Warriors extend unbeaten start to season

Worcester Warriors continued their winning start to the Elior Champ Rugby season with a win over a spirited Blackheath side at Sixways.

It was the visitors who struck first inside four minutes, with scrum-half Jordan Burns racing down the left-hand wing to cross for the evening's opening try.

The Warriors scrum set a huge platform to attack from, winning a number of penalties across the game's first quarter – but despite all the momentum and territory going their way, Worcester didn’t yet trouble the scoreboard!

Worcester flanker Tim Anstee saw yellow after a challenge in the air, but down to fourteen didn’t affect the Warriors' momentum, and consecutive scrum penalties close to the Blackheath line before the ball found its way to Tom Seabrook, whose crash-ball carry made its way to the line.

Blackheath’s loosehead prop James Cornish saw yellow for the persistent scrum infringements, and on the stroke of half-time Worcester had a second when Will Lane broke from a scrum in the Warriors' half, linking up with Alfie Garside before Seabrook was delivered the ball to race in for his second in quick succession.

The hosts started the second-half strongly with Austin Wallis crashing over outwide after early pressure was built through relentless forward carries.

And a fourth try came just after the 50-minute mark when some magic and dancing feet from Jake Garside saw the Blackheath defence broken apart by the Warriors wingers' electric speed.

However, the visitors still had plenty of fight in them, crossing for two more tries of their own.

First, full-back Tom Emery crossed after a quick-tap penalty from Burns before replacement Tom Kendrick claimed a cross-field kick to score his side's third in the corner.

Kendrick’s try seemingly kicked the Warriors into a different gear, as they pushed to extend the lead and clinch the game.

And they were rewarded when fan favourite Ash Challenger burrowed over from close range and extended Worcester’s lead to 12 points.

Warriors continued to push for a bonus-point score, with scrum penalties once again giving them an attacking platform, but the try didn’t come, and the hosts had to settle for a four-point win.

Warriors 31

T – Tom Seabrook 38’, 40’, Austin Wallis 45’, Jake Garside 52’, Ashley Challenger 71’

C – Will Reed 38’, 40’, 71’

YC – Tim Anstee 30’

Blackheath 19

T – Jordan Burns 4’, Tom Emery 55’, Tom Kendrick 67’

C – Jordan Dunford 55’, 67’

YC – James Cornish 38’

Warriors Team

15 Louis Brown, 14 Juan González, 13 Alfie Garside, 12 Tom Seabrook (Tiff Eden 63') 11 Josh Bassett (Jake Garside HT), 10 Will Reed, 9 Will Lane (Lloyd Williams 50’); 1 Billy Keast (Livai Natave 50’), 2 Austin Wallis (Jack Dickinson 55’), 3 Fraser Balmain (Ashley Challenger 63’), 4 Tom Savage (Owain Evans 50’), 5 John Hawkins, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Matt Kvesic ©, 8 Kofi Cripps (James Cherry HT)

Blackheath Team

15 Tom Emery, 14 Jake Hennessey, 13 Luke Pollock, 12 Raff Hollister (Ryan Jones 64’), 11Ronne Du Randt (Sam Miller 38’, Tom Kendrick 60’), 10 Ed Dunford, 9 Jordan Burns; 1 James Cornish (Ronnie Du Randt 48’), 2 Ben Chapman (Archie Bourne 74’), 3 Kabous Bezuidenhout (Kyle Steeves 63’), 4 Tom Everard (Zak Farrance 63’), 5 Ed Scragg, 6 Kieran Curran (Archie Smeaton 45’), 7 Josh Smart ©, 8 Nick Cook

Unused - 21 Mikel Davies

Yesterday's Match Ball Man of the Match, as awarded by Verlingue was Warriors prop Fraser Balmain! A big thanks as always to Everton's Wine Merchants and Penfolds for supplying the Champagne