Warriors Academy gave supporters an encouraging glimpse into the future of the club as they bravely battled back before losing 33-19 against Bristol United at Sixways Stadium.
The home side were dealt an early double try blow by the visitors who burst out of the traps, but showed a huge amount of character and resilience to take the fight back to United.
Jake Abbott, Tom Wheatcroft and Charlie Fellows all crossed for Warriors in an entertaining eight-try clash against a Bristol side packed full of experience with players who had enjoyed top-flight rugby.
And Academy boss Andrew Stanley admitted the workout had been a big huge learning curve for his players who would have benefited hugely from the experience on the stadium pitch.
“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge by the strength of the Bristol side that had a number of players with international and Premiership experience,” he said. “We were quite young and were under a lot of pressure from the early stages, but we showed real resilience and never let our heads and full credit to the boys.
“We managed to outscore Bristol in the second half which is very positive.
“Experiences like this, although it hurts to lose, are of a huge benefit to the young players, it is an invaluable experience of what is required in particular aspects of their game to move onto the next level.
“The lads are disappointed to lose in front of such a loyal band of supporters who have showed them great backing over the last 18 months. They are eager for the next game already and getting back to winning ways.”
The game kicked off in icy conditions and was stopped almost immediately for several minutes when Rob Wood dislocated his shoulder and was replaced by Jake Abbott.
When play resumed the youthful Warriors side made an encouraging start with Joe Carlisle pinning a sublime kick into the far corner that was almost latched onto by Charlie Fellows as he sped down the left flank.
Bristol, though, were to strike first on 11 minutes after quick ball found Anthony Elliott who sped into a gap and then sidestepped the final man to coast in under the posts. The conversion was comfortably slotted over by Jason Strange.
The visitors had brought a vastly experienced side – that included Gareth Llewellyn and Jason Strange – but they were not finding it easy against a pumped up Warriors team intent on making an impression in front of a healthy home crowd.
Summer signing Shaun Ruwers was making his mark with some big hits and powerful runs and the pack were rewarded for a powerful surge with a penalty deep in the Bristol half. Carlisle found touch and from the resulting lineout the ball rumbled forward via Uche Oduoza the Warriors streamed towards the line. But when the ball was spun wide by Carlisle his looping pass was picked off by Elliott who ran 90 metres to score his second under the posts. Strange again added the extras.
Warriors nearly hit back three minutes later when Nick Runciman’s intelligent grubber through spat up but just failed to find the hands of Oduoza for a simply run in as he knocked on.
Greg Evans showed his raw speed with an electric run in midfield as Warriors continued to respond to the double early blow. However, slick play on the left by the touchline just failed to find hands and the chance was gone.
Lock Graham Kitchener was impressing in the lineout with some huge leaps to claim possession while Carlisle had to produce a last gasp tackle to deny Elliott his hat-trick as he again pressed the gas with the line in sight.
Warriors continued to go toe-to-toe with the opposition as the half wore on but it was Bristol who edged further ahead when Ryan Prosser benefited from a quick lineout to the front and dived over in the corner for a 19-0 lead.
Abbott showed quick vision to scamper down the blindside but his flick pass inside failed to find Craig Everett in the dying minutes of the half as Worcester bravely battled for a score.
Bristol struck again just before the break when (12) took full advantage of some powerful runs in midfield and slid over. Strange made no mistake with the conversion.
But Warriors were rewarded for a brave first half display just seconds before the break when 12 made a quick break before being hauled up short. The ball was recycled and fed to Ruwers who smashed his way close before offloading to Abbott to dive in. Carlisle added the conversion for a half-time deficit of 26-7.
Warriors made a half-time change with Loti Molatika on for try-scorer Abbott and Paula Havea also making his entrance just minutes after the interval for Craig Everett. The home side were rewarded for an industrious start to the second period with Tom Wheatcroft tearing over and reducing the lead to 26-12.
Bristol responded with a pushover try, after a number of rumbling attacks, but resurgent Worcester were not to be denied with centre Evans making a surging run in the middle of the park before his lofted pass left was scooped up by Charlie Fellows to score. Fly half Gareth Morgan, on for Carlisle, added the difficult conversion from near the touchline.
Jordan Page entered the fray and was nearly sent clear when Odouza made a jet-heeled break down the right wing but the inside pass from the winger proved just too high to hold onto with open space in front of him.
Havea made a sensational break in the middle of the pitch and held off the covering defence before feeding Tim Streather who was tackled just short.
Bristol threatened another interception try only for a backtracking Matt Cox to drag down Gareth Llewellyn before the home side turned over possession. The visitors were also struck a blow when James Staunton was handed a card to match his yellow boots after finally snapping the patience of referee Johnson at the breakdown.
Warriors continued to battle until the final whistle and after outscoring their opponents in the second half were warmly applauded at the final whistle by a generous crowd who appreciated the effort the young side had put in.
Don’t miss the next trilling Academy fixture against Sale U19’s on Monday, October 22 at Sixways Stadium – 7.30pm kick off. It’s sure to be another fine example of edge of your seat, fast, free flowing rugby – definatly one not to be missed!
Timeline:
12m Elliott t Strange c 0-7
16m Elliott t Strange c 0-14
29m Prosser t 0-19
37m 12 t Strange c 0-26
40m Abbott t Carlisle c 7-26
48m Wheatcroft t 12-26
56m Attwood t Strange c 12-33
58m Fellows t Morgan c 19-33
Warriors: 01 Callum Black, 02 Matt Mullan (Deacon 78), 03 Shaun Ruwers (Page ??), 04 Rob Wood (Abbott 7 (Molatika 40), 05 Graham Kitchener (Abbott 68), 06 Tom Wood, 07 Matt Cox, 08 Craig Everett (Havea 48), 09 Nick Runciman (Arr 66), 10 Joe Carlisle (Morgan 57), 11 Uche Odouza, 12 Greg Evans, 13 Alex Grove, 14 Charlie Fellows (Streather 70), 15 Tom Wheatcroft (Gilding 76)
Replacements: Jordan Page, Matt Deacon, Jack Gilding, Loti Molatika, Paula Havea, Jake Abbott, Jonny Arr, Gareth Morgan, Tim Streather