By Nick4219
March 16 2021

Worcester have won the last 5 out of 6 games against Irish. Irish forced to make changes due to the suspension of Hepetema, Theo Brophy-Clews is back after his knock against Bristol to partner Rona. Stokes in to fullback for the injured Parton. Meehan swapped with Phipps who is on the bench. Worcester make 7 changes to the team that started against and pushed Bristol last week. Irish could move up to 5th in the league with a bonus point win. Worcester in 12th with only one win this season and results effected by Covid cancellations. The win was against us.    

The weather looks dry and the pitch looks to be in great condition, all the pre match build up would suggest a fairly attacking game as both sides have their threats across the back lines.

Before kick-off, there was a one minute silence to remember Gary Halpin, the former Irish captain.

Warriors kick off, Luke Pearce keen to make Meehan use the ball clearing up the first ruck, hopefully that will naturally lead to quick ball. Worcester take the ball in to contact early, Irish making strong tackles and Hougaard puts up an up and under, however, Warriors are offside and gives Jackson a shot at goal from 45 metres out and pretty straight. Jacksons boot makes sure 3-0.

Worcester get a chance to hit back almost immediately with a penalty for not releasing against Cowan. Searle converts from in front of the posts. 3-3.

Loader getting a touch early on and Jackson accurate with the territorial kicking. OHC looking strong in the tackle and offloads to a rampaging Rogerson down the Irish right wing, however he is brought down and Irish go in from the side awarding a penalty to Warriors who clear. Irish steal the Worcester lineout Cowan and Jackson combine and Jackson feeds a superb pass out wide to OHC who gets on the outside, gets snared but offloads to Meehan in support who goes over for a well worked try. Jackson conversion from out wide is good. 10-3.

Loader receiving the high balls really well and also breaking tackles. Luke Pearce is really keen to hurry the 9’s at the breakdown. Worcester gain a bit of possession and move from side to side and eventually win a penalty for Albert infringing at the ruck and kick down to the Irish 22. Quick lineout off the top and again attack the 9/10 channel. Searle looks for a dangerous chip over the Irish line but it’s knocked on and it’s the first scrum in the 14^th minute.

Irish scrum is solid down in coffin corner, one phase bash up by TBC and then a good clearance from Meehan. Irish win a free kick from the lineout and go for scrum which looks solid, Meehan knocks on at the base though so turnover to Warriors. It’s a good scrum and Worcester get to attack and just over run the ball and knock on. Carey for Warriors goes off injured and on comes Richard Palframan, previously of this parish.

Warriors in possession and Searle with a good cross field kick keeps the attack alive, TBC steps in and smothers the Warriors player and prevents the offload which leads to Warriors knocking on. Untidy scrum sees pressure heaped on to Irish and a good spell of possession for Worcester. Palframan bursts through the line and Jackson with a thundering tackle brings him down and he knocks on due to the contact.

Penalty to Worcester dubious against Jackson who was on the floor with his back to play preventing the Warriors clear out, not much he could have done in my opinion, he was some way from the actual ruck, Searle missed the penalty and Irish clear deep.  Worcester get plenty of possession and gain another penalty and kick down to Irish 22. TBC wins the collision against Kvesic forcing a knock on and there’s a bit of afters but not much else to write about. We are getting to see a few scrums today though and the Irish pack looks solid.

Jackson clears the danger and Worcester go quick at the lineout, Nick David looks dangerous and beats tacklers. OHC provides a big hit to stop the rampaging Warriors hooker down the touchline. Palframan hit hard again to knock on and Irish clear but don’t find touch allowing Warriors plenty of possession with Nick David looking lively. A great defensive set by Irish with great discipline and another big hit gets a knock on, Irish go quick out wide and Meehan is almost through, Kvesic pulls him down and then cynically slows the ball down. 10 minute rest awarded to Kvesic and a penalty to Irish which Jackson kicks down to the Warriors 5. Irish try to set up the maul but Warriors break it up, Meehan goes out to Rona who is stopped, Mafi goes from the base of the ruck again and is over for the try. TMO has a wobble but a quick replay shows Mafi was perfectly entitled to do that. Jackson converts 17-3. Not bad with 25% possession.

Loader safe under the kick off and booms a kick back in to Warriors territory. Worcester set up a good maul and WGC goes high and doesn’t roll away which gives Searle a shot at 3 from about 45 metres which drifts wide. Irish kick and keep Warriors down in their own 22 and Worcester can’t seem to make many in roads, the biggest threat coming from Nick David who ends the half by walking the ball in to touch for the whistle. Irish have been deadly with the little possession we’ve had and also won two turnovers. OHC and TBC looking pretty combative and standing out for me.

Irish get the game underway again. Kvesic comes back on for Warriors. Warriors get a decent chunk of possession but just seem to be misfiring. Nick David takes a brilliant high ball and Warriors go out wide, OHC knocks on trying to intercept the ball. TMO tries to get involved again but Pearce is firm and just a penalty. Warriors kick for touch and the lineout and set up a decent maul. Irish commit a penalty after sustained pressure and Searle goes for the 5 metre line.

