Worcester 27 Coventry 16

AN Alistair Murdoch try six minutes from time kept Worcester Rugby Club's National One title charge on course at a buzzing Sixways on Saturday.

The skipper rounded off five minutes of incessant pressure on the Coventry line to touch down Worcester's fourth try of the day and seal a precious bonus point.

The point - in a 27-16 victory over the East Midlanders - meant Worcester took five from the match to keep their eight-point lead over Leeds at the top of the league intact.

It was a rousing display from the home side, stung by criticism of their lack-lustre display at Henley a week earlier, Worcester always looked the likelier winners of an absorbing contest.

Coventry, who had recently strung together eight league wins in succession, produced a passionate, physical display and tested Worcester's character and sheer desire to keep the title race alive.

However, the league leaders, under pressure because of Leeds' seemingly unstoppable charge, stood up to the task in hand and never let their heads drop despite some absolutely dreadful decisions by referee Ashley Rowden.

The referee, like so many this season, looked completely out of his depth and some decisions - in particular his failure to play advantage - made him the target for abuse from both sides.

With fly-half Earl Va'a ruled out just before kick-off with an Achilles injury, Worcester gave a start to Tony Yapp who revelled in conditions with a mature display.

And Yapp was involved in the opening score as Worcester, with 13 minutes on the clock, moved the ball to Murdoch whose lovely reverse pass put in centre Rudi Keil for a try. Sateki Tuipulotu converted as Worcester strode into a 7-0 lead. Any thoughts this would be the platform for a mauling were dashed three minutes later when full-back Martyn Davies slotted a penalty from 35 metres to give the visitors hope.

Hope suddenly turned into reality on 21 minutes when, after sloppy defensive play from the home side, Coventry skipper Lee Crofts sprinted in to make it 8-7. Davies' conversion gave the third-placed side a 10-7 lead midway through the first half.

One of the main talking points of the game was then played out to the dismay of the home supporters on 27 minutes. Worcester worked the ball wide on the left and Murdoch, it seemed, had a golden opportunity to put Adrian Skeggs' side back in front.

Incredibly though, referee Rowden blew up for an earlier incident only to then give a penalty to Worcester. Justice was done a minute later however, when after a great break from Keil, Murdoch flew in for his side's second try of the afternoon.

Tuipulotu converted and Worcester led 14-10. It got worse for Coventry five minutes before half-time when Mike Davies was yellow-carded but there was no further score as the teams went into the break at 14-10.

Tony Windo gave Worcester the perfect start to the second period with a try after a well-worked drive and, despite Tuipulotu's missed conversion attempt, the home side were well on the way to that fourth try.

However, Coventry fought back and two Davies penalties brought the score back to 19-16 before Tuipulotu gave his side some breathing space with his own three points on 63 minutes.

The tension grew and grew around the ground as attack after attack was denied by a stubborn Coventry rearguard. However, Worcester, buoyed by some vocal support, broke through with six minutes left as Murdoch - the scorer of so many vital tries this season - finally broke through.

The score brought scenes of delirium from the home crowd and even had Skeggs punching the air in delight. Tuipulotu was off target with the extra points but that was an irrelevance in what was a gutsy display by the league leaders and a vital one in order to exorcise the ghosts of Henley.

Worcester: Back, Tuipulotu, Barrow, Keil, Murdoch, Yapp, Simpson-Daniel, Windo, Lamerton, Lyman, Sims, Zaltzman, Evans, Carter, Fryday. Subs not used: Collins, Moretti, Denhardt, Mather, Bromley, Langkilde, Pellow.