Saturday, September 30, 2000

WORCESTER Rugby Club overcame a dogged Bedford side and even thunder and lightning on Saturday to move five points clear at the top of National League Division One.

Adrian Skeggs' side, trailing 20-11 at half-time when a tumultuous rainstorm fell on Sixways, hit back with a gutsy second half display to see off the visitors 31-25.

The encounter, thrilling for it's sheer unpredictability, see-sawed throughout and the result was only decided in the final minute when Sateki Tuipulotu slotted home a penalty to put the title favourites out of sight.

However, Worcester director of coaching Skeggs will know his side got out of jail after a performance more notable for the defensive lapses rather than free-flowing rugby.

Colin Jackson's men showed typical Bedford guts as they stunned the Sixways crowd in the first half with a double try burst.

It had looked business as usual for Worcester early on with Earl Va'a dictating pay with some fine kicking.

Tuipulotu opened the scoring for Worcester with a second minute penalty before Scott Stewart levelled things up with three points of his own.

The home side then showed once again their power in the pack as Andrew Lamerton scored a pushover try on 18 minutes to put Worcester in the driving seat. Tuipulotu missed the conversion as the dark clouds began to gather overhead.

Ben Hinshellwood then exposed some alarming holes in the home defence as he was allowed to run 30 metres almost unchallenged to square things up with a try on 27 minutes.

Stewart duly converted to put the visitors in front and it went from bad to worse for the shell-shocked Gold 'n' Blues when, four minutes later, James Shanahan intercepted a loose pass and ran fully 60 metres to touch down under the posts. Stewart once again added the extra points to put Bedford 20-8 up.

Tuipulotu's penalty just before the break gave Worcester a lifeline but, as the referee blew for half-time and the incredible rain storm lashed down, you sensed this was not going to be their day.

However, after a half-time dressing down by Skeggs, a different Worcester came out and 10 minutes later, skipper Alistair Murdoch led by example with a fine burst to set up a try for Laulala Langkilde.

It was a magnificent surge by Murdoch, Bedford's former director of rugby, who showed the type of leadership qualities that will be needed if Worcester are to clinch promotion this season.

Tuipulotu converted to bring the home side within two points of the Goldington Road side.

Character

Soon after, the Tongan put his side in front with a penalty to set up a frantic finish -- frantic because a minute later, Ricky Pellow's kick was charged down and Shanahan bagged his second try of the match with a comical score.

Stewart's conversion was missed however and Worcester still had enough character to pull out the points.

Skeggs rang the changes with numerous substitutions and the fresh legs worked as substitute Spencer Bromley set up Langkilde for his second try.

Tuipulotu's conversion put Worcester three points ahead but it was not until his last minute penalty sailed over that Skeggs could breathe a sigh of relief.

And as the final whistle blew, a rainbow appeared over Sixways -- a fitting conclusion to a game featuring the Gold 'n' Blues.