Worcester Warriors 15 Harlequins 17 (From Worcester News)

Worcester Warriors 15 Harlequins 17

6:10pm Sunday 25th September 2011 in Match Reports By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

IF at first you don’t succeed, then try, try and try again — what Worcester Warriors head coach Richard Hill would give for three more tries!

Nobody can fault the effort and commitment Hill’s Sixways squad have put into each of their opening four games in the Aviva Premiership, but the stats don’t lie.

They’ve only mustered three touch-downs in those four outings, one of which was a penalty try, so after 320 minutes of top-flight rugby, Miles Benjamin and Dale Rasmussen are the only Warriors to have crossed the whitewash.

They are already adrift as the division’s lowest scorers — which is clearly a worry — and, after the gut-wrenching home defeat to Harlequins, Hill admitted his side’s white line fever is a cause for concern.

Another trouble will be the fact they are already languishing above only Newcastle, who have a princely seven scores to their name, in the embryonic league table.

Indeed, too early for full-on panic stations, but the Quins reversal has piled the pressure on ahead of Friday night’s crucial home clash with Northampton Saints, who themselves have made a faltering start to the season.

Had Warriors held on to the 15-3 lead they forged against the men from The Stoop to claim four points, doubtless there would have been a bouyant atmosphere building up to the Northampton game.

The home defeat last time out, however, could now breed a culture of fear going into what is quite feasibly a winnable match.

That aside, it is very difficult to judge the impact Kai Horstmann’s hamstring injury will have on Warriors. The stand-in skipper will be sidelined for up to six weeks and that leaves Hill desperately short of options in what is a key position.

Adam Balding and new recruit Richard Muagututia will both be involved for the Cavaliers in tonight’s ‘A’ team clash with Exeter Chiefs. The best performer is then likely to be handed the eight jersey for the Saints showdown.

The problem that presents is Balding struggles to put two games together without getting injured — let alone six weeks — while Muagututia hardly speaks English, will not know any of the line-out calls and has barely played rugby outside of Samoa. Up-and-coming back-rower Matt Kvesic could play eight, although the position ideally demands an experienced head.

Veteran Neil Best can also play at the back of the pack, but it would be detrimental to move him from the blindside flank.

Without doubt, Horstmann’s injury really leaves head coach Hill stuck between a rock and a hard place.