Saturday, April 21, 2001

THE irony of the opposition at Sixways would not have been lost on the coaches as Worcester's final hopes of promotion ebbed away on Saturday.

Moseley, one of the biggest reasons why Worcester would not win the National One title this year, were at the home of their Midland rivals to witness the last rites of the championship race.

In the end they came away from Sixways on the back of a 43-17 mauling but as news filtered through of Leeds Tykes' bonus point victory over London Welsh, the bigger picture became clear.

Geoff Cooke's side would have taken the race for the title into the final weekend had it not been for the 22-15 loss at Bournbrook back in December - Worcester's first league defeat of the season. Leeds' 55-16 win at Headingley meant they were five points clear of the Gold'n'Blues and, with the comfort of a vastly superior goal difference, their final game - a trip to Henley on Saturday - will not keep them unduly concerned.

It wasn't as if there was an outpouring of emotion once news of Leeds' win had come through - the harsh reality had kicked in on that fateful day in Yorkshire earlier in the month. Supporters had already begun to start thinking towards next season and at least against Moseley, there were some positive signs for the future. Not least the outstanding talent of Scott Barrow who ran the show with some skilful runs and hard-hitting tackles. The former St Helens man has been a breath of fresh air at the club since his November arrival from Merseyside. Such has been his impact that he has forced skipper Alistair Murdoch out from his favoured central position to the wing. It was thought that the pairing of Barrow and highly-rated Andy Higgins would be the key to Worcester's promotion bid next season but with the 19-year-old likely to move to a Premiership club in the summer, it seems as if the partnership may never be allowed to form.

However, even if Higgins does decide to jump ship, Worcester's base looks solid enough on Saturday's evidence. With a few signings in key positions, supporters can be confident of another successful campaign next season.

Chris Hall, in for the injured Andrew Lamerton, put in another mature display at hooker and it was the 21-year-old who bagged the first try on 17 minutes following quick thinking from Richard Jarman. The ever-reliable Sateki Tuipulotu had already put the home side on their way with a second minute penalty as Worcester led 8-0. Barrow then began to dictate the tempo and his surge almost put the recalled Nick Baxter in on 20 minutes. The visitors, though, refused to buckle and brought the score back to 8-7 after Chris Goodfellow sneaked in following a period of good possession.

Leigh Hinton added the extra points as Moseley began to sniff a league double over the illustrious opposition. Both sides were then reduced to 14 men when referee Brian Campsall decided Dan Zaltzman and Terry Sigley should cool off for 10 minutes after an off-the-ball incident.

The extra space seemed to suit Worcester more as Barrow showed all of his class to power through on 31 minutes. Tony Yapp's exquisite pass set the youngster away and his shimmy left the Moseley defence for dead. Tuipulotu's conversion and then, six minutes later, another penalty gave Worcester a nice cushion at 18-7 with half-time approaching. Hinton's three points before the break though, cut the gap to eight at the interval.

Baxter's try seven minutes into the second half wrapped up the points for Worcester and set the stage for a bonus point win. The supporters did not have long to wait for the fourth try and Moseley fans would have had no trouble in picking out the super sub responsible for the score.

Tom Warren, signed from the Bournbrook club a couple of months ago, touched down after a neat move with his first touch of the ball on his first-team debut. It was the stuff dreams are made of for the 20-year-old flanker whose family have been linked to the club for over a quarter of a century. Tuipulotu added the extra points before the visitors hit back with a converted Greg McDonald try on 65 minutes.

That was to be their last score as Worcester squeezed on the accelerator with substitutes Andy Collins and Earl Va'a both bagging tries while Tuipulotu added another penalty.

Worcester: Tuipulotu; Murdoch, Barrow, Keil (Va'a 50), Baxter; Yapp, Jarman (Pellow 58); Windo (Collins 58), Hall (Moretti 46), Lyman, Sims, Zaltzman (Denhardt 74), Evans, Carter (Warren 50), Fryday. Subs not used: Langkilde.