Nerveless Weir lands a photo-finish victory
DUNCAN Weir fired over a last minute penalty for Worcester to finish their season in style with a win over a second string Saracens, who certainly didn’t rest on their laurels after last week’s European triumph.
Forwards Nick Isiekwe and Schalk Burger were the only two to feature in both games but a combative effort and reliable goal-kicking from Tom Whiteley looked to have brought Saracens victory.
Worcester’s bonus point win still saw them finish only tenth and they have not finished higher than that since 2006 but this season’s performances, which included league doubles over Leicester and Bristol, provide encouragement for better times ahead.
Worcester’s director of rugby Alan Solomons said: “It was a fantastic way to finish. When they had a scrum, I thought the game had gone.
“However we scrummaged magnificently to get a penalty and full marks to Duncan for succeeding with a pressure kick.
“It was a pretty tight game, which could have gone either way but we gifted them ten points – we needed to be more patient.” Worcester finished with 46 points, their second best return in Premiership points.
Solomons said: “We are much fitter and have picked up some resilience so we have learned to fight to the end in the most powerful Premiership ever.”
Saracens took an early lead with a penalty from Whiteley but it was Warriors who picked up the first try.
Wynand Olivier made ground before a burst from Ethan Waller sent Michael Fatialofa charging over – but Saracens responded with a period of pressure.
Matt Gallagher burst through before Burger’s pass was knocked down when a try looked likely but earned their reward with a second Whiteley penalty.
Saracens lost David Strettle to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on with Worcester appearing to capitalise when GJ van-Velze crashed over the line but TMO replays showed that the No.8 had been forced into touch by an excellent tackle from Whiteley.
Saracens were then gifted a try when a misunderstanding between Weir and Ben Te’o saw the ball run loose. Tom Howe tried to recover the situation but fumbled and Nick Tompkins was on hand to pick up and run 40 metres to score. With Strettle still absent, Worcester replied with their second when a long pass from Francois Hougaard allowed Josh Adams and Pennell to combine for the full-back to score. Weir converted but Whiteley’s third penalty gave Saracens a 16-14 halftime lead.
Whiteley extended that advantage with another penalty before Worcester produced the best move of the match which culminated in a try for flanker Ted Hill.
Saracens regained the lead when a clever chip ahead from Whiteley saw Howe misread an unfavourable bounce, which Marcelo Bosch collected to force his way over.
Whiteley added a fifth penalty but with four minutes to go, Ben Earl was yellow carded for a deliberate off-side. Worcester benefitted by picking up a try from Adams before Weir’s conversion and penalty left them triumphant.
CLOSE-UP
JOSH ADAMS Worcester left wing V DAVID STRETTLE Saracens right wing
On his last appearance before departing for Blues, Adams was busy throughout and was rewarded with a try, which took him to the top of Warriors’ Premiership try-scoring table with 26. Strettle, on possibly his last appearance for Saracens before retirement, had a miserable afternoon making no impact and picking up a yellow card before being replaced.
