Honours even at Kingsholm
A late try from English second row David Attwood helped Gloucester to salvage a 13-all draw from their Guinness Premiership clash with the Worcester Warriors at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams were able to score two tries during the eighty minutes but it was Attwood’s success, in the final minute of the game, which proved to be the defining moment of the match.
Despite conceding an early try Worcester went into the break leading 13-5 thanks to two five pointers of their own, coming through wing Rico Gear and scrumhalf Johnny Arr.
Powerful Gloucester flank Akapusi Qera put the Cherry and Whites ahead with his effort after just eight minutes but flyhalf Nicky Robinson’s unsuccessful conversion saw then take just a 5-0 lead.
Warriors No.10 Willie Walker opened the visitors account with a penalty after 18 minutes before, with half an hour gone, Gear went over to put Worcester into the lead. Young scrumhalf Arr gave Mike Ruddock’s men the perfect end to the half by going over for his try and pushing the lead out to eight as referee Dean Richards blew the whistle for half time.
The second half, perhaps as expected, was a tight affair with the vital blow only coming in the final minute of play.
Former Cardiff Blues flyhalf Robinson added a penalty early in the second period but both he and Walker were unsuccessful with the remainder of their efforts in the match.
Both team bosses, Bryan Redpath and Ruddock, looked to mix things up by making changes but neither team was able to seize the initiative and take control of the game.
Ultimately it would be a replacement who struck for Gloucester. Lock Dave Attwood powered his way over the line with 80 minutes up on the clock but All Black Spencer was unable to steal all four points late on, missing the conversion attempt.
The Scorers
For Gloucester
Tries: Qera, Attword
Pen: Robinson
For Worcester
Tries: Gear, Arr
Pen: Walker,
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 James Simpson-Daniel, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Gareth Delve (c), 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Adam Eustace, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Nick Wood
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Pierre Capdevielle, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Andy Williams, 22 Carlos Spencer, 23 Tim Molenaar
Warriors: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Chris Fortey, 1 Adam Black
Replacements: 16 Matt Mullan, 17 Aleki Lutui, 18 Olivier Sourgens, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 James Collins, 21 Ryan Powell, 22 Matthew Jones, 23 Alex Grove
