Saturday, February 23, 2002

IF Jim Jenner moved away from Worcester Rugby Club as joint player of the year a season-and-a-half ago, he is well on the way to taking the honour solely after another outstanding display on Saturday.

The back row forward was instrumental in battering down Wakefield's defences as Worcester swept away the National One strugglers in a 36-8 victory at Sixways.

The home side ran in five tries and produced a second half performance which was somewhat overshadowed by Rotherham's late, late win at Bedford which virtually rules out promotion for the Sixways club this season.

If, however, Worcester are looking to next season there were reasons to be cheerful with a blend of youth and experience on show. Under 21 flanker Neil Mason was given his first taste of league action while Jenner's form continued in the same astonishing vein it has been at for most of the season.

Indeed, it was the 30-year-old who set up Worcester's opener as he powered his way through Wakefield's midfield before Ben Hinshelwood put in full back Duncan Roke for the opener after 14 minutes. After Manchester it seemed an eternity to wait for a try but in Wakefield we were looking at more dogged outfit.

The Yorkshire side enjoyed periods of possession during the first half and, with the wind at their backs, caused Worcester some problems. They then, however, became sucked in too easily on 28 minutes and Hinshelwood pounced for an unconverted try.

The Australian then almost gifted the visitors a soft score in stoppage time when, after a Rob Liley penalty, he missed the ball and James Tapster had what seemed a cast-iron try. He ran 50 metres unchallenged, kicking on, before incredibly knocking on just before the line to the sheer disbelief of the crowd. It was a moment which could have changed the game but, in the second half, Worcester came out a different team.

Led by Jenner, the Gold'n'Blues made it 17-3 after 53 minutes when the former Newcastle man was on the end of some good work by Mason, Roke and the returning Winston Stanley. The Canadian winger began the game as if the world was weighing on his shoulders but as the match progressed, he started to find some rhythm and the confidence to express himself. Jenner's try was converted by Craig Chalmers and Worcester began to ease through the gears.

Another break saw Chalmers, Alistair Murdoch and then Richard Smith run Wakefield ragged and the Welshman followed up for the bonus point try on 56 minutes. Chalmers converted before Chris Garrard jinked his way past three challenges on the left and the fly half slotted the extra points.

There was still time for another Hinshelwood try as he sped away from the Wakefield midfield but the visitors had the final word through Jon Feeley's individual effort to end the scoring on a positive afternoon for Worcester.

Worcester: Roke 7, Stanley 7, Hinshelwood 8, Murdoch 7, Garrard 7, Chalmers 7, Smith 7, Windo 7, Hall 8, Lyman 8, Sims 8, Morgan 8, Evans 6, Jones 7, JENNER 9.

Replacements: Moncrief 7 (Smith 64), Vile 6 (Roke 65), Mason 7 (Evans 36), Carter 6 (Jones 57), Ross 6 (Hall 55), Soper 6 (Sims 67), Moreno.

Man of the match: JIM JENNER - his sheer consistency must be a coach's dream.