6:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Tom Guest
MIKE Ruddock was disappointed to see Warriors ‘A’ out-smarted at the breakdown by youthful Northampton Wanderers in the ‘A’ League Northern Conference at Sixways.
Despite Worcester fielding a strong side due to their two-week lack of a competitive fixture, Wanderers claimed a 25-23 success.
Warriors director of rugby Ruddock insisted his side played all the rugby but could not compete at the breakdown, turning over possession on a regular basis, as well as losing Marcel Garvey to a late yellow card.
He said: “In fairness to Northampton, they dug in, gave us a lesson in the contact area and turned us over a lot.
“It was a good lesson to remind us how important that area will be in our next league game against Leicester.
“We have the ability to play good rugby but that doesn’t matter if we don’t win the contest in the tackle area.
“It was good to see Rico Gear get a try and a confidence boost and it was the same with Netani Talei. It is good that he is back in action and Netani looked confident with his shoulder.”
Ruddock’s hopes of setting up a training ground match with Moseley or Coventry have been scuppered by the two sides’ involvement in the Championship’s relegation play-offs.
He added: “We could not get a game against Moseley or Coventry arranged because of the play-offs. They both have injury problems and could not justify an extra contact session against a Guinness Premiership side.”
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