Worcester Sixth Form College (Warriors – AASE League North) take on Filton College (Bristol Rugby – AASE League South) in a pre season warm up game at Sixways ahead of the Warriors game with Scarlets last Saturday.
Worcester had never beaten their rivals in a full competitive match and were keen to get their new season off to a flying start. The early stages were ferocious with an exchange of ball in hand attacks with both teams going toe to toe in the contact area.
It was Worcester who managed to chalk up the first score through second row Dave Whiting who managed to drive himself over from close quarters to give the College a 5–0 lead.
Worcester continued to enforce their running game mounting pressure on the Filton defence, before the visitors pounced on a loose ball at the breakdown to deliver a sucker punch to the hosts, running in a very well taken length of the field try to give Filton a 7-5 lead going into half time.
The second half promised more tries as the tempo of the game began to tell. It was Worcester who struck first with another short range effort from loose head prop Jack Cosgrove, after a well worked build up and succession of quick tap penalties.
With a 10-7 lead Worcester Sixth Form knew that they could not afford to sit back. Another ferocious attack followed, only for lightening to strike twice, as Filton managed to intercept the ball to run in their second length of the field try of the afternoon, stealing back a 12-10 lead.
The seesaw score line was soon to swing back in Worcester’s direction when new students Mike Quickenden and Joe Wrafter combined well to regain the lead for the College, with Ally Duddell adding the extras to make the score 17-12 going into the final stages.
Filton were quick to reply with a score in the corner and the game stood at 17 each, until Worcester managed to pull clear running in a match winning try through fly half Jake Pratley, which Duddell also converted to make the final score 24-17.
Worcester AASE Coordinator Simon Lane said: “This is the first time Worcester Sixth form have managed to beat Filton, and of course winning is important, but more important was the manner in which the result came about.
“There was great ambition shown by both sides, and a willingness to run the ball from all areas of the field, this allows players to display their skills and develop them further under pressure. This matches the philosophy of the AASE League which prioritises individual player’s development.
“I was particularly impressed with our first year players who are recovering from the shock of the intensity and volume of pre season. Scott Makepiece in the second row, Joe Wrafter at Number Eight and Mike Quickenden at six have all made outstanding contributions today. Ben Williams at scrum half managed our attack well showing high levels of maturity and promise.
“It is a fantastic start to the season and a reward for all of the hard work the group have put in so far, but we are under no illusions that we all have improvements to make and goals to hit throughout the season.”