6:20pm Sunday 13th December 2009
By Tom Guest
WORCESTER Warriors handed Connacht an early Christmas present with three gift-wrapped tries as the Sixways side all-but crashed out of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
The Irish province had not won in England for 12 years prior to this match and Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock cut a frustrated figure in the post-match press conference after seeing his side throw away a gilt-edged chance to put themselves into a strong position in pool two.
However, Ruddock admitted he is now likely to use the remainder of the competition to blood younger members of his squad, starting with Friday night’s trip to the Galway Sports-ground for the rematch with Connacht, and concentrate on the Guinness Premiership.
Early in the game, Australian full-back Chris Latham fired a penalty to near the Connacht line after the province’s left-wing Fionn Carr had held on too long. However, following a few drives from the line-out, Greg Rawlinson was guilty of the same offence.
After seven minutes, Connacht opened the scoring when fly-half Ian Keatley’s scruffy kick scraped through the posts after Tom Wood had conceded a penalty 40 metres out. Warriors fly-half Walker replied with a well-struck effort from out wide four minutes later, though, after good work from the front row forced a scrum penalty.
Chris Pennell, recalled to the wing in place of calf strain victim Rico Gear, then showed the Warriors faithful what they’ve been missing with an electric piece of play.
Chasing an up-and-under, the academy graduate got to the ball quickly, ripped it off his opposite number and showed fine pace to break into the Connacht 22. The ball was recycled where flanker Wood crashed over for a try, which Walker improved.
Worcester nearly doubled their try tally minutes later when Latham chipped in behind the visitors before chasing up his kick to tap-tackle full-back Gavin Duffy before the forwards piled in to pressure the ball. Warriors claimed possession, but Connacht managed to keep their line intact.
Alex Grove, making his first start since autumn international duty with Scotland, then had a moment to forget as his pass was picked off by Keatley, who ran half the length of the field to score. The Irish side’s fly-half failed to level the scores with the conversion.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued with the hosts winning a penalty from the re-start for holding on, which Walker dispatched to make it 13-8.
Prop Tevita Taumopeau continued to give loose-head rival Brett Wilkinson a torrid time at the set-piece, forcing a second penalty, but Walker’s attempt was marginally off target.
Connacht levelled the score with a well-worked try on the half-hour mark. Quick ball to the left saw an overlap created and outside-centre Niva Ta’auso stepped back inside Latham before finding Carr in space and the left-wing coasted over. Keatley was wayward with his conversion.
Connacht again threatened the Warriors’ 22 when Keatley’s deft chip was collected at pace by number eight George Naoupu. The home defence stood up to the challenge, but referee Jerome Garces brought play back for a penalty in front of the posts, which Keatley slotted, for a high tackle by Craig Gillies.
Warriors won an early second-half penalty when Connacht strayed offside and Latham showed good intent by kicking for the corner. However, a knock-on at the line-out saw the opportunity wasted.
From another strong Warriors scrum, Pennell made a dart for the try line, but was stopped short. As Jonny Arr looked to supply quick ball to the waiting backs, opposite number nine Frank Murphy went off-side and slapped the ball down, handing the hosts a simple penalty that Walker accepted.
The game began to stagnate as both sides battled for the upper hand in a closely-fought contest. But Warriors were the architects of their own downfall on the hour-mark as replacement hooker Aleki Lutui’s over-thrown line-out fell straight into the hands of his opposite number Sean Cronin, who had the simplest of tasks of crossing the whitewash. Keatley added the extras to give Connacht a 23-16 lead.
Unfazed, the hosts responded quickly with a try from Walker, who had moved to the right wing in place of Pennell to accommodate Matt Jones’ return from a long injury lay-off at stand-off.
With only two points in it, the game became frantic as Worcester tested Connacht’s re-solve. However, it was visiting prop Wilkinson who made the decisive contribution.
The Connacht number one summoned a huge scrum to win a last-gasp penalty in front of the Warriors posts, which Keatley slotted to seal a victory that all-but ended Worcester’s hopes of progressing in this competition.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/trade_directory/