Saturday, November 9, 2002

NOT quite the pantomime season yet but you get the impression that the audience will soon be shouting "he's behind you" to Craig Chalmers.

Certainly if Tim Walsh continues to perform in the style he displayed in the systematic dismantling of Manchester, Chalmers' fly half spot could be seriously threatened by the time Worcester travel to Rotherham in two week's time.

The Australian, who checked into Sixways earlier this month as cover for the injured James Brown, ran the show as Worcester coasted into the fifth round of the Powergen Cup and a trip to Halifax on November 30.

Not only was the 23-year-old's distribution impressive, his place kicking took the eye while his turn of pace gave the home side a new scoring threat from half back.

Two tries and nine conversions made it 28 points for the day -- not a bad full first team debut for the former Queensland star.

"It was no surprise to me," said Worcester's director of rugby John Brain afterwards. "Myself and Andy Keast knew exactly what we were getting when we brought him to the club.

"He's a threat when he gets the ball, can pass well and his place kicking today was very good. He's a quality player that's why he's at Worcester but he certainly didn't come here to sit on the bench. He poses danger for defences when he gets the ball and that's what Andy particularly looks for in a number 10.

"Most teams in National One won't know too much about him but I'm sure by Christmas they'll know all about him. Everyone wants to play in that Rotherham game and Tim's very much in the melting pot."

Walsh probably couldn't believe the time and space allowed by a Manchester side who knew their limits by the seventh minute when they were 19-0 down. Nnamdi Ezulike had sped in for two tries by then while fellow winger Craig Hudson had helped himself to a touchdown in the corner.

It just wasn't any sort of a contest and Worcester were at times able to play in first or second gear and still pose a threat. Sloppy defending allowed John Broxom in for Manchester but that was as good as it got for the Grove Park men.

Ezulike's pace was a constant thorn in their side and it was the former London Irish flyer who began a move which ended in Gavin Pfister's converted try to put Worcester 26-5 up.

The promising Hugo Southwell then continued his impressive cup form with a nicely worked try and Hudson bagged his second of the game just before the break as Worcester ended the half 40-5 ahead.

A dispirited Manchester looked even worse in the second period and it really was a case of how many Brain's side would put on them as they scored almost at will. James Ogilvie-Bull danced in without a challenge before Walsh claimed his first of the match with a 22-metre sprint.

Broxom punctuated the barrage somewhat with a 59th minute try but Worcester soon pressed on the gas and Southwell's 50-metre run proved too much for Manchester despite the full back simply running in a straight line rather than sidestepping the challenges. In between super sub Tom Richardson continued his scoring form with a try courtesy of Southwell's pace and movement.

The final word, however, came from Walsh as he again showed his lightning pace to race clear for the goal line. Judging by this display the Aussie hasn't come to Worcester to sit on the bench and that was made abundantly clear against a Manchester malaise.

Worcester: Southwell 6; Ezulike 7, Ogilvie-Bull 6, Officer 5, Hudson 5; NWALSH 8, Swanepoel 6; Lyman 6, Hall 6, Olver 7, Zaltzman 7, Gillies 6, N Mason 5, Pfister 7, Bates 7.

Replacements: O'Reilly 6 (Swanepoel 61), Richardson 6 (Hudson 45), Chalmers 6 (Officer 53), Gabey, Pearson 6 (Hall 53), Nias 6 (Bates 53), Davis 6 (Lyman 57).

Man of the match: Tim Walsh -- another Aussie on top.