Solly's Warriors ease away from danger zone
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Duncan Weir’s contribution of 13 points at Sixways proved crucial as Worcester Warriors beat 14-men London Irish 20-6.
It was the visitors who went in front through a Stephen Myler penalty, but five minutes later and Worcester had put themselves ahead.
After a spell of Warriors possession, Weir found space on the try line, dotted over and successfully converted his score to give his side a 7-3 lead.
Weir extended the lead twice before Irish were down to 14-men – when Allan Dell was shown a yellow card – and minutes later the misery was compounded when Motu Matu’u was sent off with a red card, following a high tackle.
Myler slotted his second penalty early in the second half and Irish stayed in the game until Jono Lance’s converted try.
The score looked to have sealed the result for Worcester and it did, but they too finished the game with 14 men as Chris Pennell was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
“It was very important that we won and it was also important that we denied them a bonus point,” Worcester’s Director of Rugby Alan Solomons said.
“However, our error count was far too high.
“We couldn’t build any pressure and it can’t have been a pretty game to watch.
“But, on balance, we deserved to win a very physical game of rugby.
“Sometimes things don’t work out and it’s hard to explain why.
“But to be a top-six side, we need to be better than that.
“Against Sale and Exeter we showed we could be. But it’s a very strong competition.”
London Irish Director of Rugby Declan Kidney: “I saw the incident on the big screen and will need to look at it again and due process will take place afterwards.
“We put in a massive effort on either side of half-time. I won’t have a bad word said against the players because there was fantastic commitment from them.
“We could have had a penalty try at the end when their full-back was yellow-carded, but then again they had a try disallowed by the TMO in the early stages.”
The scorers
For Worcester Warriors:
Tries: Weir, Lance
Cons: Weir, Lance
Pens: Weir 2
For London Irish:
Pens: Myler 2
Yellow cards: Allan Dell (London Irish, 30), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors, 68)
Red card: Motu Matu’u (London Irish, 33′)
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Tom Howe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matt Moulds (captain), 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ Van Velze, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Jamie Shillcock.
London Irish: 15 Alivereti Veitokani, 14 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Matt Rogerson, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Allan Dell.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 George Nott, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 James Stokes.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Jamie Leahy.
TMO: David Rose.
Report by @premrugby
