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Once again Barrow kicked too deep giving Werner plenty of time to catch and set up a riposte. Barrow was too easy to read with a very limited game plan, kick for position or short grubbers. Once the backrow and smiley were onto it, it was never a threat again but it was continually tried Massive waste of any possession short as it was |
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Once again Worcester were on the attack in the Orrell 22,
with the Orrell forwards having to fight their way out of defence, forced on
them by the speed of the Worcester backrow and midfield. Alfie did not look
in peek condition but he stood out from the other Orrell forwards in effort
and success in making yards. The Worcester scrummaging machine was in powerful form at the set piece, making sure Orrell never got one single fast ball away from a scrum. Werner was having a great game applying pressure to their World Cup scrum half |
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The backrow of Drew Hickey, Christian Evans and more
devastatingly Gavin Pfister were in immaculate form. First to every single
50/50 ball securing any loose possession from forced errors. Time after time
they turned ball over in the tackle. If they did not release in would have
been Hayes for another hatful. Drew Hickey was every where making the link or supporting players in the tackle and with Big Mark Gabey always available to take on the power drives a formidable weapon indeed |
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They were all starting to feel the pressure as the game
entered the second quarter. A vital period in any game, win this and the next quarter and the odds are in your favour of a win. Even on their throws the threat of Gillies was enough for them to throw too high and over the top of their jumpers. 3/4 balls were taken from bad throws at the line. Again and again the Warriors drove forward not making massive yardage but enough to keep them on the back foot and defending. It was not all forwards, the ball was moved wide when the timing was right and the threat was always there |
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Seen here yet another ball was stolen off the top by Craig
Gillies. What a season he is having and with Mark Gabey and Drew Hickey we
have the best lineout in the division by some margin. The Orrell defence on paper looked very suspect, but this was not the case today. At their home ground and the biggest game of the season they tightened up and defended very well indeed. Although to defend for such long periods means you get very little opportunity to attack. This worked fine keeping the Orrell attacking machine at bay |
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The driving forwards once again provided the pressure. Orrell once again dragged the maul down and this time it was just inside the Worcester half 55 meters out. Well, in came Tommy, give me a go he quietly says. The ball was set, the crowd quiet, thump, what a super kick Orrell 0 : 9 Worcester |
 The crowd went wild, what an incredible kick, AGAIN!!! |
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The effect on the Orrell team and supporters was palpable,
he had done it to them again. This would keep them honest at the mauls
otherwise we were going to score even more. Orrell have by far the biggest
penalty count against them in the top 6 clubs and majority are around the
maul and tackle. What Smiley did is quite legal he is behind the ball and if their scrumhalf allows him to get in there then they have to deal with that |
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The Warriors forwards now took the game by the scruff of
the neck, no frantic attacks, just solid intense pressure which produced
hard yard after hard yard. 5 times we were held up or repulsed on the Orrell try line, setting up some great attacks but Orrell held firm. Many defences have crumpled under this sort of onslaught, but not them. The pride and the desire to win this very important game was still burning bright in their hearts. It was only 9 points one score and they would be back into the game. The crowd were baying for another score with chants of "Worcester, Worcester" echoing across the stadium |
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 He's on your tail and he's "After YOU"!!! |
Worcester looked dangerous and capable of scoring. At this
point it could not be seen where the threat could possible come from Orrell.
It was going to need something special for them to break this steel wall of
Warriors
The half ended with once again Worcester on the attack |
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