Ben Hinshelwood taking Duncan Roke's place at centre, slotted over a top-class conversion - kicking from an acute angle and into the sun as Worcester led 7-0.

The Gold'n'Blues continued to take the game by the scruff of the neck and the recalled Chris Garrard put in a crunching tackle on winger Geoff Gregory as Moseley looked to hit back. Their resistance, though, was stopped in its tracks by Richard Protherough's 12th minute sin-binning for an off-the-ball incident. The hooker lost the plot early on as Joe Ross got the better of him and looked out of sorts from then on.

Numerical advantage was made to count six minutes later when Garrard finished off a flowing move on the left as Worcester began to enjoy their rugby again. The nervousness of recent performances seemed to have been lost as the backs began to flourish with a solid platform from the pack. Tuipulotu was again spot on with the extra points as Worcester extended the lead to 14-0.

Coach John Brain would have been delighted, on the whole, with the lineout work after an inconsistent December but an error on 29 minutes led to a David Hunt try for the visitors as a huge gap appeared in the Worcester defence. It was a blip in a solid display by Ross, Martin Morgan and Lee Soper who impressed in his first league start of the season. Soper's open play work gave Brain's men a new dimension and a real battering ram at times.

Despite the try, however, Worcester finished the half on a high. Alistair Murdoch, back after a frustrating time with injury, was the beneficiary of more fine work from architect in chief Chalmers as he shimmied through three challenges before off-loading to the grateful Aussie. Murdoch, whose defensive work was as eye-catching as his attacking play, looked delighted with the score and Tuipulotu's conversion made it 21-5 with five minutes of the half remaining.

Chalmers' influence was growing and, on the stroke of half-time, he carved out yet another opportunity. His pass put in the ever-willing Soper before Nathan Carter followed up in typical style to touch down and seal the bonus point with the converted score.

As normally happens in such a one-sided game, the second half was a complete non event. Moseley scored a breakaway try through Paul Dineen on 50 minutes before a Leigh Hinton conversion but, in truth, they never threatened any more.

The second half was notable for the appearances off the bench of youngsters Gary Trueman and Stuart Pearl. There was also a cameo performance from super sub Jim Jenner who crashed his way through for a superb try on 76 minutes and looked a real threat running with the ball after his 46th minute appearance for Ben Clarke.

So Worcester end 2001 as the second best team in the division. A trip to Rotherham next month will go a long way to deciding the promotion race this season but what is absolutely vital, on this form, is that they keep their talisman Chalmers fit.

Worcester: Tuipulotu 8, Garrard 8, Hinshelwood 7, Yates 7, Murdoch 7, NCHALMERS 9, Smith 8; Davis 7, Ross 7, Moreno 7, Morgan 7, Soper 8, Carter 8, Jones 7, Clarke 8.

Replacements: Pellow (Smith 71), Yapp (Tuipulotu 77), Pearl (Ross 77), Trueman (Yates 77), Windo (Davis 61), Jenner 8 (Clarke 46), Sims 7 (61).

Man of the match: CRAIG CHALMERS - scored one try and had a hand in three others.