Late Challenger try seals victory over Nottingham

Worcester Warriors pulled off another dramatic late show, stealing victory at the death against Nottingham thanks to an 80th-minute score from Ashley Challenger.

In an evenly contested encounter, the sides went in level at the break, but an early second-half surge from Nottingham, driven by a James Cherry brace, saw the visitors open up a 19–7 lead.

Worcester, however, fought back with Tom Seabrook striking twice before Challenger finished the job in the final play.

The Warriors made a strong start, crossing just five minutes in. Matt Kvesic burst clean through the Nottingham defence before releasing Lloyd Williams, who strolled in under the posts for the opener.

Nottingham steadily worked their way back into the contest and levelled through Michael Green, the flanker finishing smartly after a neat offload from Cherry out wide.

What followed was a gritty battle for territory and possession, with neither side able to grab control before the break, the score remaining at 7–7.

The Archers came out firing after the restart. Cherry crossed first after sharp work from Harry Graham down the left, before adding a second from close range only minutes later - Gwyn Parks converting the second to give the visitors a commanding 19–7 advantage.

Worcester needed a spark, and Seabrook provided it. The centre reacted quickest to scraps from a kick chase, swooping in for a crucial score that reignited the home crowd.

Parks nudged Nottingham further ahead with a penalty, but a dominant Warriors scrum handed the hosts both field position and belief.

From the resulting line-out, Worcester hammered away through the phases, eventually sending Seabrook over again, this time from short range – Will Reed added the extras to cut the gap to just three points.

With the Sixways crowd roaring them on, Worcester piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes. Khalik Kareem came close, only for Nottingham’s defence to hold firm and force a knock-on.

However, the Warriors attacking onslaught refused to relent.

The decisive moment came in the final moments, with the forwards camped inches from the line, phase after phase wore down the Nottingham defence until Challenger, after an outstanding 80-minute shift, powered across to clinch five important points.

For the second week running, Worcester found victory at the last possible moment – Warriors fans once again witnessing another finish to savour.

Warriors 24

T- Williams 5’, Seabrook 52’, 64’, Challenger 80’

C- Eden 5’, Reed 64’

Nottingham 22

T- M Green 14’, Cherry 46’, 50’

C- Parks 14’, 50’

P- Parks 57'

Warriors Team

15 Louis Brown, 14 Jake Garside, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Rory Taylor, 11 Juan González (Will Trewin 45’), 10 Tiff Eden (Will Reed 50’), 9 Lloyd Williams (Will Lane 50’); 1 Billy Keast (Harry Olding 79’), 2 Will Biggs (Austin Wallis 62’), 3 Ashley Challenger, 4 Hallam Chapman, 5 Huw Taylor (Owain Evans 45’), 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Thabo Ndimande (Khalik Kareem 45’), 8 Matt Kvesic ©

Unused –18 Finn Haynes

Nottingham Team

15 Evan Mitchell, 14 David Williams ©, 13 Charlie Davies, 12 Levi Roper (Christian-Goss 62’), 11 Harry Graham, 10 Gwyn Parks, 9 Will Yarnell (Goodwin 52’); 1 Oscar Stott (Sio 62’), 2 Jack Dickinson, 3 Dan Richardson (Scharink 64’), 4 Jay Ecclesfield (Vereti 62’), 5 Osian Thomas, 6 Sam Green (Rees 64’), 7 Michael Green, 8 James Cherry 

Unused – 16 Arthur Allen, 22 Charlie West

Match Sponsor's Player of the Match Tom Seabrook, as chosen by Addison Rees

Match Ball Sponsor Player of the Match Matt Kvesic, as chosen by TDB Electrical Services.

Thanks as always to Everton's Wine Merchants and Champagne Pommery for providing the champagne