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Captain: Tony Windo

Worcester V Wakefield 25 Oct 03
Crowd : 2,500

Kick-Off

15:00
Weather : Very Cold, Sunny Referee .
Ground : Excellent Half Time Score 36 : 10
Wind : Nil Full Time Score 46 : 15
Food : At The Fetch Man Of Match Drew Hickey
Beer : Warm Scores 6 Tries, 4 Con, 2 Pen
2003-2004 2004 - 2005 2005 - 2006 2006 - 2007 2007 - 2008 2008 - 2009 2009 - 2010

Rate=Rating,   Try=Tries,    Pen=Penalties,    Con=Conversions,    DG-Drop Goals

Rate Try Pen Con DG Rate Try Pen Con DG Rate Try Pen Con DG
Duncan Roke 7 1 . . . Tony Windo 7 1 . . . Jon Hylton . . . . .
Darren O'Leary 5 . . . . Ben Daly 7 . . . . David Officer 6 . . . .
Wes Davies 8 . . . . Lee Fortey 8 . . . . Rhodri McAtee 6 . . . .
Tommy Hayes 6 . 2 5 . Mark Gabey 7 . . . . Tom Warren . . . . .
Chris Garrard 5 . . . . Craig Gillies 6 . . . . Chris Hall 6 . . . .
James Brown 8 . . . . Neil Mason 7 . . . . Dan Zaltsman . . . . .
Mat Powell 6 . . . . Drew Hickey 9 2 . . . Matt Evans . . . . .
. . . . . . Gavin Pfister 8 2 . . . . . . . . .

Had Enough? Then back to the first half

The second half was to see the golden start made by the Warriors turn to fools gold before our very eyes!

It was expected that Wakefield would come out with all guns blazing, they are a very competent team. However you have to meet determination by equal determination if you are to become a really good side.

I am afraid to say we came out with our minds still in the dressing room pondering the full time score. "The full time score comes at the final whistle and not before.

Certainly Wakefield started to play rugby buoyed up by the last minute try at the end of the first half.

Wakefield were gifted the line out with some dreadful throwing from Ben Daley. It is this part of the game that you have to win all your own ball and try to steal 2/3 opposition throws. For the first 20 minutes of the second half we did not take one line out. The timing and direction was just not good enough at this level of rugby
This totally disrupted the pattern putting Worcester on the back foot.

Wakefield do not need to be asked to move in when gifted all the territory and possession. There forwards were gaining in confidence by the minute

The Warriors defended well, without giving much ground, but every time an attack was launched the ball was just simply given away either in the tackle of from silly naive passing trying to move the ball around.

If you are in the lead and still dominant then, yes go for the champagne rugby but when you are not in control it makes life worse, losing even more control.

It looked shambolic, the shape, the composure the cutting edge had all gone down the proverbial plug-hole and nobody was taking the lead in bringing it back. Where were the decision makers who on earth was in control

We had looked devastating in the first half cutting through with ease and very little threat of a counter attack.

Now we were having to defend in depth, there was no problem with coping with the Wakefield 8 but we suddenly looked as likely to score a try as Wakefield did in the first half.

Much of this was caused by the sheer determination and tenacity of the Wakefield pack. They were playing for pride and a losing bonus point

As the second half developed different players were now coming to the fore, Neil mason, Lee Fortey were giving it all they had. there were some massive hits in and around the rucks lead by Ben Daly and Drew Hickey.

There were some wild punches being thrown by players in sheer frustration. One incident in front of the West stand and within feet of the touch judge should have ended in a yellow card, it did not and that was the signal for a loss of control from the officials. The same Wakefield player openly punched another Worcester forward 3 minutes later, once again the official did nothing

Ben Daly was substituted by the returning Chris Hall and the lineouts started to change. Gradually the Warriors fought their way back into the driving seat.

However they just could not get that final pass to the man in space for the try. Ball was now being kicked away again and again, showing lack of confidence or panic to score.

 

The tackling was fierce and some of the kicking was scoolboy'ish as seen on the left. Just what was he trying to do??

Finally we had a score Tommy Hayes converted a penalty and Wakefield got a well deserved try, which was not converted

Warriors 39 ; 15 Wakefield

The lineouts were now starting to purr along giving Worcester the confidence and the space to regain that elusive attacking style of the first half.

Pressure was now being applied to all parts of the Wakefield defence, but this time when it broke down Wakefield attacked with equal venom and style.

The Warriors now having to pull out some try saving tackles before another well deserved Wakefield try was scored

This guy was away nothing between him and the line, apart from 60 meters of grass, he may have made it who knows as young McAtee took him into touch with a great tackle.

Now into the last 5 minutes of the game the pressure began to tell once again. Another penalty allowed Brownie to put the forwards into their favourite corner. Once again the ball was taken by Craig Gillies and the rest is becoming a habit a rolling, driving maul and Gavin Pfister went over for his 2nd try of the day

Final Score Warriors 46 : 15 Wakefield

Observations:

1.   The obvious, what on earth happened in the second half, how can a side so obviously outclassed cause us to play like young academy players.

2.   The first half was sublime in its execution and sheer quality of play.

3.   Drew Hickey is a master craftsman and is once again my man of the match.

4.   James Brown once again was in top form but kicked away good possession in the second half.

5.   Wes Davies if given a run in the No13 shirt is going to take some shifting.

 

6.   Both wingers were a complete disappointment and really do need to take a long hard look at themselves.

7.  We need to get some of the walking wounded fit before others join them and we run out of fit players.

8.   Each game the potential for a massive game gets better and better. but we have to get all playing together by the middle of October.

9.   11 meetings now and still not scored less them 30 points.

10.   Onto game 7 in two weeks time with a small visit upto Wakefield in between. Yet another distraction from the main competition!!

Had Enough? Then back to the first half

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