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Captain: Pat Sanderson |
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Bristol V Warriors 27 Jan 06 |
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| Crowd : | 9,000+ | Kick-Off: | 19:45 | |
| Weather : | Freezing | Referee: | Shaun Davey | |
| Ground : | Wet | 40mins Score: | 10:13 | |
| Wind : | Easterly | 80mins Score: | 23 : 26 | |
| Food : | Excellent | Man Of Match: | Aisea Havili | |
| Beer : | Excellent | Scores: | 2 T, 2 C, 4P | |
R=Rating, T=Tries, P=Penalties, C=Conversions, DG-Drop Goals
Friday afternoon crept closer and closer. The heart rate increased second by second. What would this evening bring?
It was a massive game for both clubs.
Worcester had lost 3 league games on the trot, three winnable games. Bristol had lost 5 consecutive games in all competitions.
Worcester were in 6th place with 28 points, Bristol were in 7th place with 24 points
Or, could Bristol win, as predicted by Stewie and Dewie which could take them past Worcester into 6th place.
YES this was a very big game for two clubs in the middle of the table
Off flew the Warriors lead as ever by Captain Fantastic Pat Sanderson. Pat was back after 6 weeks off with a back injury. Was he going to be fit enough, was he sharp enough. I say ask the Bristol backrow and halfbacks.
He was fit and he was sharp!
First ruck and Bristol secured the ball and recycled quickly and they ran. Confidence indeed, catch Worcester cold.
Not this time as the tackles went in hard and fast.
The scene was set, nothing was going to be gained easily in this game.
Forget the rules and play to the edge and just over and see who gets caught.
Once again the Warriors drove the Bristol pack backwards as they tried to recycle the ball
Under pressure he put in a great chip.
Height and spot on with the distance as Lima bore down on Nicholas Le Roux. Danny took the ball perfectly swivelling to protect himself and the ball as he caught it.
Lima hit him hard but his head and neck were jarred back as he caught Le Roux on the elbow and hip.
Down he went hard. Le roux swivelled away and took a massive hit, down he went, hard!
Sadly for Lima and Bristol his injury was more threatening, he was removed to hospital for safety.
We all wish him a good recovery
Brian was taken carefully to a waiting ambulance.
Good luck!
This certainly fired up both teams as they attacked all area's looking for that fatal chink that would yield the points.
The visiting supporters were on their feet shouting, cheering and really getting behind their team as Bristol pressed deeper and deeper into the 22.
The first set of attacks were defended well with some great organisation.
Then as the ball was moved to the Bristol right Strange held the ball just long enough for Robinson steaming in on a fabulous line to take the ball and carve open the Warriors defence.
A great try, but was there a hint of a forward pass. The DVD night could be very interesting!!
Bristol 7 : 0 Worcester
Warriors......Warriors....
Rang out loud and clear across the stadium. Over 1,000 supporters had made the journey down the M5 and they were not going to go quietly.
The warriors instantly stepped up a level, with some hard driving and powerful runs from Horstmann and Lombard.
Ground was being made and Bristol were now deep in defence. Worcester were playing solid pressure rugby as again and again the drove around the fringes
Finally Bristol infringed and Shane Drahm duly obliged.
Bristol 7 : 3 Warriors
| It may not have been pretty but a game as important as this to both sides rarely is. Both sides were determined to win the game. The main difference was that Worcester were not prepared to lose it and played a more realistic game. | Bristol in possession continued to throw the ball wide often isolating the final two players as the blue line swept forward, stopping everything in its path |
However the scrum was fairly even, probably edged by Worcester as Tony Windo once again showed why he is still rated as one of the best loose heads in the premiership.
With Niekerk now back in between Audi and Tony it was a fearsome front row that met at each set piece.
Drahm was now starting to take control of the game as he and Gomersall kicked to perfection. Keeping the game in the part of the field Worcester wanted the game to be played in.
Shane was always a threat with ball in hand as he made half breaks or passed at the right time.
With the pressure building the ball was moved to the left, where Drahm perfectly timed a pass to the lightening quick Havili.
Ice brushed one tackler aside, accelerated and just left the whole defence for dead. From 35 meters out he sped between the posts as desperate defenders jumped on his back
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Drahm
converted to take the score to Bristol 07 : 13 Warriors The Worcester support were on there feet in all corners of the ground as 1,500 voices rejoiced at a fabulous try and we were finally in the lead |
A great take at the line saw the ball drop to Perry who dummied a kick to leave big Andre clutch at shadows. He then accelerated away to set up Mark Tucker for a simple dummy. Back inside he came as finally the backrow and Le Roux stopped him but that was 40 meters lost from a great attacking position |
| The game continued to ebb and flow. First one way and then the other. The majority of the possession going to the home team, who just could not fin a way through the tremendous defensive organisation of the Warriors |
Neither
side at this stage were breaking through although Worcester
certainly looked the more likely with Havili and Le Roux
creating spaces every time the took the ball. The defence from Worcester was terrific especially from Drew Hickey, Pat Sanderson and the midfield duo of Lombard and Rasmussen |
The atmosphere in the ground was terrific as the massed hoards of "Bizzlers" chanted down the packed "Wussies".
