Saturday, November 29, 2003

BEFORE kick off, Worcester may have hoped to come away from the Memorial Stadium with five points.

Ultimately, however, this was four points gained rather than one dropped.

The torrential rain, a whistle-happy referee and a street-wise Bristol defence dictated that the Warriors were never in the market for the bonus point but this was as much of a moral victory as anything with everything seemingly against them.

It would be churlish to criticise an adventurous game-plan in such conditions because, in the end, that adventure won Worcester the match. James Brown's third minute break through the midfield set up the only try of the game following fine work from Wes Davies and the finish by Tommy Hayes. The former Cook Island international then added a superb conversion as the Warriors built what seemed to be the perfect platform.

You have to suspect that John Brain and Andy Keast had hoped to call Bristol coach Richard Hill's bluff with this expansive strategy in the opening minutes with Hill, understandably after Worcester's recent form, expecting a forward battle. Time after time, though, the visitors were pulled up for crossing or holding on as referee Tim Beddow began to take centre stage. The free kick and penalty count was astronomical, even considering the inevitable knock-ons in such conditions.

The favourites for promotion were also handicapped by the 20th minute loss of Werner Swanepoel following a rib injury while, six minutes later, Neil Mason was shown the yellow card as Beddow lost patience with the amount of 'professional' fouls on show. Powell's arrival, though, hardly weakened the visitors and the scrum half showed an all-round quality to his game which previous understudies to Swanepoel simply haven't had.

Bristol always looked unlikely to carve out the opportunities such was Worcester's grip in the set piece but if Danny Gray's two penalty attempts had sailed over and Sean Marsden could have continued his breakaway, in first half stoppage time, instead of slipping up then they may have made Worcester sweat a little more.

The second half was a non event because of the worsening weather and refereeing. It was notable, however, for the inspired boot of Ben Hinshelwood who pegged Bristol back deep into their own 22 time after time as the match became a kicking duel. Keast and Co may covet him as a centre but the Scottish international is such an asset wherever he plays.

Hayes and Gray traded penalties in that second half to complete the scoring and Bristol will take much from the match as they denied Worcester further tries despite finding themselves back on their own line for long periods. On that form, in their own back yard, they will certainly be more than a match for anyone in the second half of the season.

The game will not live long in the memory but the points for Worcester, come the end of the season, could yet be invaluable.

Worcester: KHINSHELWOOD 9; O'Leary 6, Hayes 7, Trueman 6, Davies 6, Brown 7, Swanepoel 6; Windo 7, Daly 7, Fortey 6, Gabey 8, Gillies 7, Evans 7, Mason 6, Hickey 6.

Replacements: Powell 8 (Swanepoel 20), Garrard, Murray 5 (Trueman 56), Hall, Olver, Zaltzman, Bates (Mason 73).

Man of the match: Ben Hinshelwood - composure personified at full back.