Saturday, February 11, 2006

WARRIORS may have contributed to one of the most entertaining try-fests of the season but they ended up with nothing as Sale showed just why they are the top team in the land at the moment.

The hosts had plenty of possession but individual errors and the brilliance of the opposition's counter-attacking meant that Sale were able to record their highest points tally on the road for six years.

The strange thing was that for much of the match Worcester looked fluid and confident in attack. Scrum-half Andy Gomarsall bossed the forwards and his delivery allowed the backs to flourish.

There was more variety in the passing and Thomas Lombard showed the class one would associate with a French international.

Worcester look very much like a team trying to re-define themselves after being labelled as set-piece specialists and the influence of head coach Anthony Eddy is undoubtedly starting to make them a less predictable outfit.

But, somewhere along the line, they have forgotten how to defend and were torn to pieces by the slick play of their opponents.

After a penalty apiece, the first try came when Sale outside-half Valentin Courrent chased down his own kick after 12 minutes.

Five minutes later, they were two scores to the good when wing Oriol Ripol led a break out of his own half and lock Dean Schofield ambled over.

But Worcester responded well, with Aisea Havili running a superb line to latch on to Shane Drahm's pass and score under the posts.

A Courrent penalty followed before Drahm himself closed the gap to just three points with a try and conversion.

It had looked like Nicolas Le Roux would score in the corner but the ball was eventually recycled to Drahm who side-stepped his defender to score.

That meant Warriors were within three points of their illustrious hosts and the game looked to be beautifully poised.

But, straight from the kick-off, the normally dependable Craig Gillies spilled the ball and diminutive Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell was on hand to cash in and score the try.

After the match, director of rugby John Brain identified that as a crucial point in the match.

"That was obviously a big moment in the game because that was the closest that we got to them -- three points," he said. "And to concede a score directly after we had created something and scored ourselves -- I think that was a key moment in the game."

The evidence for his assessment is compelling. Although Drahm slotted a pair of penalties before half-time, Sale took control after the interval.

Three minutes after the break, Titterrell's mobility helped him elude the previously impressive Tevita Taumopeau, and pass to Sebastien Chabal, who fed Sililo Martens for the score.

Ten minutes later, Ripol skipped down the wing to score his side's fifth try of the match.

Worcester weren't finished though and Le Roux was on hand to collect a pass from Dale Rasmussen and force himself over for the try.

At that point, Worcester were flying and their patient build-up play looked destined to end in a try before Tom Harding knocked on at a crucial moment.

Just after that, Sale's former England captain Jason Robinson left the field with concussion and the lengthy interruption seemed to upset the home side's rhythm.

After Steve Hanley got Sharks' sixth try Worcester fought bravely for a try bonus but the Cheshire side held out brilliantly to leave Warriors heading in the wrong direction in the table.

Warriors: Le Roux, Havili, Rasmussen, Lombard (Whatling), Tucker, Drahm (Brown), Gomarsall, Windo, Fortey (Van Niekerk), Taumoepeau, Murphy, Gillies (O'Donoghue), Horstmann, Harding (Vaili), Hickey.

Scorers: Tries: Havili, Drahm, Le Roux; Conversions: Drahm (three); Penalties: Drahm (four).

Warriors man-of-the-match: Thomas Lombard.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury.

Attendance: 9,726.