Late try secures victory at Sixways

Worcester Warriors secured a last-gasp victory over Doncaster Knights with winger Juan González crossing in the game’s final minutes.

Doncaster had taken the lead with ten minutes to go, but the Warriors fought back to secure a pivotal win.

The visitors took the lead just two minutes into the game with Russell Bennett knocking over a penalty.

It was Worcester who crossed the try-line first however, with hooker Austin Wallis crossing from the back of a motoring driving maul.

And one soon became two for the Warriors when González and Tim Anstee linked up down the right wing with the pass inside finding Will Lane, whose final pass sent in Hallam Chapman, the second row's third try in as many games.

The Warriors scrum provided a strong attacking platform, and despite not getting over the try-line again before half-time, Will Reed extended the advantage with a penalty.

Just before the break, Doncaster responded with their opening try with centre Joe Margetts going over out wide after a strong break from Telusa Veainu, with Bennett converting to narrow the gap to 5 points at half-time.

Reed added a second penalty early in the second period, but neither side managed to switch the momentum totally in their favour.

Bennett added his second penalty with just over fifteen minutes to go, narrowing the gap once more.

And the momentum swung the way of the Knights when, with James Short in the sin-bin, East Timor Viliamu went over from a driving maul – with Bennett’s conversion putting his side ahead.

But the momentum swung once more, with Doncaster’s Zach Kerr joining Short in the sin-bin for a tackle in the air.

With the ball being played deep in Doncaster territory, the Warriors pack looked to drive over the line before with penalty advantage, the ball was spread to González, who picked the gap to cross for what proved to be the winner.

The visitors pushed in the final stages for a way back into the game, but the resolute Warriors' defence held on, securing the victory at Sixways.

Warriors 25

T – Austin Wallis 9’, Hallam Chapman 15’, Juan González 76’

C- Will Reed 15’, 76’

P – Will Reed 34’, 45’

YC- James Short 67’

Knights 20

T – Joe Margetts 39’, East Timor Viliamu 69’

C – Russell Bennett 39’, 69’

P – Russell Bennett 2’, 64’

YC – Zach Kerr 73’

Warriors Team

15 Will Trewin, 14 Juan González, 13 James Short, 12 Tom Hendrickson (Rory Taylor 64’), 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Will Reed, 9 Will Lane (Lloyd Williams 51’); 1 Livai Natave, 2 Austin Wallis, 3 Fraser Balmain (Ashley Challenger 78’), 4 Hallam Chapman (Obinna Nkwocha 64’), 5 James Tyas, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Thabo Ndimande (Khalik Kareem 51’ (Jake Garside 67’)), 8 Matt Kvesic ©

Unused - 16 Corey Lewis, 17 Callum Smyth

Knights Team

15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Ryan Olowofela (Aidan Cross 45’), 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards (Morgan Bunting 57’), 11 Zach Kerr, 10 Russell Bennett, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson (Logovi’i Mulipola 45’), 2 Fred Davies (Ben Chapman 45’), 3 Joe Jones, 4 Ben Murphy ©, 5 Morgan Jones (Ehize Ehizode 73’), 6 Adam Hopkinson, 7 Josh Bainbridge, 8 East Timor Viliamu

Unused - 18 Cole Keith, 20 Corey Tait, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti