We were playing a team who have given us problems in the past – who could forget that dreadful home game in 2006 when we were coasting at half time only to be turned over in the second half and give the Warriors their first away win of the season closely followed by the end of season debacle at Sixways that led to the Sinners going down. Not to mention 2 good wins for Worcester in the last 2 weeks against Sale & Newcastle (and anyone who saw the Sale game would realise Worcester have a useful pack). 

But look at the top of the Guinness Premiership and see where we might have been. Currently top are Irish followed by Gloucester but if you take the 4 points we should have had against Gloucs (thanks Mr Davey) and the win we ought to have had against Irish and it could be us sitting proudly at the head of the table. Instead we remain in 7^th. Oh well, 5 points from 3 games when we should have had 10 & might have hoped for even more.  

Any errors in this report are down to your correspondent wearing gloves to make notes and hence not being able to read anything she’s written afterwards! [I can't spot many, Ed]

Worcester were without Chris Latham, their inspirational full back who has been so effective for them this season and also lost Chris Fortey & Matthew Jones. Sarries welcomed back Matias Aguero, Fabio Ongaro (not before time after Cairns' latest injury) Kameli Ratavou and Census Johnson. There was a loud round of applause again for HRHRH and the current England Captain as they walked in front of the South Stand. 

The match started brightly enough with Alex Goode winning a penalty almost straight from the kick off. Then after 4 minutes Worcester failed to roll away and Glenda had his first opportunity for points. Not an easy kick – 15m in from the left around the 22 but he missed. Perhaps it wasn’t going to be his day. 2 minutes later had had the chance to amend, this time just to the right of the posts and this time the ball went over. 3-0 to Sarries and a good start. 

Sarries defended well during the next phase and eventually Jackson took a high ball in his own half and passed to Goode who ran most of the length of the pitch (while the Worcester defence largely stood and watched him) before passing to Powell who put Ratuvou over in the corner. Jackson missed the touchline conversion but nevertheless 8-0 after 10 minutes was promising. 

From the restart there was some nice interplay between Jackson, Powell & Goode which eventually broke down. Shortly afterwards Goode kicked a long inch-perfect clearance to touch (when we all thought he’d over-cooked it). That led to a Worcester lineout which Sarries won (definite positive there). A heavy tackle on Powell went unpunished by Mr Davey and after some more midfield exchanges Worcester launched an attack. Rasmussen had the goal line in his sight but slipped. The ball was recycled and this time Crichton looked to be in for a try but at the same time seemed to pull a hamstring and Goode was able to touch the ball down safely.

With that (the occasionally admirable) Crichton departed & was replaced by Joe Carlisle. Mr Davey had seen an offence (offside) and came back for the penalty which Chris Pennell converted. 8-3 after 20 minutes. Several reset scrums (the pitch was wet and slippy) and kicking exchanges eventually led to a Sarries line out which they lost (1-1). Worcester kept possession & won another penalty for not rolling away which Pennell duly converted. 8-6 after 28 minutes and the bright start was looking rather gloomy now. 

A period of messy play followed with a Jackson charge down forcing Worcester to carry the ball over but then Sarries conceding a penalty at their own scrum (although whether Mr Davey knew what was going on is anyone’s guess). Sarries eventually attacked again. A late tackle on Goode by Tuitupou led to a yellow card and a penalty to Sarries from where the ball landed – in front of the posts on the 10m line. Surely Glenda wasn’t going to miss? He did. Not his day with the boot. Meanwhile Visagie went to the blood bin and there was warm applause for the return of Census.  

From the restart came a penalty for a high tackle by Talei which Jackson kicked to touch. Sarries duly won the line out and Jackson, with a typical show and go, went over in the corner again. It was a repeat performance of the conversion – in every way. The ball went wide. Still 13-6 after 37 minutes and things were looking up. Half time came and we were all anticipating a second half with 4 tries and a bonus point.  

Tom & Tim shared the Kick for Cash prize after some skull-duggery by Sarrie. 

So the second half started. Cobus returned, suitable stitched and bandaged. The flood lights were now very bright and rain was sheeting across the ground. I thought Cobus might have been tempted to stay in the changing room. Within 2 minutes Sarries had another penalty for offside. This time Jacko kicked it and the score was 16-6.

Sarries launched a series of attacks, largely inspired by de Kock. His chip and chase almost put Skirving over then Jackson was nearly home before knocking on in the tackle. Worcester held out in the 5m scrum and just cleared their lines although the ever alert de Kock almost got a charge down. For the next 10 minutes there was a fair bit of attacking play but little progress or direction. Cobus decided he’d had enough and let Census finish the day.

There were more reset scrums as the pitch got even slippier and Mr Davey even more confused. Eventually he penalised Sarries for hands in the ruck but Pennell missed the shot at goal. By now only 20 minutes remained and there was no sign of the elusive 3^rd or 4^th try.

The team seemed somewhat aimless and the ball kept getting stuck down the middle. Sarries had an opportunity with a put in at the scrum on the Worcester 5m line but although they won the ball it was messy and slow and  the ball eventually went dead. The game continued to be played in the Worcester half without Sarries ever looking like breaking through. Farrell went to ground several times and the move broke down.  

Yoda decided it was time for a change and Sorrell came on for Powell. There was some promising back play and another good break by Goode then a 1-2 with Cato but the return pass was knocked on. 

More substitutions – Ches and Ryder replaced Vyvyan & Owen (not sure the experiment at No 4 worked) and at last Barritt replaced Farrell. Almost at once there was more pace injected. Sarries won a centrally placed scrum and de Kock passed out to Wikus and on to Barritt. This time the move kept going with Skirving, de Kock and Jackson involved before Barritt took the ball and had the pace to score. Jackson kicked the conversion and Sarries led 23-6 with 7 minutes left. 

Mosese replaced the superb de Kock and everyone wondered whether Sarries could now go on and get the elusive bonus point. Alas the game deteriorated in the mire and much of the final 5 minutes was spent deep in the Sarries half with reset scrums and mud. Almost inevitably the game ended with a knock on. 

Alex Goode was Man of the Match and it would be hard to disagree but I though de Kock was once again immense and the real driving force behind the pack. Maybe it was an error to take him off at the end. Now that Borthwick is back maybe we can give his co-captain a rest and start an inside centre with a bit of pace. Depends if Yoda feels the force is with him. 

So it was a win but at the end it felt more like a lost opportunity. It should have been 5 points. Let’s hope that come the end of the season we don’t regret it. 

Picture Credit: PhilFez 

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