Saturday, February 14, 2004

WHILE Worcester's victory at Edge Hall Road is still fresh in the memory, it is likely to be perceived as the performance of the season.

While that might be true in the sense of the opposition on show that day, this success was perhaps the most complete of a momentous campaign.

Utterly dominant up front and simply stunning through the backs, this was a breathtaking example of a side knowing exactly what was required and having the confidence and composure to make it look unerringly easy.

Wakefield battled all the way and scored three tries but, in truth, they never had a hope of a result simply because of Worcester's stranglehold in the lineout and the fluency of the backs who ran riot despite the wet conditions.

The trio of Tommy Hayes, Gary Trueman and Daren O'Leary ran the show in the backs while the ultra consistent Craig Gillies killed Wakefield stone dead in the lineout. Indeed, the home side only won clean lineout ball once all day such was Gillies' and Drew Hickey's dominance.

It was Trueman, however, who was the real danger man. Time after time, the centre broke through the gain line and set up opportunities galore for anyone who was up in support. Chris Garrard was first on the spot, after seven minutes, as he took advantage of Trueman's quicksilver break but Wakefield hit back with their own touchdown through Martin O'Keefe.

After that, though, it was one-way traffic. O'Leary bagged his first courtesy of another Trueman burst on 19 minutes before Gavin Pfister was driven over for his 15th try of the season. There was still time for a brace from Jon Hylton as Worcester stretched Wakefield from right to left with startling pace. Trueman again was the architect as he put in the youngster for the bonus point try on 34 minutes and, with the defence ragged, he helped himself to a second just before the break following a lineout win and a classy flicked pass from O'Leary.

If there were any doubts about the former Gloucester winger's appetite at National One level, they were surely put to bed early on in the season. O'Leary has been one of the most consistent performers at Sixways since his summer move and, at College Grove, he gave another example of just how greedy he still is.

Four minutes into the second half and O'Leary saw the opening down the left, attacked the full back and left him for dead with a delightful chip and dive over the line. It was a moment which just oozed class. Typically, Wakefield hit back with a converted Glen Wilson try but then they had to watch the try of the match.

Hickey began the move down the right before the ball was switched at pace to David Officer and the centre raced in for a classic team try. It was one of those moments which had coach Andy Keast beaming with joy.

With Worcester in overdrive, there was still time for O'Leary to claim his hat-trick, following a cameo from new scrum half Neil Cole, while Duncan Murray then bulldozed his way over the line to make it number nine for the day.

Once again, the home side hit back with a Ryan Duckett touchdown but the final word came from Mr Assist Trueman. The former Saracens man dashed in for try number 10 to send the supporters back down the M1 happy. Hayes added the conversion - his seventh of the day - to cap another eye-catching display but, from a team perspective, this was as close as you are likely to get to total rugby at this level.

It is only just that a grander stage beckons because this brand of rugby would grace any arena.

Worcester: NO'LEARY 9; Garrard 7, Officer 7, Trueman 8, Hylton 7; Hayes 8, Powell 8; Windo 8, Daly 7, Fortey 6, Gabey 7, Gillies 8, Bates 8, Pfister 8, Hickey 8.

Replacements: Cole 7 (Powell 58), Brown 7 (Officer 56), Murray 8 (Hylton 50), Hall 7 (Daly 53), Lyman 8 (Fortey 35), Zaltzman 7 (Gabey 60), Evans 8 (Bates 53).

Man of the match: Daren O'Leary - hat-trick hero but also phenomenal work rate.