WORCESTER Warriors face their long-awaited date with destiny against Cornish Pirates in the Championship final tonight (7.45pm) and we’re urging all our readers to get behind Richard Hill’s men and cheer them on to victory.
A city, like ours, that is so passionate about its rugby deserves a place in the Aviva Premiership and the fantastic Sixways complex that Cecil Duckworth has built up is one or the best rugby arenas in the country.
Head coach Richard Hill and his assistant Phil Davies have moulded a strong team over the course of 30 arduous games in the second tier — all building up to tonight’s pivotal contest.
Anything less than a victory would be unthinkable for loyal benefactor Duckworth, the players, coaching staff and, most importantly, you — the club’s legion of fanatical supporters.
Tonight should be a memorable night for everyone who holds an interest in Worces-ter Warriors and, all going to plan, there will be quite a party at Sixways with cries of ‘Come On You Warriors’ ringing out late into the evening.
Hill has opted to make just one change to the side which claimed a nine-point advantage with a 21-12 first-leg victory over the Pirates at the Mennaye Field with Scot-land centre Alex Grove call-ed into the starting line-up in place of Alex Crockett, who moves to the bench.
Wing Miles Benjamin, the top try-scorer in the league, will also play his 100th game for Warriors in the final showdown of the season.
Pack duo Adam Black and Greg Rawlinson will both start the game in what is their final appearance for Warriors.
“We have no new injury problems and, out of 37 in the squad, we just have Pat Sanderson out. Everyone is raring to go,” said Hill.
“Alex Grove has impres-sed when he has come off the bench in recent games and fully deserves his call-up to start the second leg.
“The team is now eager for the final hurdle to arrive and start. I don’t think we made full use of the domination we enjoyed in the scrum and line-out in the last game.
“If we can establish that again, and use the ball a lot better, we could be more efficient and put more pressure on them.”
Warriors: Pennell; Garvey, Grove, Rasmussen, Benjamin; Goode, Arr; A Black, Fortey, Taumoepeau, Rawlinson, Gillies, Best, Abbott, Horstmann. Replacements: Lutui, Douglas, Kitchener, Balding, Frost, Carlisle, Crockett.
Cornish Pirates: Cook; McAtee, Hopper, Locke, Jackson; Bentley, Cattle; Marriott, Burgess, Morgan, Myerscough, McGlone, Rimmer, Elloway, Storer. Replacements: Andrew, Ward, Paver, Nimmo, Betty, Doherty, Luke.
• Follow Warriors reporter Tom Guest on the homepage later when he'll be Tweeting live from the game.
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