Warm Hearts

A great deal of warmth was in evidence at Sixways on Friday night.  Despite the strong wind, the temperature was unseasonably mild, which was just as well since Dave Bradley lost his facial fur for the first time in 30 years.  (For those who have not heard about it, DB’s moustache has raised well in excess of £17,000 for the Asian Tsunami Appeal.)  At half-time on Friday he let the “Demon Barber”, Tim Collier, shave it off, thus redeeming the sponsorship pledges of hundreds of Hereford and Worcester listeners.  As well as this, WWSC members handed over a cheque for £6,400 collected at the London Irish match on New Year’s Day. (This included a generous £500 from the LI supporters.) The money raised will buy Rotary Club “Survival Boxes”, one of which was on display at the ground on Friday.  Well done Bradders, Hereford and Worcester listeners and Warriors’ supporters!

As well as the warmth of the weather and Worcestershire generosity, Sixways felt a breath of the warm South with the visit of Italian club, Leonessa.  Suntans contrasted with wintry northern pallor on the pitch and, initially, it seemed that most of the fire belonged to the visitors. Certainly, Leonessa gave us a much tougher challenge than Rovigo and it seems strange that they are presently propping up the rest of the Italian league.

It was a real pleasure to see some “old” favourites back on the pitch for this match, as well as some new favourites in unfamiliar positions.  Good, too, to see James Brown back again and on the way to regaining his confidence and full match fitness after an unlucky season with injury. Best wishes to all our walking wounded who now have a chance to get fully fit before the Gloucester game!

After the match there was an opportunity to socialise.  One Worcester supporter was heard to engage in a spot of “entente cordiale” with an Italian player:

            Worcester supporter:    Did you have a good Christmas and New Year?

                        Italian player:    Yes, I took my family to “Bourn-ee-mouth” for the New                                                           Year.

            Worcester supporter:    What part of Italy is that?

            Worcester supporter’s friend:    It’s on the south coast of England, you nutter.

Lynn Howell, the Leonessa coach (ex-Celtic Warriors, Cardiff and Pontypridd) was to be found enjoying a drink in the bar.  He told us that he had enjoyed the game and his visit to Worcester.  We hinted that we might soon be seeing him back in Wales, but he laughed and his Italian companions raised their eyebrows. (“What a mistaker to maker!”)

It must have been strange for Chris Horsman to meet his old mentor under these circumstances.  Congratulations need to go to “Horse” as “Man of the Moment” in the Press.  He features in the current Rugby Times and Rugby World, as well as in a recent WEN.  Best wishes and fingers crossed for a potential International career – and thanks to Chris for what he is doing for Worcester. “If I walk off the field knowing I’ve been a nuisance to the opposition then I know I’ve done my job.”  I’m sure that we’ll all second that!

Another familiar figure to be seen in the bar on Friday was Steve Lloyd.  He, too, has had some Press coverage lately after the Wanderers’ surprise win over Harborne in the Powergen Junior Vase.  Steve’s 2 tries “with 5 men hanging on to stop him” sealed an improbable victory for his team.  As a result, the Wanderers go through to the quarter-final against Avonmouth Old Boys.  (In this month’s Rugby World the Harborne captain had prophesied going “all the way”!)

The quarter-final match takes place at Sixways next Saturday, January 15^th.  Come on Warriors’ supporters, if you’re not going to Italy let’s get behind the Wanderers!  Avonmouth is a tough Bristol side from a higher division and should be the out-and-out favourites.  Let’s see if Lloydy’s men can upset the apple-cart again.

Finally, a Happy New Year to one and all.  There was a real spirit of optimism around Sixways on Friday: into the second half of the season and not on the bottom of the ZP.  As Stuart Barnes said on The Rugby Club on Thursday, “Worcester haven’t read the script as far as relegation is concerned”.  Let’s make sure that we re-write history and keep up our support for our team!