Worcester Warriors claimed a final place and eventually runners-up spot in the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham with a thrilling run of results.
POOL GAME 1 – Worcester 24 Wasps 17
Warriors hit the floor running in their first group match as South African Thinus Delport collected a pass from Shane Drahm to dive in the corner after just minutes of the opener.
Wasps hit back when James Honeyben scored but just before the break the Warriors take a giant step towardsa perfect start when Ryan Powell burst through a tackle to score under posts with Drahm adding the conversion.
From restart Will Bowley took the ball on and Chris Pennell’s inside flick found Marcel Garvey who scorched under posts. Drahm’s conversion made it 19-7.
Wasps looked set to have a sting in the tail when tries from Chris Bishay and Matt Corker cut the lead to two points.
But Warriors wrap up an opening win when Pat Sanderson stole a lineout and Miles Benjamin took the ball out wide and bulldozed through tackles to score.
Sanderson, Pennell, R Powell (M Powell), Bowley (Wood), Drahm, Garvey (Benjamin), Delport
POOL GAME 2 – Worcester 24 Gloucester 7
Warriors claimed a local derby victory over Gloucester after a powerful display against a side tipped to push for the crown.
Worcester opened the scoring in the first minute when when Drahm’s incisive run and clever kick released Pennell who won the race to scoop up the ball and dive over.
Pete Swatkins hits back and a conversion edged Gloucester ahead but Warriors were in no mood to slip to defeat and Tom Wood grabbed his first try of the day after another lightening break from Pennell.
Warriors stepped up a gear in the second half and moved further ahead when Delport dived over and Drahm added a difficult conversion from out wide.
Mike Ruddock rang the changes but Worcester lost none of the momentum and when Wood hacked a loose ball forward it found Pennell who grabbed his second of the afternoon. Drahm’s conversion sealed the win and last eight spot.
Sanderson, Pennell, M Powell, Wood, Drahm (Benjamin), Garvey (R Powell), Delport (Collins)
QUARTER-FINAL – Warriors 21 Bath Rugby 15
Warriors showed their never-say-die attitude as they produced a thrilling last gasp try to deny Bath Rugby and book a semi-final spot.
The team had looked in early command when quick hands released Delport who in turn gave the ball to Sanderson to feed try-hungry Pennell. Drahm made no mistake for a 7-0 lead.
Bath hit back when Jack Bental scored despite calls for a forward pass. Warriors were pushing hard but Will Bowley was tackled just short after he spotted a gap and Pennell was denied after a moment of magic when he grubber kicked through only to be bundled into touch just short.
An injury time a score from Matt Banahan, when he pressed the gas down the right flank, gave Bath a 10-7 lead and looked set to ruin the Ruddock dream.
However, just a minute into the second half, Warriors were back ahead after a fantastic individual score from Garvey as he spotted a gap and raced past three men to slide under posts. Drahm added the extras for a 14-10 lead.
Bath again hit back and it looked like a try from former Worcester player Andrew Higgins, that gave his side a one-point advantage, would signal the end.
But in a frantic finale the Warriors poured forward and with only 17 seconds left they made it count as last action hero Garvey raced in. Drahm added the conversion for a 21-15 win.
Sanderson, Pennell, R Powell, Drahm, Bowley (Wood), Garvey, Delport
SEMI-FINAL – Warriors 15 London Irish 7
Warriors made a dream start to the semi-final when Drahm produced an inch perfect cross field kick and Delport was on hand to collect and race into the corner for a 5-0 lead.
The Exiles roared back with Charlie Gower making sure numbers out wide counted as he forced his way over. Delon Armitage kicked his side ahead with the resulting conversion.
Warriors hit back when Sanderson kept the ball alive in midfield and his flick pass gave Garvey the room to again press the accelerator and roar in the corner for a 10-7 half-time lead.
Led brilliantly by skipper Sanderson, Warriors produced a second half master class as they starved Irish of any ball and took complete control of proceedings.
Delport was forced to produce one try saving tackle but fittingly it was Sanderson who secured the win when he barged over from close range with two minutes left to book a final place.
Sanderson, Pennell, R Powell, Wood (Bowley), Drahm, Garvey (Benjamin), Delport