Coventry are an uncompromising team smarting from one of their poorest starts to any season. They had recruited well over the last few weeks. They were determined to stop Worcester getting that all important bonus point, they should have tried to win!

He certainly leads from the front, a very tough hombre, who consistently played on the edge of legality throughout the whole game. A sterner ref would have despatched him earlier to the bin than eventually ended up.

The constant intimidation from the whole Coventry pack was a sorry state for such a well respected club to get itself  into. Bully boy tactics will not work against this far superior 8.

Worcester did respond at times and must be aware of these nefarious tactics

The Coventry forwards had no answer apart from delaying tactics, coupled with constant slowing down tactics with numerous feigned injuries. A method which eventually bit them back with all the extra time added on at the ends of both halves.

If the Coventry forwards had shown as much skill as their magnificent mid-field defence then they may very well have pulled off a surprise win!

Some of the clearly targeted physical attacks on Craig Gillies and Werner Swanepoel, should have been severely punished. This was clearly the game plan, as it was consistent in it's execution.

However The Warriors took it on the chin and demonstrated how to deal with such lame tactics. At every opportunity the Worcester pack simply drove them backwards onto the backsides. Only simple handling errors stopped an avalanche of tries being scored in the first 15 minutes, PLUS as stated earlier their magnificent midfield defence

However, the line was reset and what better way to respond than to take the line with consummate ease and power towards the line. If the drive had not been pulled down yet again it would have been a simple 5 points. A penalty was awarded which was taken as a scrum, however a great tackle in midfield saved the day and a penalty conceded for holding on. Respite for the beleaguered Coventry defence

The Worcester supporters were now in full song as the Warriors swept forward with attack after attack. It was all Worcester surely one of these attacks would bear fruit and open the gates.

Eventually the sheer intensity of the attacks breached the very impressive defence, with Mark Gabey appearing on the outside to steamroller his way over for a well earned try. Unfortunately Tommy Hayes failed with the conversion

Worcester 5 : Coventry 0

The Coventry defence just got better and better. It was written all over their faces, "No more scores from Worcester". They were hammering in at the loose, the maul, in the tackle, it was a hard game out there, with  both teams giving it their all.

For about 10 minutes the game ebbed and flowed about the halfway line with neither team gaining any real advantage

Werner was not having a good game on several occasions he was just not upto the speed of the game. In his desire to stretch the Coventry defence he threw a crazily long pass, which had little speed or direction. Coventry capitalised on the ensuing turnover, scoring a well deserved try. The try being converted, taking Coventry into a shock half time lead.

Half  Time

Worcester 5 : 7 Coventry