Warriors win the lineout but it breaks up, it goes to ground and Creevy turns it over which leads to an Irish lineout. Taken quickly and Meehan kicks for touch. Worcester win lineout and Kvesic attacks the 9/10 channel with a quick pass and Worcester hit back with a try. Searle converts 17-10.

Irish look to play from their own half but Worcester fired up from the try bundle Loader in to touch. Warriors knock on in midfield and Pearce misses TBC being snared high around his neck, TMO must have nipped off for a quick cuppa as he has been intervening quite a bit previously. Rona kicks deep and the advantage is over. A little bit of back and forth and Kvesic wins another penalty for Warriors allowing Searle to kick down to the Irish 5. Gigena and Hoskins come on for Chawatama and WGC.

Irish defend the lineout brilliantly Rob Simmons strong in stopping the drive and Cowan coming in and not allowing Warriors to get to the ball and wins the scrum. Stokes is replaced by Homer.

Irish have a solid scrum and clear but commit a penalty for taking the man out. Searle again kicks for the corner. Warriors are building pressure. Simmons crunches a Warriors man trying to attack the 9/10 channel, Irish defend well out on the wing to push Warriors in to touch. Irish look to exit as Meehan clears to halfway. Meehan, Tuisue and Creevy all make way for Phipps, Donnell and Cornish. Irish steal a lineout and Loader has a go out wide, Phipps kicks down to the Worcester corner but David runs it back out and is snared by TBC, but, TMO steps in and tells Pearce it was high. Worcester make a break from midfield and Irish just manage to stop them on the line, Irish eventually penalised as Worcester can’t breach the line.

Worcester lineout from 5, which is stolen by Mafi but he knocks on allowing a scrum to Warriors. Irish collapse the scrum and Worcester go for the scrum again, Irish need to be careful with the accumulation of penalties. Worcester batter the line again and Hill is held up. Irish are just allowing Worcester to batter the line and Phipps sees yellow after repeated infringements. Worcester call for the scrum again. Warriors eventually get the try with Clegg stretching his arms out to dot down. Searle draws it level with the conversion 17-17.

Irish get to relieve the pressure with the kick off and a few phases sees Worcester penalised for not releasing, Jackson elects for the posts from 50 metres out and about 15 metres from the right touchline. Jackson nails the longest kick of the season 20-17. The official distance is 56 metres which is a huge kick.

Worcester then kick straight out from the kick off and Irish may have dodged a bullet. Irish rightly elect the lineout due to being a man down and again go through the phases, TBC initially judged to knock on but looks Hougaard slapping the ball out of his hands. TMO obviously still napping! Scrum to Worcester on the Warriors 10 metre line. Worcester launch another attack and look to be in down the right but knock on in to the hands of Hoskins. Jackson clears up to halfway with Phipps back on and just over a minute for Irish to hold out.

Time is up as Irish put in a huge defensive set and push Worcester back 20 metres. They eventually get a penalty 2 minutes over regulation from their own 10 metre line. Searle kicks down to the Irish 10 metre line and Cowan is forced off injured with what looks like cramp after a record breaking defensive effort by him. Worcester again attack the 9/10 channel but are stopped. Worcester look for one last go out wide, however they are bundled in to touch for game over.

Negatives, we seemed to allow Worcester to keep on attacking in the second half and it almost seemed like Irish were just running a defensive drill training session which we struggled to relieve for most of the second half. Again, we gave away a few penalties but I do think that was because of the build-up of pressure by Worcester and a little bit of inconsistent refereeing at the breakdown allowing Worcester more time to hold on to the ball after the tackles.

Positives, Steve Mafi was awarded the official man of the match and he has deserved that based on his last 3 performances alone, he scored another try from the base of the ruck and also put in a huge defensive effort. Blair Cowan could have won it putting in 35 record breaking tackles too. In fact any of the below players with these stats could have had it:

Cowan 35 tackles, 2 missed

Rogerson 25 tackles, 1 missed

Simmons 24 tackles, 1 missed

WGC 19 tackles, 0 missed

TBC 27 tackles, 4 missed

Mafi 23 tackles, 2 missed.

Very honourable mentions to TBC who was immense in the centres today, we all know his struggles with injuries over the years and a few have written him off, but his Bristol performance and this one shows that he is more than capable of operating at this level. Very strong in the tackle and certainly looks to be tougher as he was not afraid of getting stuck in to Kvesic. OHC had a strong defensive performance and Loader got a few more touches and was safe under the high balls.

All in all, it was a close game, however, the belief and grit in this team to grind out wins from nowhere is a refreshing change for the last decade where we have all too often been on the receiving end of a loss in games like this. We now have a team that is tough, well drilled and conditioned to go toe to toe against most teams and I think we can build on this and start earning a reputation as being tough to beat rather than everyone’s favourite second team. No doubt Sale will be another step up but this team is proving worthy of the challenges so far………………