Worcester RFC

Worcester travelled to Old Yards for an eagerly anticipated return match after Worcester narrowly won the opening game of the season 19-12 at home.

The first 20 minutes saw Yards immense forwards dominating the game. Only some superb last gasp defence from Worcester preventing Yards from scoring, including a phenomenal try-saving tackle from Will Meredith and an excellent turnover from Harvey Sharpe.

Yards early forwards dominance turned over a Worcester scrum. After several great phases of play, Yards scored a converted try, taking a well deserved 7-0 lead.

From a messy Yards restart, Worcester kicked a penalty to touch just outside the Yards 22. Worcester recycled the ball well through multiple phases before Tom Porton scored out wide on his Worcester debut to narrow the gap to 7-5.

The restart again causing problems, this time for Worcester, they paid a heavy price for crossing in their own 22. Yards kicked the penalty to touch and then scored from the resulting line out to extend their lead. Yards lead 12 - 5 at the halftime whistle.

Worcester made a better start in the second half, pressurising Yards into errors at the line out and the Worcester scrum was holding up better.

From a line out on the Yards 22, Worcesters backs showed what they could do with great running lines and excellent handling, which ended with Olli Catherwood touching down in the corner to bring the score to 12-10.

Worcester backs started to display their attacking skills first through an Elijah Martin swerving run, and then Olli Catherwood came off his wing to scythe through the middle.

From a 5 meter scrum, Worcester played the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, ultimately seeing Charlie Solis-Walters power over from short range for Worcester to take a narrow lead 15 -12.

Yards forwards once again showing their power, with some great catch and drives from the line out. Resulting in Worcester again giving away penalties in their own 22—allowing Yards to slot the equaliser from in front of the posts.

Worcester were pilling on the pressure in the closing minutes but Yards opted to kick the ball dead from a scrum, bringing the game to an end at 15-15 for a draw.

It certainly was a game where the old "game of two halves" cliche applied, Old Yards winning the first half 12-5, and Worcester winning the second half 3-10.

Matt Martin, Worcester coach, said, "Our team finally woke up in the second half. They dominated the game and were unlucky not to win. For me, Harvey Sharp put in a man of the match performance."

Gav Vickers Worcester Head Coach. "Well done everyone involved today. A draw was probably a fair result for a match that neither side deserved to lose. I was most impressed by the way we reacted to the various things thrown at us today. We found ways to play our game without distraction and looked great in open play."

Worcester squad: Will Meredith, Ollie Catherwood, Will Dunnaway, Ben Atkins, Tom Porton, Isiah Martin, Frazer Gore, Will Pritchard, Sam Jeff, Charlie Sollis-Walters Joe Small, Joel Rickman, Francis Shields, Noah Korff, George Cunliffe, Jamie Harris, Ed Duffy, Ben Bassford, Harvey Sharpe, Freddie Whittaker, Tom Owen, Elijah Martin

Match Photographer: Meryl Owen Gallery