Stade Francais 33, Worcester Warriors 10 (From Worcester News)

Stade Francais 33, Worcester Warriors 10

7:43pm Sunday 22nd January 2012 in Match Reports

WORCESTER Warriors’ European hopes came to an end in the French capital as star-studded Stade Francais ruthlessly secured victory in the Amlin Challenge Cup decider at the Stade Charlety.

Richard Hill’s men knew only victory over the previously unbeaten Pariseans, who boasted an array of international talent, by eight clear points would be enough to ensure a place in the quarter-final draw.

But an irresistible first-half show from the hosts saw Aussie full-back Paul Warwick, Italian international number eight and home skipper Sergio Parisse and Morgan Turinui cross as Stade opened up a 21-3 lead.

Former England man Andy Goode, who had a spell playing in France with Brive, tried to spark a comeback with a superb solo effort.

However, an immediate response from Paul Sackey saw Stade secure the try bonus and victory with a late effort from Byron Kelleher finishing the scoring and Worcester’s involvement in the competition this season.

After home fly-half Jules Plisson missed a second-minute penalty, Goode gave Warriors the dream start as he slotted a kick of his own after the Frenchmen went offside.

Stade’s response was decisive and immediate, however, as lock Pascal Pape claimed the restart and drove forward.

A crunching hit on Warwick drove the full-back off his feet but a penalty, for coming in at the side, allowed him to take a quick tap penalty and crash over in the corner with Plisson adding the extras.

Another penalty gave Stade the chance to set up an attack and, from the line-out, Parisse controlled from the back before the number eight crashed over for the second try with Plisson adding the extras.

The Paris giants were now beginning to turn the screw with Parisse again instrumental as he took a high ball and rolled out of tackles before setting Stade away down the left. But the Italian blotted his copy book when he wasted an overlap by floating a pass into the hands of Josh Drauniniu.

The game, however, looked over on the stroke of half-time as some delicious handling saw Turinui glide over and Plisson add the extras as Stade opened up a 21-3 lead.

Stade continued where they had left off after the break with Drauniniu being forced to drag Julien Arias into touch as he looked to muscle his way down the line.

Worcester were playing with real verve at the start of the second-half with James Percival, Ed Shervington and Matt Kvesic all taking ball on with power.

The visitors were rewarded for their endeavour on 53 minutes when Goode showed his awareness with a chip and chase that he reached first to touch down. The fly-half then added the extras.

Worcester, from whom Alex Grove was shown a yellow card for a dust up with Pape, were suddenly in the ascendancy as Drauniniu broke down the left. He found the supporting Errie Claassens but the South African failed to hold on.

Hopes of a famous comeback, though, ended on the hour as a kick in behind bounced kindly for Sackey to touch down for the try bonus point and then Kelleher went over for the final try of the game.

Warriors: Classens; Garvey, Grove, Rasmussen, Drauniniu; Goode, Perry; Mullan, Shervington, Taumoepeau, Percival, C Jones, Betty, Abbott, Kvesic. Replacements: Frost (Classens 61), Carlisle (Rasmussen 56), Pennell (Perry 61), Porter (Mullan 56), Gulliver (Shervington 52), Currie (Taumoepeau 67), Gillies (Percival 56), Lutui (C Jones 52).