Saturday, January 29, 2005

A FIRST-HALF horror show put paid to any hopes of victory at Kingsholm.

Ring rusty Worcester found themselves on the canvas after a lacklustre start at Gloucester and, predictably, never recovered.

By half-time they were 21-6 down following tries from Seti Kiole and Andy Gomarsall, a drop goal by Duncan McRae and eight points from Henry Paul's boot.

The Warriors' last competitive outing was against London Irish three weeks ago and it showed in the opening 40 minutes at Kingsholm. The pivotal moment of the match arrived with eight minutes left of that half when, despite Worcester winning turnover ball in midfield, Matt Powell's clearance was charged down by Gomarsall and the scrum-half trotted in for Gloucester's second try. Soon after, McRae lofted over his three-pointer and the game had slipped from Worcester's grasp.

It was pretty ragged stuff. Worcester supporters have longed clamoured for a Tommy Hayes recall at 10 and, certainly, James Brown's struggle to stamp any authority on the match, particularly in that first-half, will now only amplify those calls.

Once Kiole had ripped through the visitors' defence with a set move midway through the half, the writing was on the wall. Gloucester didn't have to play well to win and that will be the major irritant to the Worcester management.

Brown's two penalties meant little during that period but the Warriors will at least take positives from their second-half display as they focus on Friday night's relegation ding-dong with Leeds.

Pegging Gloucester back from the opening whistle, they played in the right areas and refused to be dictated to. Brown's penalty, on the hour, gave his side some hope of a bonus point and pacy breaks from Giscard Pieters, Dale Rasmussen, Ben Hinshelwood and Powell stretched Gloucester as the Shed began to get on their backs.

Ironically, when they finally did get their game going, their line-out fell to bits and that somewhat summed up the day for the Warriors. One step forward, two steps back.

A mass brawl, following Phil Vickery's kick out at Craig Gillies, gave the crowd some amusement and the England prop plus prize-fighter Andre Van Niekerk were both given 10 minutes to cool off. In truth, it was a rare moment to raise the pulse as both sides looked short of ideas.

Ultimately, as the clocked ticked down, Paul sold the Worcester defence a classy dummy and prop Terry Sigley dived in with 10 minutes left. The Warriors will, no doubt, be tearing their hair out this week when they look at all three tries but Powell's late, late touchdown, which Brown improved, at least gave the vocal travelling support something to cheer about.

"We're very disappointed," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain afterwards.

"We thought if we came here and played well, we could get something out of the game. We've not played well, although the second-half was better.

"We controlled the play in the second-half for long periods and we've won that half. The guys are disappointed because they feel they could have won."

Worcester: Delport 5; Pieters 6, Rasmussen 6, Lombard 6, Hinshelwood 6; Brown 5, POWELL 8; Windo 7, Van Niekerk 6, Horsman 7, Collier 6, Gillies 6, Hickey 7, Sanderson 6, MacLeod-Henderson 6.

Replacements: Fortey, Murphy 6 (Collier 44), Hall (MacLeod-Henderson 55 (65)), Mason, Cole, Hayes, O'Leary.

Man of the match: Matt Powell -- looked lively all game despite Gomarsall's try and was, by some distance, the best scrum-half on the park.