Worcester open account
Worcester opened their Premiership account in style with a bonus point 35-11 success over London Irish at Sixways.
Tries from Aleki Lutui, David Lemi and Semisi Taulava set the Warriors on their way before replacement Jon Clarke's score in the final act of the game sealed the bonus point.
After a quick start in which the Exiles scored through Ofisa Treviranus, it was Worcester, under the guidance of flyhalf Andy Goode, who took control – eventually running out comfortable victors.
Irish had picked up their first win of their season the previous week as they beat Bath 29-22 having conceded 40 points in each of their opening three defeats.
Worcester meanwhile had picked up three defeats to add to their draw with Gloucester at Sixways a fortnight ago.
The game started half-an-hour late because of an accident which delayed the visitors' arrival at the ground.
However, despite the delayed start it was the Exiles who hit their straps quickest, scoring the first try after 12 minutes through Treviranus from a superb Marland Yarde offload, although Steven Shingler missed the conversion.
Shingler made up for that, adding a penalty in front of the posts but the Warriors hit back in style five minutes later.
Given the option of a kickable penalty the home side chose to kick for the corner and from the ensuing line-out it was Tongan hooker Lutui who crashed over – Goode's conversion reducing the deficit to a single point.
After a quick start things got worse for the Exiles when Sailosi Tagicakibau was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.
Goode added the resulting penalty to give the home side the lead for the first time, 10-8 on the half hour.
Shingler missed another shot at goal soon after as the home side edged it in the first, and it took just nine second-half minutes for Goode to add another penalty and extend the lead to five.
The Exiles hit back straight away through Shingler but the Welshman missed another effort two minutes later when given the chance to put the Exiles back in front.
Goode made him pay with another three points after Shingler had been penalised at a ruck and it got even worse for the visitors when Jamie Gibson became their second player to be sent to the sin bin for an accumulation of offences.
With the extra man, Worcester managed their second try of the match through Lemi after some great work from replacement Clarke.
The former Northampton man made a great break through the middle and by the time the ball was spread wide there was no-one to deny Lemi.
And with the win seemingly in the bag, Worcester kicked on, scoring their third try of the game when Taulava – who had replaced Matt Kvesic – went over from a pick and drive.
And there was even time for a break from Goode who set up Clarke for his first try for his new club in the final minute.
The scorers:
For Worcester:
Tries: Lutui, Lemi, Taulava, Clarke
Cons: Goode 3
Pen: Goode 3
For London Irish:
Try: Treviranus
Pens: Shingler 2
Teams:
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 David Lemi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Sam Betty, 6 Chris Jones, 5 Dean Schofield (captain), 4 James Percival, 3 John Andress, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Hayes, 17 Ceri Jones, 18 James Currie, 19 Craig Gillies, 20 Semisi Taulava, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Joe Carlisle, 23 Jon Clarke.
London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Steven Shingler, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Tomás O'Leary, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher (captain), 5 Matt Garvey, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Alan Cotter, 19 George Skivington, 20 Alex Gray, 21 Topsy Ojo, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Jack Moates.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Nigel Carrick, Stuart Terheege.
