Warriors’ AASE side Worcester Sixth Form College went down 24-17 to Newcastle’s Gosforth Academy last Wednesday to narrowly miss out on a place in the AASE League play-offs.
Worcester got off the mark early on with a fine team try finished off by Isaac Blake-Mills.
Newcastle bounced back scoring off the back of a maul but Worcester regained the lead when Ted Hill crashed over following a powerful run.
The visitors soon lost their scrum-half and fly-half through injury meaning a reshuffle of the backline with Gosforth able to hit back after sustained pressure on the visitors' tryline.
Worcester then suffered another injury to their replacement scrum-half causing another reshuffle.
The score was well-poised at 12-10 at the break but Gosforth struck early in the second period with two tries in quick succession.
Worcester’s Max Hill responded late on with a try from a driving maul with Dan Batty converting to make the final score 24-17.
Warriors AASE Manager Ryan Watkins said: “The boys worked hard but made a few poor tactical decisions that cost us the game, and it was ultimately decided on small margins.”
Worcester will now play Oaklands College, Moulton College and Gosforth Academy again in a round robin with the winner playing their South Division counterparts in a Grand Final.
Watkins added: “We've got a good draw for the Division Two play-offs and are now looking forward to the challenge.”
You can watch the youngsters in action next against Oaklands College (Saracens AASE) on Wednesday 4 November at Worcester Sixth Form College (kick-off 2pm).