Worcester 71 Otley 14

THERE can be fewer more agonising sights for a visiting player than Chris Garrard's beaming smile as he leaves you in his wake bound for the goal-line.

Otley's crew saw it five times on Saturday as Worcester powered past the Yorkshire men with the most fluent rugby seen at Sixways for some time.

The 71-14 victory was a clear statement that John Brain's men are beginning to realise their potential after a difficult season in National One.

True, Otley were not the most demanding of visitors and they once again showed that they are a different proposition when they are away from Cross Green.

That, however, should take nothing away from the clinical nature of Worcester's play and execution which was plainly redundant earlier in the season. Leading 40-0 at half-time, the game was over as a contest and the Worcester model four months ago may have settled for that. Not now and, more than anything, it is that hunger which bodes well for next season.

The necessity now for Brain is to keep the vultures at bay as the Premiership agents begin to pick at the bones of another promotion-less season. Andrew Higgins was the biggest price to pay for Worcester last season at losing out in the title race and with Garrard scoring almost at will, contractual negotiations will be interesting over the next month at Sixways.

Bewildered

On Saturday, the Australian was simply on fire. The clock had reached 37 seconds when Garrard inflicted the first body blow on a bewildered Otley side. The ever-reliable Tony Yapp, back in the Worcester side because of a hamstring injury to Craig Chalmers, moved the ball out wide and Garrard, after an assist from the lively Ben Hinshelwood, touched down for a sensational start. Yapp eased over the extra points and Worcester were on top with only a minute on the watch.

Twelve minutes later and Garrard was again on the end of some fine work when full back Duncan Roke burst through before off-loading to the former Wests flyer who duly scored. Yapp was on target with the conversion before taking centre stage himself. Ever alert, on 19 minutes, he took a quick tap penalty and flew in for a clever try which he then converted.

Otley's talismanic figure Simon Binns did his best to stem the flow with some crafty kicks but few team-mates seemed on the same wavelength as the fly-half.

There could not have been a clearer contrast than the relationship between Yapp and his backs as, 15 minutes before half-time, the former Bedford man played his part in a training ground routine which paid full dividends.

After the ball came back from a penalty, Yapp delayed a pass before putting in Hinshelwood for a superbly crafted converted try.

Out of the limelight for all of 17 minutes, Garrard then burst back to top billing when he finished off some powerful forward play to complete his hat trick. The only surprise was Yapp's off target conversion but as the wind began to batter Sixways, kicks at goal became almost a lottery.

Rather than the six numbers, however, Neil Mason may have viewed the number six shirt as something of a scoop as he started a league game for the first time. The under-21 ace displayed frighteningly mature habits during the game which underlined Brain's trust in the young man. And not only was he able to put in the hard work when it mattered, he popped up just before half time to end a spectacular move. Hinshelwood and Yapp were both heavily involved in the best move of the match which saw the ball used majestically before Mason finished off. It was a champagne moment for the team, for Mason and for the coaches who are, with the ground now drying out, beginning to see their plans evolve.

Exploited

Certainly Brain deserves credit for the performance. The preparation for Otley looked first class with every weakness exploited by the players who looked to be completely in control from the first whistle to the last. Yapp converted Mason's effort and Worcester were given a standing ovation at the break by a clearly entertained crowd.

Garrard (two), Chris Yates and Roke rubbed salt into a rather ominous looking wound for Otley in the second half before referee Dave Pearson awarded Worcester a penalty try with five minutes left following a rash foul on substitute Jon Higgins.

Yapp added another three conversions while Otley avoided a whitewash through an Ian Carroll try and a Tim Foster score, both converted by Binns.

Rob Whatmuff's yellow card only compounded their woes although Worcester's substitute Chris Hall would have felt hard-done-by for his sin-binning midway through the half.

With under-21s Mason, Higgins and lock Ben Hughes all enjoying game-time in the match it was a hugely positive day for Worcester and, individually, for Garrard.

The winger has now notched up 19 tries and with five games to go this season, the prospect of struggling Bracknell at the weekend will hardly wipe the smile off his face.

The priority at Worcester is that such luminaries are allowed to light up Sixways again next season.

Worcester: Roke 8, Murdoch 7, Hinshelwood 8, Yates 7, GARRARD 9, Yapp 8, Smith 7; Windo 7, Ross 6, Lyman 8, Sims 7, Soper 7, Mason 8, Jones 7, Jenner 7.

Replacements: Pellow 6 (Smith 55), Higgins 7 (Roke 63), Barrow 8 (Yates 60), Carter 7 (Jones 63), Hall 6 (Ross 51), Hughes 7 (Sims 63), Moreno 6 (Lyman 40).

Man of the match: CHRIS GARRARD - five tries against any opposition is a fine achievement.