Saturday, October 30, 2004

WORCESTER Warriors' first venture into European cup rugby ended in defeat at French club Brive on Saturday night.

The conditions at Sixways for the first leg saw the Warriors play the forward game but with the French club making nine changes -- five in the pack -- they soon wiped out the 14-point deficit on a night made for an expansive game.

French international fly half Alain Penaud was looking to take the plaudits but his winger Julien Laharrague was the star for his side on the night, he touched down twice and found the mark with three penalties while converting three of his side's five tries.

But this was not to say that the Warriors did not play their part in a well contested match. The forwards did well and at times put the home side on the back foot with drives and with ball in hand.

Daren O'Leary came in for Ben Hinshelwood, who was struck down by back spasms before the clash, but Worcester's back line found it tough against a disciplined defence.

Laharrague put his side ahead with a penalty after four minutes but by then the 350 supporters from Worcester could see what pace the home backs could call on.

Ludovic Valbon then found room after seven minutes to touch down and Laharrague added the kick. Fly half James Brown's penalty cut the deficit but once again the home side hit back as Penaud set his back line into overdrive and Laharrague dived in under the posts.

Winger Yves Donguy then put Brive into the lead over both games, again the vistors would have been disappointed by the way he got to the line. Laharrague added a penalty just before half time as the home side led 25-3.

Brive added the fourth try, five minutes after the break, Laharrague again on hand before also converting.

The French were now out of sight but the Warriors, inspired by the captain Pat Sanderson once more, made the home defence work. However, as in the last few Premiership games, small errors curtailed their ambition to get back into the match.

From one knock-on, Penaud picked-up and away he went only to have the Warriors full-back Thinus Delport knock him backwards with by far the best tackle so far this season.

It must have lifted the visitors because, soon after, Delport dived over for a try and with Tommy Hayes -- now on for Brown -- adding the kick from wide out.

The Warriors then would have been very disappointed with the last Brive try as the kick ahead appeared to go out of play before Donguy dived on the ball and referee Rob Dickson awarded the try. Laharrague still had time to add his third penalty on full time.

Worcester will now drop down into the European Shield after failing to pick up one of the 'lucky losers' spots.

Worcester: Delport 8; Gollings 7 (Trueman 7), Rasmussen 7, Lombard 7 (Hayes 7), O'Leary 7; Brown 7, Powell 7; Sparks 8 (Windo 7), Daly 8, Horsman 8, Collier 7, Murphy 7 (Gillies 7), Gabey 7, (MacLeod-Henderson 7), SANDERSON 9, Hickey 7.

Man of the match: PAT SANDERSON -- Surely the best seven in England?