Worcester 30 Waterloo 18

THE jeers said it all as Worcester's professionals trudged off the sodden Sixways turf yesterday after once again frustrating the home crowd.

The National One leaders were not only swamped by the rainstorm which engulfed the stadium midway through the match but also the expectation levels which deemed a 30-18 victory a failure.

True, it was a poor display from a side capable of so much more, but at the final whistle Worcester had increased their lead at the top of the table to nine points.

However, it was the fifth home game that the side had failed to record the bonus point by scoring four tries and another example of them leaving their best form for their away-days.

Waterloo sat bottom of the league before kick-off and had yet to win a game away from Blundellsands this season. They also came into the match with the worst defensive record in the league. However, with the pressure definitely off the Merseysiders, they began to frustrate their full-time counterparts.

Indeed, for a brief period in the first half they actually led after Phil Belgian's penalty brace had cancelled out Sateki Tuipulotu's opener. And it took Worcester until the 35th minute before they re-took the lead after Tuipulotu's own brace of penalties put the leaders 9-6 up. However, Belgian turned from hero to villain just before the break when his fumble led to a Ricky Pellow try.

Pellow, recalled at scrum-half after an absence of four months, struggled overall in the Wet, Wet, Wet conditions but showed good awareness for the touch-down. Tuipulotu converted to give fans hope of the bonus point and as a rainbow appeared over the stadium, Worcester went in 16-6 up at half-time.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow looked obtainable two minutes into the second half when Dave Sims powered over for Worcester's second converted try.

Spencer Bromley, in as a last-minute replacement for 'flu victim Alistair Murdoch, added a third on 67 minutes to get the adrenaline flowing but after Tuipulotu's conversion, the players, inexplicably, took their foot off the pedal.

And Waterloo seized their chance as first Jonathan Brennand raced into the corned on 69 minutes and soon after substitute Craig Aikman danced his way in for a try, converted by Dave Telford.

Scott Barrow's misplaced pass late on in the match with Bromley in position for the fourth try summed up the day for the Gold'n'Blues.

And frustrated at the final whistle, the home supporters certainly vented their dismay at the players with a number of jeers.

However, it is Worcester who lead the table by nine points after yesterday's victory not Leeds. And as the players trudged into the changing rooms soaked to their skins, you wondered if those expectancy levels around the club could yet be the toughest opponent to overcome in the next few months.

Worcester: Calder, Tuipulotu, Barrow, Keil (Yapp 70), Bromley, Va'a, Pellow, Windo, Lamerton (Hall 68), Lyman, Sims, Zaltzman (Webster 72), Evans, Mather, Fryday. Reps not used: Collins, Carter, Jarman.