Worcester Wanderers travelled away to secure another League win against 2^nd bottom team Southam.  Once again they faced a larger pack but immediately showed their class. From the 1^st kick-off Wanderers gathered the ball and drove back into Southam’s half then from the rucks spun the ball wide for winger Neil Ainscow to sprint 30 metres and score in the corner with only 2 minutes played.  Joph Young pinpointed his kick through the posts to start the game 0-7.

The Wanderers continued in that vein with a similar move 3 minutes later this time to feed the other winger Chris Jenkinson who repeated Ainscow’s feat to score under the posts with Young’s conversion taking the Wanderers to 0-14 in the first 5 minutes.

The game then ebbed to and fro with the Southam forwards dominant but negated by strong and determined defence by the Wanderers forwards.  Unable to gain ground Southam increased pressure causing Wanderers to give away three penalties in succession.  Southam worked the touchline on each penalty, winning lineout ball until they were in Wanderers’ 10 metres, where they mauled the ball into the corner and dropped on it for an unconverted try (5-14).

Wanderers responded with some colourful and spirited play, they seem to have regained the confidence to throw the ball and the knock-ons and dropped passes of previous weeks were overcome as they opened up the game.  The third Wanderers’ try was started by a perfectly weighted kick by Joph Young from his own 22 deep into the Southam half which was collected by Jenkinson to dash for the line for his 2^nd try.  His strength and determination breaking three forceful tackles to pop the ball down between the posts for a grateful Young to easily slid over the bar (5-21)

Southam realising that their backs were no match for the Wanderers’ backs resorted to the same tactics that had provided their first try by kicking for position, then from a lineout on Wanderers’ 22 they ran in a soft try under the posts, which was easily converted to narrow the lead to 12-21.

In the 2^nd half Wanderers started with purpose taking the game straight back to Southam.  Their confidence as good as their skills when scrum half Dan Sparrey ran the ball from his own 22 starting a move which ended with a Wanderers’ penalty for the tackler lying on which Young converted. (12-24).

Wanderers’ attacked again and again and then Young hoisted another long kick from his 22 this time cross field, deep into Southam territory.  The kick was chased by Ryan Henshaw who harried the Southam defender isolating him and allowing Mark Farmer to charge down the hesitant clearance and like his brother Ade last week he deftly scooped up the tumbling ball to sprint forward, handing off the another tackling defender to score an unconverted try (12-29).

Increased pressure from Wanderers caused Southam to give away a further penalty on the edge of the pitch, which Young calmly scored (12-32).

Shortly after this score Southam camped on the Wanderers’ 22 until a lose ball was gathered by Young who kicked a hard clearance kick, but unfortunately the Referee was close by and he was struck in the head and knocked over by the force of the kick.

After the Referee had recovered, the game continued, but it was obvious that he was still dazed as he started to give strange decisions.  From the restart Wanderers’ should have been awarded the scrum as the team last in possession of the ball, but despite Wanderers protests he gave it to Southam.  They seized this opportunity and from the scrum their No.8 picked up yards scoring an converted try under the posts (19-32).

It was obvious that the Referee was dazed and following his blow to the head he gave a number of strange decisions mainly in favour of Southam.

Their score and the strange penalties awarded by the Referee raised Southam’s hopes and they mounted strenuous attacks on the Worcester line, but Wanderers’ effective and determined defence withstood them giving them a fine win.

Wanderers stay 3^rd in the League as Keresley slogged out a tight win 7-0 against Marconi Coventry to hang on to their 1 point lead over Wanderers.  Solihull with an 18-6 win over Edwardians remain on top and with 24 points seem unassailable and certain of promotion.

Press Release

Michael Clarke

Chairman

Worcester Wanderers RFC