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Captain: Pat Sanderson

Warriors V  Saracens 17 Sep 05
Crowd : 8,177

Kick-Off:

14:00
Weather : Hot & Sunny Referee: Mr Pearson
Ground : Perfect Half Time Score: 10 : 12
Wind : Strong Westerly Full Time Score: 25 : 24
Food : Needs Attention Man Of Match: Drew Hickey
Beer : Excellent Scores: 2 try, 1 PT, 1 con, 2pen

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
Nocolas Le Roux 8 . . . . Tony Windo 8 1 . . . Mark Tucker . . . . .
Johnny Hylton 6 . . . . Van Neikerk 8 . . . . Gary Trueman 6 . . . .
Thomas Lombard 7 . . . . Chris Horsman 8 . . . . Mat Powell 7 . . . .
Dale Rasmussen 6 . . . . Phil Murphy 8 . . . . Tevita T 7 . . . .
Ben Hinshelwood 6 . . . . Craig Gillies 8 . . . . Chris Fortey 7 . . . .
Shane Drahm 7 . 2 1 . Saiosi Vaili 8 . . . . Tim Collier 8 . . . .
Andy Gommersall 6 . . . . Pat Sanderson 8 . . . . Kai Horstman 8 . . . .
. . . . . . Drew Hickey 8 1 . . . . . . . . .
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Tuts' Audio Report   John Brain Interview

What a start to the season!!

2 games in a undefeated, Gloucester a close game which we drew but honours were definately in our back pack. London Irish the runaway leaders after game 1 with a four try bonus win over Leeds at Twickenham. were beaten in their own backyard. It was intense and some say boring. however I say it was brilliant forward play and total dominance once the second half started.

It was back to Fortress Sixways and our friends from the deep South. Saracens were being touted as championship contenders against the "fighting" minnows. The two teams that were showing the power up front to deal with all other clubs. The clash would be momentous. No-one had given us a chance, all pundits predicted a hard but comfortable win for Saracens.

Never give in, Never let the other side win, We knew we were good enough no matter how much respect others did or did not give us.

THIS IS FORTRESS SIXWAYS

Out came the two teams after their final warm-ups.

Pat Sanderson looking steely eyed and determined that his club, Worcester, were not ever going to take a backward step.

Followed on by Hickey, Lombard, Horsman and Gillies, names that were now on the lips of many supporters up and down the country.

Two players who were to have a big effect on the game were getting their first start at Sixways, Shane Drahm and the fizzing Nicolas Le Roux

Two small men with massive character!

The game kicked off, with the 9,000+ crowd releasing the emotions in a gigantic chant of the now famous "Warriorrrssss....Warriorrrsss"

The pulse rates accelerated as the two sets of forwards collided in midfield. Ouch, no quarter being asked or given on this battlefield.

It was Worcester who first into their stride as they attacked with pace and power. Lets test out thos big Saracens and they did, they found them more than capable. This was going to be a tough encounter of the physical kind!

From the early pressure Worcester were awarded two penalties for infringements on the ground from a certain Mr Chesney. Bothe were missed as the ball slid by the right hand upright taken by a very strong cross wind.

However it was Worcester who were having the best of the exchanges but no points.

Before you could say Thomas cast.... in they slipped for a superb opening try. Slicing through the Worcester defence like a hot Scimitar through camel fat.

Worcester 0 : 5 Saracens

The forward pressure was telling on the visiting forwards as the initial cracks of indiscipline started to appear.

From a great counter attack set up from Nicolas's fisrt touch of the ball the balls was driven deep into enemy territory.

On came the power as Windo, Neikerk and Horsman forced the retreating Saracens to infringe on a certain try. Penalty try and the score was

Warriors 7 : 5 Saracens

Worcester were applying some great tactics not all forward play but enough to commit in the opposing pack and tighten up their defence. Gommersall was quick to the breakdown to recycle the ball but some passes were not hitting the mark causing Drahm to stutter.

Very quickly Saracens regrouped and with their 13 men to Worcester 14 after an unsavoury incident they capitalised on our short fall

we were a backrow player down as Vaili had to leave the filed to allow Chris Fortey to come into the front row.

The gap in defence was exploited to the full as saracens saw the gap hit the gas and the prop went streaking and I mean streaking through. A massive tackle from Ben Hinshelwood staopped a certain try. The ball was quickly recycled with Saracens on the charge, the ball was moved wide and try No2 for the visiting Saracens

A great try and well executed

Warriors 7 : 12 Saracens

Straight through the gap with Hickey and Sanderson in position but no No6
This just galvanised the players and supporters, the volume increased, the pace increased and the power moved into 5th gear.

Worcester were now taking control of the forward battle.

Scrums, Lineouts, rucks and especially mauls were all going the way of the Warriors. It must have been depleteing to know the game could be slipping away through the sheer intensity being applied by the Warriors

So close on many occasions as the back were now starting to fire up. the cutting edge may not yet be there but it is surely coming.

Pressure, pressure and more pressure was being applied from all parts of the field and eventually a reward as once again Saracens were pinged for not allowing release.

Up stepped Shane Drahm and calmly sent the ball high between the uprights

Worcester 10 : 12 Saracens

the last 5 minutes before half time were immense from both sides as they fought to find that fatal chink to let them in a score those all important points

Half -Time

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