By JonW
March 6 2007

Saturday may have been the turning the corner for the Warriors, what chances of survival still? Very slim some would say, but it looks like it will go down the last day of the season if the Warriors grit and determination continues through.....

What a day Saturday was!!

 

 

Well, we got the victory that was hoped for, and boy did my head know about it the next day. The hangover from hell followed a crucial 1st home Guinness Premiership victory for the Warriors against Bath. The players battled out a tough win, though probably made things more difficult throughout the game by not being clinical, as per most of the season. In the end, they got the victory and the cheers after the final whistle at news of the Saints loss against Gloucester only beaten by the crowd reaction from the "Hit The Bar" competition at half-time.

 

So, what now for the Warriors? The gap is down to 4 points, so survival is still possible. The Warriors head to Edgeley Park this Friday night, for what may well be the most crucial game of the season for not only the Warriors, but for Sale also. The Sharks have numerous injuries, plus half a squad playing international rugby so will be down the bare-bones. Sale have won only 1 game in their last 8 Guinness Premiership matches, on Jan 6th vs Gloucester, which was an extremely tight encounter that Sale edged by 1 point and Philippe Saint-Andre will most certainly be reminding his players of that night when live in front of the Sky cameras, they pulled off an improbable victory and showed as much grit, determination and courage that many would say the Warriors have shown in the last few weeks.

 

Sale are also mathematically in the relegation battle now too, with a Warriors victory meaning that Sale would be only 9 points from the bottom of the table. Unlikely, very much agreed, but after Saints' victory at Leicester a week and a half ago, and Sale having to travel to Saints the next weekend, you never know!!

 

I did an analysis of the remaining fixtures on the 28th January, which has turned out to be mostly wrong. If the rest of the results go the way that I predicted back then, Worcester would ultimately finish bottom, but only 1 point short of both Saints & Bath. This season is very much looking likely to be a last day nightmare again.

Bath didn't show much on Saturday to suggest that they will pull themselves away, and Newcastle could also again be dragged back down into the scary zone if they fail to beat Sarries this weekend, and as previously mentioned Sale are not totally safe yet.

 

Saturday has given a bit of a new breath for Warrior's fans, and there is definitely not a better time to be playing the Sharks, Worcester may well still be bottom come Saturday tea-time, but one of the teams at Franklin's Gardens will almost certainly be looking over their shoulders with more worry then in previous weeks.

 

Oh, and one final mention for our friend Mr Ashley Rowden. We like you we do, so please give us 4 points (or even 5, if you are feeling extra generous) on Friday night. J