WORCESTER Rugby Club Ladies stormed to a 72-5 thrashing of Thurrock on their travels despite missing five key players through injury.

Young second-team players stepped up to take their chance in the Premiership as the leaders kept up their 100 per cent record.

Thurrock’s forwards played keep ball for the first six minutes but a strong tackle from player-of-the-match Louise Dennis, in her first start at hooker, forced turn-over ball.

Slick passing through the backs followed and led to an opening try for Samantha Bree in the corner. The score opened the floodgates and, despite robust defence from the hosts, Worcester’s dominance shone through with a try-scoring bonus point achieved by half-time.

Thurrock scored a consolation try in the 20th minute when Worcester reacted slowly to a penalty.

On leading 43-5 at the interval, Worcester faced a determined opposition fired up by a hostile home crowd in the second period.

But Thurrock could not match the quality of the visitors’ play which saw sublime exchanges of passing and lines run by the backs and forceful, effective breaks.

Heather Fisher and Danielle Waterman scored hat-tricks and Worcester’s replacement players performed admirably, especially scrum-half Bianca Blackburn when replacing the injured Charlotte Keane.

Ceri Large (2), Katherine Merchant (2) and Zoe Bennion scored the other tries with Megan Goddard and Large adding three conversions each. Head coach Luke Fisher has interesting selection decisions ahead after a clinical performance.

Sunday’s game against title-rivals Richmond has been postponed and will be rearranged as both clubs have players involved in sevens internationals this weekend.