Saturday, November 4, 2000

A GAME which had been described as a banana skin turned into more of a pineapple crush as Worcester swept aside Tynedale 76-12 to set up a mouth-watering fruit cocktail of a fixture at Saracens on Sun-day.

The Tetley Bitter Cup fourth round clash at Tynedale Park never threatened to turn into a giantkilling as the gap between the professionals and amateurs was ruthlessly illustrated by the Sixways side.

The National Division One leaders lined up against the middle of the table National Division Three North side but any hopes the home crowd had of an upset were shot down within the first four minutes when hooker Andrew Lamerton went over in the left hand corner.

Conversion

Sateki Tuipulotu slotted home the conversion to give Worcester a 7-0 lead.

Adrian Skeggs' side doubled the advantage after eight minutes when the recalled Ian Calder began a fine afternoon's work when he outpaced the Tynedale defence for a comfortable touch down. Tuipulotu converted again to put the visitors firmly in charge.

Their domination was threatened soon after, however, as the home side began to move the ball with increasing fluidity. And they gave the Tynedale faithful something to shout about on 12 minutes when Ed Holmes found a gap in the Worcester defence to sneak through for a try.

Alan Moses temporarily made the crowd believe he was to lead them to the promised land with a conversion as Tynedale cut the gap to just seven points. However, the score proved to be a false dawn for the home side as Worcester began to squeeze the accelerator pedal.

Tuipulotu led the charge with a fine try after 18 minutes when he crashed through two challenges after fine set-up play by the impressive Richard Jarman.

If Tuipulotu's try was special then his conversion really set the standard - a fabulous kick from the right-hand side.

Four minutes later, the game was all over as a contest as Spencer Bromley bagged his first try of the game after a great surge from skipper Alistair Murdoch. The try was once again followed up with a first-class Tuipulotu conversion as Worcester stretched their lead to 28-7. The fatigue factor started to show for the amateurs in the final 10 minutes of the first half as the visitors began to turn the screw.

Awesome power from the Worcester pack pushed Tynedale back 30 yards when Jarman spotted the opening and Calder ran through for his second try of the match. Tuipulotu once again was spot on with the kick as the visitors went 35-7 up.

The Tongan bagged his second try of the game soon after when he went over in the corner but then blotted his perfect copybook when he missed the conversion.

Two minutes later it looked as if Calder would complete his hat-trick after a magnificent 60-yard sprint but, after being pulled back just short of the line, Jarman pounced to grab a piece of the action. Tuipulotu slotted home the extra two points before Bromley grabbed his second try just before the break after a powerful surge from Nick Broughton who was making his first Worcester start since his summer move from Bedford.

Tuipulotu converted to make it 54-7 at half time. One criticism which has been thrust at Worcester this season is that they lack the ruthlessness needed to twist the knife into the opposition when on top.

Well the blade was well and truly inserted just a minute into the second half as Tuipulotu completed his hat-trick before missing the conversion.

Two minutes later Murdoch then won a 70-yard sprinting competition with Geoff Mason to touch down and boost hopes of a 100 plus points tally. Tuipulotu was once again off target with the kick.

Changes

With the result settled, Skeggs began to ring the changes with Gavin Webster, Christian Evans, Ricky Pellow, Andy Collins, Chris Hall, Alistair McLean and Greg Meredith all coming on for a taste of the action.

McLean made his presence felt soon after coming on when, with 16 minutes left, he dodged through for a try. Tuipulotu missed a tough conversion before South African Rudi Keil, making his second start for the Gold'n'Blues, powered through for Worcester's final try on 27 minutes.

Tuipulotu ended the day on a high by slotting home the conversion. Finally, the 2,000 home crowd were given a good send off when Mick Lee went over for a try before Moses missed the conversion to leave the score at 76-12.

Worcester: Back, Tuipulotu, Murdoch, Keil, Bromley, Calder, Jarman, Windo, Lamerton, Lyman, Sims, Denhardt, Broughton, Fryday, Carter.