Saturday, November 17, 2001

WORCESTER were indebted to former Bedford hero Ben Hinshelwood as his two tries sealed a 20-11 win at Goldington Road.

The Australian full-back, who spent a season at Bedford last year, was on hand to bag a brace as Worcester came from 6-0 down to take four vital National One points.

It was hardly a champagne performance from the league leaders but coach John Brain may well reflect that his side could easily have been staring at their second defeat of the season after an extremely flat first half.

Down 6-3 after two penalties from James Pritchard and a reply from Steven Vile, Worcester had enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked the guile to slice through the Bedford defence. And their cause was hardly helped by the returning Joe Ross who was sin-binned midway through the half.

With skipper Kingsley Jones back after his hamstring injury, Brain opted to give Christian Evans a chance at flanker with former England star Ben Clarke relegated to the bench for the first time this season. And he shuffled his pack further with Tony Windo, Ross and Neil Lyman coming into the front row for a different combination.

It was the backs, however, who were struggling to make their presence felt as the Blues, roared on by a 1,410 crowd, tried to preserve their unbeaten home league record.

Richard Smith and the ever dangerous Duncan Roke looked the likeliest to score but there was always another tackle waiting for them. Ross' yellow card, on 27 minutes, meant Worcester had to contain for the remaining minutes of the first half but Vile's penalty late on gave Worcester a second half platform.

Within three minutes of the re-start, Hinshelwood announced his return to his former club with a well worked try after fine play from Smith, Roke and Yates. Vile kicked the conversion and Worcester led, for the first time, 10-6. Eight minutes later and Hinshelwood was at it again. After intense pressure, Yates began a good move which saw the ball moved left to right and the Aussie was on the end to execute another try. Vile's conversion attempt hit the post but went though as the visitors looked set for a bonus point charge at 17-6.

Despite a number of good occasions though, Worcester were not clinical enough when it mattered. Jones' handling, when in good positions, twice let him down and Bedford sniffed a revival. Roke's magnificent try-saving tackle on 62 minutes was simply the prelude to another attack from the home side and Sam Alatini finished off a pacy move to put them within six points with 15 minutes left.

The impressive Vile then made sure the comeback was halted with seven minutes to go as he slotted over a penalty but any thoughts that Worcester could mount another late, late show of last week's nature were never realised.

In the end, they went away from Goldington Road ruing another missed bonus point but deep down they must have realised, they were never worth it.

Worcester: NHINSHELWOOD 8, Garrard 6, Roke 7, Yates 7, Stanley 7, Vile 7, Smith 7; Windo 7, Ross 5, Lyman 6, Zaltzman 6, Morgan 6, Evans 7, Jones 5, Jenner 7.

Replacements: Pellow (Smith 73), Yapp, Hall 6 (Ross 66), Carter, Sims (Zaltzman 73), Clarke 6 (Evans 66), Moreno 6 (Lyman 66)

Man of the match: Ben Hinshelwood. Two tries in a difficult game for the full back and a polished display at 15.