London Irish progressed to the quarter-finals of the Powergen Cup with a
gritty win at Sixways.
The former cup winners defended for long periods in the second half of a
largely dour contest.
Mark Mapletoft's two first-half penalties and Mike Catt's late drop goal
ultimately put the Irish through despite an 80th-minute penalty try from the
Warriors.
Worcester dominated the second half, but their inability to get behind a hard
working Irish side eventually told and the penalty score, converted by Matt
Powell, flattered them somewhat because they lacked spark for long periods.
The home side put the visitors under immense pressure in the scrum and
line-out but failed to make their possession count, particularly in the second
half.
A few breaks through full-back Thinus Delport and centre Dale Rasmussen apart,
Worcester never looked likely to break the Irish down as they pumped up the
tackle count.
Eventually, Catt's 79th-minute three-pointer separated the sides because Irish
were penalised for collapsing the scrum at the death.
In a first half which did little to liven spirits among a paltry Sixways crowd
of 2,517, Worcester showed little of the intensity which had done for Wasps in
their last domestic fixture.
Indeed, they conceded four penalties in the first 10 minutes for basic
offences as they surrendered the initiative.
Irish's dependable fly-half Mapletoft - who impressed with the boot in their
recent 25-15 Premier win over the Warriors - was not as accurate this time
around.
He missed the opening two eminently kickable penalties before slotting a
third, after eight minutes, to put the visitors in front.
Worcester looked strong in the set-piece but lacking in discipline.
Prop Chris Horsman personified that when, after 22 minutes, he cynically
knocked the ball out of Mapletoft's hands as Irish looked odds-on to score
following a breakaway.
Referee Hugh Watkins had little option but to yellow-card the tight-head and
Mapletoft added the subsequent penalty to make it 6-0.
Five minutes later, Worcester centre Thomas Lombard stupidly kicked the ball
away and the home side were down to 13 men as Watkins dispatched the Frenchman
to the sin-bin.
They battled bravely until their full complement was restored and Worcester
actually found themselves a man up at half-time as Watkins lost patience with
Catt and the former England man also saw yellow for a ruck offence.
Worcester, though, failed to make the extra man count and they will now have
to concentrate on retaining their Premiership status.
Teams:
Worcester: Delport, O'Leary, Rasmussen, Lombard, Pieters,
Brown, Powell, Windo, van Niekerk, Horsman, Collier, Gillies,
Vaili, Hickey, MacLeod-Henderson.
Replacements: Sampson for O'Leary (53),
Hayes for Rasmussen (66), Fortey for Windo (63).
Not Used: Hall, Murphy, Rae, Cole.
Sin Bin: Horsman (22), Lombard (27).
Tries: Penalty.
Cons: Powell.
London Irish: Horak, Bishop, Appleford, Catt, Staniforth,
Mapletoft, Hodgson, Murphy, Wheatley, Russell, Hardwick, Casey,
Kennedy, Danaher, Dawson.
Replacements: Everitt for Mapletoft (52), Reid for Murphy (60),
Strudwick for Kennedy (62), Gustard for Dawson (60).
Not Used: Durant, Paice, Barrett.
Sin Bin: Catt (40).
Pens: Mapletoft 2.
Drop Goals: Catt.
Att: 2,517
Ref: Hugh Watkins (Wales).
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