The University of Worcester Warriors dusted off the cobwebs at the Alpas Arena, but their last minute 3 try run in wasn’t enough to secure victory against local rivals Gloucester-Hartpury.
Warriors were slow to start the first half, going down 29-0 in the first 30minutes, as the home side took full advantage dotting down 5 times before Warriors Centre Carys Cox was sent to the sin bin following a team warning.
Fellow teammate Stef Evans joined her shortly after for ill-discipline at scrum time. The cherry & whites capitalised with some quick hands from the scrum to see their tally reach 41-0 before the break, with Emma Sing converting the extras to make it 43-0 at half time.
Returning to the field, the Warriors looked reinvigorated, as the sides remained locked in battle until the 72nd minute when the home side drove over the whitewash to make it 48-0 but were unable to add the extras.
A calculated decision from Director of Rugby Jo Yapp to bring on replacements a few minutes earlier saw the Warriors tempo lifted and quickly Winger Vicky Laflin managed dance through the defence just outside the 22 to go over in the 76th minute taking the score to an unconverted 48-5.
Shortly after the Warriors put the home side to the sword again when a superb piece of team play saw Moreira, Laflin, and Cox link up for the Outside Centre to touch down on the 78th minute to the sounds of singing Warriors fans on what was to be her 50th Club Appearance.
But this wasn’t to be the end as the visitors made one last attempt to re-establish the side, when in final play replacement Back-row Sara Moreira forced her way over the line from a few metres out after a fantastic bit of sustained play from the Warriors leaving the score 48-15 at the full-time whistle.
“Credit to Gloucester they were very clinical and took their opportunities well in the first half,” said Warriors Director of Rugby Jo Yapp.
“We went in at half time really disappointed with our performance. We couldn’t keep the ball and gave away too many penalties.
“Second half we stepped up and gave a performance we could be proud of, it was good to see the impact from the players off the bench. These have been really challenging times for both staff and players, but the second half showed the character and resilience of the group and gives us something to build on.”