Try for Tigers: Scott Hamilton
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Leicester moved temporarily top of the Aviva Premiership table after two penalty tries helped them overcome Worcester 19-14 at Sixways on Friday.
The Warriors stormed into an 11-0 lead thanks to two Andy Goode penalties and David Lemi finishing a well-worked try after Matt Kvesic and Jon Clarke combined to create the necessary space for the Samoan winger to score in the corner.
The Tigers evening got worse when Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni was yellow-carded for a high-tackle on Semisi Taulava and Goode's subsequent successful penalty extended the home side's lead.
The Warriors stoic defence thwarted Leicester's attacking advancements as the counter attacking ability of Josh Drauninu and individual brilliance of England hopeful Kvesic were proving prominent for the home side.
Leicester struck back when swift handling by the Tigers back division allowed winger Scott Hamilton to score the visitors opening try and in the process Goode was sin-binned for foul play. Incumbent England fly-half Toby Flood failed to add the extras as Worcester went into half-time 14-5 in front.
The Warriors had a couple of opportunities to extend their lead but Chris Pennell, taking over the kicking duties in Goode's absence, missed two penalties in quick succession.
The introduction of replacements Dan Cole and Marcos Ayerza gave the Tigers fresh impetus and resulted in referee JP Doyle awarding a penalty try for a Warriors scrum infringement. Flood's conversion left the scores finely posed at 14-12.
As the Tigers looked to claw their way back into the game, Flood's fourth penalty miss looked like it was not going to be their night.
However, with just a minute remaining the Tigers piled the pressure on the Warriors line resulting in Doyle awarding the second penalty try of the game for a scrum infringement. Flood's conversion sealed an epic comeback for the Tigers whilst the distraught Warriors outfit where left scratching their heads in bewilderment.
The scorers:
For Worcester:
Try: Lemi
Pen: Goode 3
For Leicester:
Tries: Hamilton, Penalty 2
Con: Flood 2
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Josh Drauniniu, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Jon Clarke, 11 David Lemi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Semisi Taulava, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sam Betty, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 James Percival (c), 3 Euan Murray, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 John Andress, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Neil Best, 21 Ollie Frost, 22 Danny Gray, 23 Josh Matavesi.
Leicester: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Dan Bowden, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Steve Mafi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Ed Slater, 4 Louis Deacon (c), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 Logovi'i Mulipola.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Julian Salvi, 21 Micky Young, 22 Anthony Allen, 23 Niall Morris.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Andrew Pearce, Peter Huckle
Television match official: Trevor Fisher
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant
Assessor: Tony Spreadbury
Comments
makemehappy says...
@lawynd - you can't give a penalty try for a scrum infringement before the scrum has started, so that doesn't make sense I'm afraid. Also clearly the first infringement is Leicester pushing. There was no scrum for Worcester to do anything illegal with.
Posted 07:56 11th January 2013
Warrior7 says...
Real shame Doyle bottled it and not even one of the 3 officials spotted a dangerous tip tackle. I couldn't care less if Flood is cited because it doesn't help Wuss in any way, just the other teams we are trying to beat.
Thats really only the 3rd time we have played with real intensity this season, just a shame Goode decided to have another card against his old mates - it could have been different.
Please, please lets hope we keep Kvesic. Although it looks like another of our academy players going to be poached by a top 4 side unless we hand him an enormous paycheck.
Posted 16:02 06th January 2013
lawynd says...
@makemehappy - I've not yet seen the footage again of the second penalty try, but it looked to me like there was a hand in there from the Worcester blindside before Youngs was able to put the ball in...might explain why Doyle was happy to award the try anyway.
Posted 00:44 06th January 2013
ChrisInCrete says...
Very entertaining match, huge shame for Worcester.
@makemehappy: Certainly a very strange one for the Ref. Letting some things go and going to the video ref for others during regular play. For the Goode yellow card he asked for the video ref, then looked at the replays himself and decided, not even letting the video ref make his report.
Don't know who PR were getting their report from, Castrogiovanni's high tackle looked like he was inspecting the daisies - he dived under the attackers body blocking him and got pinged for not using his arms - nothing high about it at all, maybe he thought he was in the USA playing in the padded version.
Except for his little yellow card madness, Goode played a blinder, excellent distribution and kicking (Ok one rifled flat pass was almost intercepted and might have been run in).
All credit to Worcester, Leicester only nicked it at the death. Cockerills team got a lot of the rub of the green compared to last week and Hill would not be out of line to a have an equivalent go at the ref.
I'm still wincing from the backhander across Tait's nose that probably broke it. Ouchhhhhhh!
Posted 13:31 05th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Worcester showing why with a little more money/a larger fan base they could be a real force to be reckoned with. They have a solid fly half, probably the best 7 in England and a decent pack and backline. I don't see them going down this season, especially if they're going to be getting losing bonuses from games with the top 4 teams...
Posted 22:56 04th January 2013
makemehappy says...
Ive no interest in who won that game, so can freely state that the referee was a disgrace. Two bonkers yellows. One failure to address a tip tackle. Finally - a penalty try (the second one), where nobody on earth could think the scrum wasn't moving before the ball was put in. I really do mean nobody! So did the pressure get to Doyle (in which case he needs a few weeks off) or was it the wish to make sure the better (which there's no doubt Leicester are generally) team win?
Posted 22:47 04th January 2013
rugbylover says...
.............in all my 30 years of .......................
Posted 22:41 04th January 2013
melkdave says...
Well annother hard good match imo,and must have been heartbreaking for warriors fans at he end.Two teams playing well ,and showing some enterprising play at times
Posted 22:28 04th January 2013