It was heart stopping for both sets of fans but a great night was already being had.
Who said passion was dead?
Great fans on both sides and all loving the contest being fought out on the field of battle
But they kept on the pressure one penalty kick spurned for a cracker of a touchline kick and line out. Superbly defended by pat and his team.
Finally a penalty was conceded which just could no longer be refused.
Strange converting
Bristol 10 : 13 Warriors
Half time whistle followed 3 minutes later. It was time for a relief break, a drink and a super pasties.
What a game, as I said not pretty but who cares when it is so exciting.
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The
second half got underway but this time Worcester were without
Pat Sanderson who had been replaced by Tom Harding, didn't he
have a super game. With pat, Tom and JT we are blessed with 3 very good No7's Drahm was now in total charge as he commanded his space and Worcester's Territory. One beauty of a kick saw the ball bouncing towards touch 5 meters out. Havili was storming in on the ball as Robinson Hoiked it into touch. |
Ice
took a quick throw to the alert Tom Harding who stormed over the
line. Only to be brought back as the TJ decided Robinson had
missed the ball???
Not long after a pass inside to Lemi from strange left the winger in deep trouble. The Worcester backrow turned him over and "Wee Drahm" stole the ball and instantly released Horstmann who passed to Hickey and then set free the "Flying Ice Man". Ice made ground and passed back inside to the supporting Lombard and as he was tackled laid the ball off to the ever present Drew Hickey. |
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Drew's eyes lit up. He could see the line some 30 meters away and he was in top gear. The Warriors fans in the South Stand were on their feet cheering for all they were worth, come on Drew, Come on. On he came, as the smile, or was it a grimace, grew wider and wider. Drew took off 5 meters out and torpedoed over the line |
The
Wussie's went wild!! Was this going to be our day, could we record the first home and away victory of the season. COULD WE WIN IT. Bristol 13 : 20 Warriors |
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But all
was not over, oh no it certainly wasn't. Time to consolidate you would think, time on our hands, time to relax AND time to screw up! A long raking kick from strange was fielded and shipped inside to Drahm who had all the time in the world, so he thought. Strolled towards the 22, looked left, looked right (are we crossing a road here) then tried to hit a long low kick diagonally across the field. The ball was charged down by Strange. |
From a
clear offside position Denny was allowed to take the bouncing
ball and run on towards the posts. How on earth could the TJ's
miss that. Oh yes same one.
Drahm chased back to tackle Denny short of the posts. In came both sets of forwards with Gavin Hickie fighting like a man possessed to keep them out. The ball was quickly to the left where Strange straightened up and dived over for an equalising goal Bristol 20 : 20 Warriors |
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How much could the 9,000 supporters take. It was passionate stuff from both sets of fans as the noise grew to tremendous levels of sound. Robinson once again was allowed to break the first up tackle and he streaked 60 meters untouched. He decided to pass to his right (wrong decision - good for us) the Warriors got back as the ball slowed and relieved the pressure Havili, Tucker, Le Roux Harding had a great handling move down the left. Some of the lay offs from the warriors was breathtaking. We need to be able to do it for longer and we will be some attacking force. |
Then it happened Strange saw the opportunity on a counter and sent a the ball left through Denny to Lemi. He took the ball at speed went outside Havili with Rasmussen charging across to cover. Coming in just behind was Gomersall Lemi was being caught and chipped back inside, the ball went hurtling towards the dead ball line as Rasmussen dived for an ankle tap. The ball had gone before Rasmussen hit but he was already committed. He clipped Lemi's heel and over he went. Touch Judge indicated a late tackle. The referee asked should it be a penalty try and the TJ replied, "no the ball was going dead anyway, recommendation yellow card and a penalty". Down to 14 for almost the last 10 minutes and 3 points Bristol 23 : 20 Worcester |
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Did
Bristol give up, did any of their fans leave with 2 minutes to
go? No they did not. They tried and tried and tried but the
Warriors defence and organisation kept them at bay, UNTIL A penalty just short of the halfway line!! |
Tommy
Hayes, who had come on at fullback came up. It was well within
his range but it was his first kick on a very cold night. It
fell short and wide. The nest 2 minutes lasted an eternity then finally Mr Davey blew three short blasts on his whistle and we had won a massive victory. |
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Observations:
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