Saturday, January 10, 2004

THE legendary British wrestler Big Daddy was born just down the road from Otley in West Yorkshire.

Maybe they are celebrating his memory or possibly campaigning for the sport's comeback in Britain. Whatever the motives, Otley resembled wrestlers more than rugby players at Sixways.

It is to Worcester's absolute credit that they didn't react, especially taking into account the events of Cross Green earlier in the season.

The Warriors, who lost their cool big time in the reverse fixture, were the model professionals this time around as they took punch after punch on the chin. The opening game of the season between the two was marred by a mass brawl which almost cost Worcester dear and Otley brought the same provocative approach to Sixways.

Bewildering

The difference on Saturday, however, was that the National One leaders simply responded with the sort of performance which spoke for itself.

A mixture of strength in the scrum, consistency in the lineout and a bewildering pace through the backs meant that Otley never stood a chance and the final score actually flattered the visitors.

Chris Garrard personified the performance. Six minutes had elapsed when Otley centre Rob Whatmuff took a dislike to him and began to punch away with the Australian on the floor. The winger -- back after a six week lay-off to recover from a groin injury -- responded in the best way possible. He carried on with the game, scored two tries and set up another with a magnificent comeback display.

Garrard's first half performance was a throw back to his form of old, quick, elusive and just too much for the team he once scored five tries against two years ago. After Gavin Pfister's seventh minute regulation catch and drive try had given the Warriors the perfect start, Garrard opened his account for the day with a little help from Lady Luck.

On 16 minutes, turnover ball was whipped through the backs and Daren O'Leary's somewhat hopeful chip ahead looked to be falling into the hands of Otley's Ian Shuttleworth. The full-back, however, had one of those comedy moments when he fumbled the ball, fell over and gave Garrard the easiest try he's ever likely to score.

If his first was somewhat fortuitous, his second was anything but. Following a lineout win from the ever reliable Craig Gillies, the ball was passed to Garrard at some pace in training ground move. He still had plenty to do, however, before cutting inside, beating three men and scorching to the line. The try evoked memories of his stunning score at Millmoor last season and showed that he'd lost none of his trickery.

The 23rd minute try, following a penalty from Otley's Simon Binns, was almost followed up on the half hour by the hat-trick. Garrard's chip and chase was touched down but the officials ruled that the ball had gone out of play.

There was still time, though, for the former Queenslander to play another incisive part minutes after Matt Oliver's yellow card for a swipe at Werner Swanepoel. The centre could have gone a number of times before because of his wild antics and, on this form, should be soon jetting off to the USA for world wrestling trials. Garrard beat three men again in the third minute of stoppage time before putting in his fellow Australian Ben Daly for the all-important fourth try. Daly - who snatched the late winner at Cross Green back in September - powered his way to the line to reinforce his contribution to the side.

Tommy Hayes added his fourth conversion of the day as the Warriors led 28-3 at the break.

With one eye on next weekend's titanic tussle at Orrell, the second half was always going to be more about experimentation than a try fest and so it proved.

Incoherent

All replacements, including new signing Russell Earnshaw, enjoyed a run out while Swanepoel even crossed the line for his first try of the season. Hayes kept his 100 per cent record intact when he slotted the conversion and substitute James Brown added a 63rd minute penalty following a horrific head-high tackle on Ben Hinshelwood courtesy of you know who.

Rather than another card, referee Nigel Higginson contented himself with ticking off Oliver, a decision which capped his thoroughly inconsistent display. Just to add to the incoherency, he then carded Justin Wring with 11 minutes left for an innocuous incident.

In the face of such feeble officiating and wild provocation, this could have become a blood bath if Worcester had fancied it but they simply rose above the stupidity and hurt Otley where it counted most.

This had all the hallmarks of a championship display and, if they can repeat it on Saturday, that title won't be too far away.

Worcester: O'Leary 7; NGARRARD 9, Hinshelwood 8, Trueman 7, Davies 5; Hayes 6, Swanepoel 6; Windo 7, Daly 8, Fortey 7, Gabey 8, Gillies 7, C Evans 6, Pfister 6, Hickey 7.

Replacements: Powell 6 (Swanepoel 69), Brown 7 (O'Leary 49), Officer 5 (Davies 65), Hall 5 (Daly 65), Lyman 6 (Fortey 40), Zaltzman (Evans 51 blood), Earnshaw 6 (Pfister 49).

Man of the match: CHRIS GARRARD -- stunning first-half show from the Aussie and a great comeback from injury.