Saturday, September 13, 2003

THE emotional scars of April 12 were finally healed by a thunderous restoration of old values at Sixways.

Memories of Worcester's apocalyptic defeat to Rotherham -- in their final National One home game five months ago -- seemed to be lodged in the team's psyche as they laboured last weekend at Otley.

That mental fatigue, however, was blown away by a whirlwind second half display that saw a team reborn inside 40 minutes and Orrell buried under a wave of absolution.

This was not so much a meaningful victory in the context of Worcester's promotion hopes but rather a clear indication that there is life after death.

"I'll be honest," said Worcester coach Andy Keast. "There were questions in my head before the kick-off. "The team have answered those in the second half and we can now move forward from this."

Three unanswered second half tries plus a magnificent 60-metre penalty from the ice-cool Tommy Hayes ended Orrell's resistance in this pulsating clash which ebbed and flowed in the first period. Gary Trueman, Daren O'Leary and Dean Thomas all crossed as Worcester beat their Edge Hall Road title rivals into submission while collecting all five points.

That conclusion, however, had looked a long way off in the first half when Orrell ran the show against a nerve-ridden Warriors side. Tries from Rodd Penney and Leigh Hinton, both converted by David Slemen, had given the visitors the edge only for Hayes to peg them back.

The summer signing from Glasgow punctuated Orrell's dominance with two penalties before converting Gavin Pfister's driven try on the half-hour following Gavin Cattle's yellow card for illegally preventing a certain Ben Hinshelwood try. The former Cook Island international then slotted his third penalty in stoppage time as Worcester led 16-14 at the break despite their scratchy display.

Their was nothing scratchy about the second half, however, as the confidence, which had seemed strangely lacking in their opening 120 minutes of league action, came flooding back.

Trueman broke through the Orrell midfield five minutes after the restart and suddenly the smile was back on the face of Worcester rugby. Those smiles, though, quickly turned to scowls as touch judge Tim Miller decided that prop Neil Lyman was exclusively to blame for a fight provoked by opponent Simon Emms. Referee David Rose chose to sin-bin just Lyman, an action to file under the growing list of National One howlers with the season just a few games in.

It was then and there that Worcester stood up to be counted. After resisting Orrell pressure, including man mountain Alfie Too'ala, they then punctured their opponents' spirit with an inspirational moment.

Hayes stepped up, 60 metres out, and simply battered the ball through the posts to the wonderment of the crowd. A new hero was born and Worcester finally looked out of reach. O'Leary's try, following a scintillating burst from replacement Matt Powell, with 12 minutes left added to the growing confidence and restored that panache which had become a by-word for Sixways rugby last season.

Worcester's pack then simply bullied Orrell out of the way before super sub Thomas touched down for the bonus try. By then Hayes, after converting the earlier two tries, had left the field to a standing ovation and it was down to James Brown to add the final two points.

It may have taken time but Worcester have found the road to redemption.

Worcester: Roke 7, O'Leary 6, Hinshelwood 6, Trueman 7, Garrard 6, NHAYES 9, Swanepoel 6; Windo 7, Daly 7, Lyman 7, Gabey 7, Gillies 6, Bates 6, Pfister 8, Evans 7.

Replacements: Powell 7 (Swanepoel 59), Brown 6 (Hayes 70), Murray (Trueman blood), Hall (Daly 80), Fortey (Lyman 77), Percival, Thomas 8 (Bates 40).

Man of the match: Mr cool - Tommy Hayes.