Thanks to a try from Tony Windo, Worcester were 7 – 6 up at the break, and looking favourites to pull off their second victory of the campaign. But Gloucester turned it on in the second half with two tries. Worcester were camped in the Gloucester 22 for long periods in the final 10 minutes and even had a penalty, five metres out, in the last minute. However, after replacement Lee Fortey lashed out, the penalty was reversed and the chance was gone. Final score, 13 – 18.

So it was close, and the Warriors produced a creditable performance against their nearest neighbours. Surely it wouldn’t be too long before Worcester chalked up their first victory against the mighty Gloucester?

The return match took place the following January, with the Warriors in dire need of a win to ease their relegation worries. The exciting young Gloucester winger Marcel Garvey was ruled out with a case of mumps, but it would not matter as Gloucester showed their class, finishing up winning 28 – 16.

September 2005, and the curtain opener for the new season was Gloucester’s visit to Sixways. Worcester’s new boy Andy Gommarsall failed to make the starting line up against his former club, but apparently a warm bottle and his favourite blankey tempered his little tantrum. In a try-less first half James Brown and Ludovic Mercier shared 18 points, including a sublime drop goal and a 57 (yes 57!) metre penalty on the stroke of half time from Ludo – although the first half was more memorable for Drew Hickey’s crunch on Adam Balding.

James and Ludo shared another 12 points during the second half, and with the score at 15 all, replacement Shane Drahm stepped up at the end to send a 55-metre penalty soaring between the posts on his debut. Except he didn’t, and the match was drawn. But the Warriors’ first win against Gloucester seemed to be getting closer.

Worcester had to wait until the 15th April 2006, before the return visit. In a bad tempered affair where Pat Sanderson head-butted James Forrester’s fist, Gloucester piled on the pressure at Kingsholm and ended up victors 27 –16. Andy Gomarsall, coming on as a replacement for Matt Powell, did score a try late on, giving Worcester a temporary lead. He then proceeded to wind the Gloucester players (and the Shed) up with his football-style celebrations, who subsequently retaliated with two late tries to wipe the smile off Gommers’ face good and proper.

A week later Worcester were back at Kingsholm for the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup. Although the Warriors took the lead in the game just after half time, their lack of discipline destroyed them again, with Ryan Lamb lethal with the boot, helping Gloucester to a 31 – 23 victory.

October 2006 saw Gloucester’s next visit to Sixways. Worcester came tearing out of the blocks and crossed the line through Shane Drahm after just 50 seconds. After Ryan Lamb hit back the teams went into the tunnel with Worcester 14 – 10 up, and looking much the better team. Gloucester then started punishing the Warriors for their lack of discipline, with Ryan Lamb taking them into the lead with a couple of penalties. Late tries by Anthony Allen and Iain Balshaw took Worcester out of bonus point territory, as Gloucester finished the game victors by 33 points to 24.

The following February Worcester travelled to Kingsholm in desperate straits, and looking certainties for relegation. Although only 4 points behind at half time, a general lack of discipline and errors galore in the second half meant an under strength Gloucester ended up easy winners, 33 – 19. That elusive first win against Gloucester seemed further away than ever.

September 29th 2007 saw Worcester take an early season trip to Kingsholm. Dean Ryan’s master plan for GP domination was starting to come to fruition, and some scintillating play from the likes of James Simpson-Daniel, Anthony Allen, and Mike Tindall tore Worcester to shreds, dominating and winning the game 29 – 7. It was beginning to look like the Warriors were never going to beat the old enemy.

So, eight games against Gloucester since promotion, and not one victory. The chances of it coming any time soon looked slim, with Gloucester topping the table, and Worcester looking like relegation fodder yet again.

Then came Saturday 29th March 2008. Worcester were unbeaten during the month, whilst Gloucester hadn’t won a game away from Kingsholm since the turn of the year. Dare we dream?

Yet again the Gloucester supporters arrived at Sixways in their hundreds, creating another cracking atmosphere. Yet again Worcester sprung out of the blocks, with the pocket rocket Sam Tuitupou breaking the gain line and crossing the try line after 60 seconds. Minutes later, Marcel Garvey went on an angled run and released Miles Benjamin who stretched Warriors’ lead to 12 – 0.

Eight minutes before half-time Lesley Vainikolo found some space and went through two tackles, the second of which was Marcel Garvey, knocking him unconscious. The game was held up for 5 or 10 minutes whilst the medical staff tended to Marcel. Big Les looked concern for his fellow winger, and sportingly went to check how he was after the medics had had time to assess his condition. Marcel’s injury seemed to upset the concentration of the Worcester players, and Rory Lawson soon capitalised, putting Gloucester 14 –12 up before the break.

Gloucester then dominated in appalling conditions, but were unable to make their territory and possession count, due to some excellent defence from the Warriors. With the clock ticking closer to 80 minutes, Worcester found themselves with the ball around the half-way line. Shane Drahm kicked behind the Gloucester back line, and Miles Benjamin gave chase. James Simpson-Daniel did well to secure the ball, but could only take it behind the try line to touch down for a 5 metre scrum to Worcester. A pumped up Worcester pack then scrummaged their hearts out. After a couple of collapses, and a warning for the Gloucester front row from referee Sean Davey, the Worcester forwards held their own, allowing Johnny Arr to release the ball to Miles Benjamin. Miles then through the ball over his head to Gloucester old boy Thinus Delport, who obliged by sliding over in the corner. All four sides of Sixways then rose in a crescendo of noise as the clock ticked passed 80 minutes. Shane Drahm’s missed conversion was the last kick of the game, Sean Davey blew his whistle, pointed to the changing rooms, and the Worcester crowd went barmy.

Worcester 17 Gloucester 14. They had done it! The monkey on the back of the Worcester team duly disappeared, and another season in the GP was as good as certain.

There is no doubt that this victory over a team with the undoubted class of Gloucester was a watershed. Not only for this season, but for the whole of Worcester’s time in the Premiership. The corner has finally been turned, and the Worcester faithful can look forward to the rest of this season, and next, with renewed optimism.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes