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| Tuts' Audio Report | The John Brain Interview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At half time we had
two presentations as the Worcester Warriors Supporters Club presented
Rachael Lyman with a Cheque for £1,000 for Neil's Testimonial Fund. Neil is
the longest serving player at the club being with us from Div2 to the
premiership spread over 10 glorious years The money had been collected at various WWSC functions throughout the year |
The second
presentation was from the Northampton Cardiac Club, who had organised a Walk
For Life in October last year. A signed Warriors shirt was auctioned off to
raise funds the final bid was £370 from Eaststandbulldogg. A truly wonderful
bid for a very worthwhile charity. Thank you Saints Cardiac Club and thank you Eastsandbulldogg |
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Shane Drahm gat the game started with high hanging ball which Craig Gillies took under enormous pressure. Drahm was having another influential game creating all the openings carved out by the saints |
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The ball was
quickly moved to Delport who quickly got the ball away foe a massive touch
kick deep into Indian Territory. These pics are for the girls to compensate for last weeks report, enjoy |
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14:13 and all to
play for! 40 minutes of total commitment and that was from the supporters
never mind the players. the stadium was rocking. We had had some quite moments as stress levels and other scores filtered through. But we were in the lead and nothing was going to stop us now. Every run, every tackle, every kick was greeted with louder and louder cheers. When defending the crowd roared like caged lions, 1,000's of them in unison and with one purpose to defend our home territory. NO-ONE WILL PASS!!!!!! |
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The lineouts were
now in our control as Craig Gillies started to steal and disrupt ball after
ball. He is not only very good a securing our own ball but a "expert" at
stealing opposition balls!! Worcester were the side creating the gaps and the pressure time and again the line was broken only for some superb tackling to close off the gaping door. It was high octane stuff. not pretty but very exciting. Always looking like a score could come at any time |
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Mat Powell was
having a great game as was my man of the match Drew Hickey, how significant
his efforts would be was to come later. Again and again Drahm relieved the pressure with some searing kicks to touch, all the time staying calm and collected In the 22 it was a matter of getting the points. James Brown failed at 3 attempted drop kicks with 7 iron slaps. Was the pressure getting to him. Who could blame him if it did. His drop goals had won the game at Kingston Park would he do it again?? |
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Now it was the turn
of Shane Drahm to secure the points. however yet another miss timed slap
caused the ball to fail to get close the posts. The nerves were starting to jangle any team could win this and the crown knew it as it re-charged in with more and more cheering |
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Finally the scenario so many time published din all the media arrived. Worcester were penalised for slowing holding on some 53 meters out. In came Shane Drahm. His thoughts of future employment firmly left in the dressing room. The crowd hushed to a painful silence. Thump, the ball set off and prayers on both side lit up the sky. On it went, the line was good, Saints supporters started to rumble, did it have the legs. Yes, the flags went up and they went wild with delight. Once again the lead had changed hands Warriors 14 : 16 Saints |
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What happened next
is what has made Warriors supporters so special, "Tactical Chanting". They
cheered louder and louder you would have thought they had gone into the
lead. Which is exactly the desired effect. Worcester had already begun to take control and were starting to develop some punishing phases. the penalty was a simple interlude as the re-grouped and can back at Saints with even more passion. Drahm was substituted and like every substitution creates uncertainty in defence, now was the time to attack the 9/10 position |
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A set move which
had proved successful before was called. It ends up with a delayed pass from
Windo to Hickey as he comes from nowhere. the line was perfect, the pass
sublime and Hickey smashed through the gap. He still had 10 meters to go with players running at him and the fullback getting back to him. The crowd were on there feet 8,000 voices cheered and cheered as Drew drove closer and closer. The line was there as force of numbers forced him towards the ground. With on super-human effort he dived over and slammed the ball over the line |
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Absolute
pandemonium broke out. Players and supporters screaming, clapping kissing
and even tears were rolling down the faces as once again Worcester went into
the lead Warriors 21 : 16 Saints |
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The stadium moved,
I am convinced we move a meter nearer the motorways as the noise became
deafening. This is what support is about and after 8 months we were revelling in it |
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From the restart
the ball was cleanly taken by Sanderson who was laid flat on the floor and
pinged for not releasing. This time it was Grayson, another established user of the size 9's. He calmly converted the ball which left the game finely balanced on Warriors 21 : 19 saints |
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But importantly the
Warriors were in the ascendancy and were not going to let it slip now. We are a side that has always got stronger as the game goes on. Now it was time to give it all for the last 3 minutes. By now the supporters were beside themselves calling upon their last reserves of energy, another decibel and clap, keep the players going forward. Would the whistle go? We were awarded a scrum, "last time in play", White. Scrum won, kick it out screamed the crowd and mat powell with the very last kick of the 2004-2005 season secured Premiership rugby for years to come!! |
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The Worcester
supporters were ecstatic the players were in absolute heaven a great
achievement and against all odds this team put together by John Brain had
won NINE games in their first season!! Within 3 minutes we also heard that Saints were safe and the real celebrations started with both sets of fans having a great time |
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WHO SAID JOHN BRAIN DOESN'T SMILE |
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GREAT TEAM GREAT COACH GREAT CLUB
OUR CLUB THE WORCESTER WARRIORS |
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Observations: ONE What a magnificent end to an incredible first season at the top table. Not only have we won 9 games and secured our premiership future we are in the wild card play-offs for the Heineken Cup |
TWO What a team, What a set of supporter What a club We have said it many times, but it is true: We are building something very special at Sixways And YOU are ALL part of it, this is OUR Club, OUR team, celebrate every second of this amazing year!!! |
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