Head Coach Richard Hill could not hide his delight at a ‘huge result’ as Warriors produced a battling display to defeat London Wasps 6-0 in a closely fought Aviva Premiership clash at Adams Park.
Two penalties from fly half Joe Carlisle proved the difference in difficult conditions in High Wycombe as Warriors produced a tactical masterclass in the wet weather.
The result was the first success on the road in the top-flight for Warriors since April 2009 and meant Worcester leapfrogged Wasps in the standings.
And it gave Hill plenty of positives as the club kicked off a new calendar year in some style.
“The year 2012 has started superbly – I can’t hide my pleasure,” said Hill. “Both teams were desperate to get the New Year off to a winning start and that result is perfect for us.
“We showed good control, we played the conditions very well and there was a huge will to win from the team.
“We hadn’t got an away win all season – I can’t remember the last time Worcester won away in the Aviva Premiership – so that is a big one for us.
“That is a huge result for us and gives us a cushion between ourselves and Newcastle.
“We were not too displeased to see the rain come down before kick-off,” he added. “I think Wasps have the most potent three-quarter line in the Premiership and on a dry day they can cut you to ribbons.
“We had to get our tactics right and we knew their back three did not have a kicking game having lost Hugo Southwell. Our tactics were to put the ball in behind them and ask them to play.
“We edged the kicking battle and territory. It came down to some solid set piece and, although our scrum was struggling first 20 minutes and I had to make a tactical change, we got better and relied on our defence.
“Wasps attacked from deep and threatened on the counter attack, but it wasn’t really the day to go 80 metres and score – not with a defence like ours.”
Hill insisted the result had been a true team effort in the rain and admitted a penalty late in the first half from Joe Carlisle had started to swing the balance of power.
“I think our players felt that Wasps didn’t look that confident,” he said. “They had thrown a lot at us in the first half and we had taken everything. The talk of the dressing room, before I had even started, was that they had thrown it at us.
“We got the penalty right before half-time which would have been hard for them to take. It was a great kick by Joe Carlisle and it lifted our players. As we went into the tunnel we had a psychological boost.
“We came in and knew they were on the back of four losses, they were lacking maybe some self-belief and confidence while we grew from it.
“It was a team effort today and everyone worked hard for each other. It’s not pretty when you come away from home, but when you are in our position it is about results.
“Joe Carlisle controlled the game well and Dale Rasmussen put in some massive hits at 12, but everybody worked hard for that.”
“We showed good control, we played the conditions very well and there is a huge will to win from the team."