Saturday, January 19, 2002

SATEKI Tuipulotu warmed up for next weekend's clash of the titans with a virtuoso display in a 66-17 romp for Worcester over Henley Hawks.

The Tongan was back to his best as he claimed a record 32-point haul featuring a stunning hat-trick and a 100 per cent success rate with the boot at Sixways.

Tuipulotu, who was moved to the wing to accommodate Duncan Roke at full-back, ripped the Hawks apart in a performance which suggested he has overcome his injury problems just in time for Saturday's trip to Rotherham in the promotion shoot-out.

And just as Tuipulotu found his form, Worcester now look to be getting the best out of their backs once again as they racked up their biggest points haul of the season on a day which put the smiles back into the club.

The win kept them three points behind Rotherham because of the National One leaders' victory at Coventry but, more importantly, gave Worcester's squad a huge confidence boost ahead of the crunch match.

They made the best possible start on Saturday as Henley gave an early indication as to just why they look relegation fodder. A dreadful clearance was snapped up by Richard Smith before Craig Chalmers and Gary Trueman, in for Chris Yates, combined to set up Tuipulotu after just 40 seconds. Earlier in the season, still suffering from a knee injury and a loss of form, he may well have hesitated but this was a re-invigorated man and he powered to the line with absolute conviction. His conversion was just as good as he put his side 7-0 ahead.

Coach John Brain had made the decision to give Roke a chance at 15 after his encouraging Warriors display at Bath last week. However, the former Henley man was almost caught out on five minutes when his rather airy-fairy attempt at defending failed and Bruce Rowland dived in for, what he thought, was a try. In the end, referee Robin Goodliffe disallowed the score but it was an alarming moment for Roke which, no doubt, will be noted on the video analysis this week.

Superstitious supporters will point to the fact that Worcester then began to play their best rugby after they were forced to change strip by the referee because of an obvious colour clash with Henley. It was a clash which has been allowed to stand for many games this season, including the fixture at Dry Leas in September, but Worcester had to then adopt their away kit from three years ago, a season which was characterised by their free-scoring team. An amusing moment for the supporters, not perhaps for Worcester's sponsors.

The change, however, certainly seemed to do the trick as Tuipulotu scored his second converted try of the match after nice work from Roke and the impressive Trueman. As it was an afternoon of change, referee Goodliffe got in on the act with his own shirt switch before Worcester began to squeeze the life out of Henley. Tuipulotu's penalty put the result beyond doubt before a Roke surge set up skipper for the day Alistair Murdoch for Worcester's third. Tuipulotu converted but it was to be the final action of the day for Roke who left the field following a spasm in his calf.

Henley's dreadful day was summed up in the 26th minute when, after a five-metre scrum, Barry Reeves fumbled the ball and the ever-alert Smith sniped to make it 29-0. Tuipulotu then slotted over the conversion to compound the Hawks' misery.

Jon Fabien's penalty was simply a punctuation in the relentless Worcester pressure and, in stoppage time, Ben Hinshelwood evaded four challenges before touching down for what was an outstanding try. The conversion came but there was still time for another first half try as Hinshelwood, in the 48th minute, collected Dan Zaltman's pass, kicked on and finished clinically. Mr Consistent, Tuipulotu, did the honours with the conversion as Sixways rejoiced at a 45-3 half time scoreline.

Tuipulotu - who else? - flew in with a typically extravagant dive to complete his treble just five minutes after the break. The winger was on the end of good work from debutant Richard Nias and Trueman, again, to secure the score before slotting another conversion. Whether the celebratory 'Tiger Feet' music, after the score, was quite to Tuipulotu's taste was debatable but his mauling of the Hawks was all too evident.

To their credit, they came back with a converted Russel Osman try but it was a consolation effort in every sense. Murdoch's second try, on 64 minutes, was again the result of Trueman's excellent work ethic but the now cramped up Tuipulotu had to settle for his points tally as substitute Tony Yapp kicked the extra points.

There was still time for Jim Jenner to power through for Worcester's final converted try before Henley ended the match with another score, this time Michael McNair touching down and Fabian converting.

It was, however, undoubtedly Tuipulotu's day and unquestionably a personal triumph after a difficult season. Rotherham take note. Sateki's back in business.

Worcester: Roke 6, NTUIPULOTU 10, Hinshelwood 7, Trueman 9, Murdoch 7, Chalmers 7, Smith 8; Windo 8, Ross 8, Moreno 9, Zaltzman 8, Morgan 8, Evans 9, Nias 8, Jenner 9.

Replacements: Moncrief 7 (Smith 59), Yapp 7 (Chalmers 50), Stanley 6 (Roke 22), Hall 7 (Ross 54), Carter 7 (Evans 56), Colllins 6 (Windo 50), Sims 7 (Morgan 56).

Man of the match: SATEKI TUIPULOTU. Worcester's forwards impressed but the big man has to take the plaudits.