WORCESTER Warriors booked their place in the Champ Rugby play-off semi-finals following a hard-fought 35-29 victory against Chinnor.
Warriors crossed for five tries at Sixways Stadium as Siva Naulago touched down twice while Austin Wallis, Tim Anstee and Josh Bassett all dotted down for the home side.
Chinnor led by five points at the interval and remained in front until past the hour mark as James Bourton, Alun Walker, Kai Owen and Luke Thompson all touched down for the visitors.
However, Worcester proved too strong for Chinnor to extend their season by another game and keep their title hopes alive.
Warriors crossed for the game’s first try on 17 minutes when Naulago burst through a gap in the ruck to run in from 40 metres out as Billy Twelvetrees added the extras.
However, Chinnor responded on 25 minutes when Bourton scored in the corner after he claimed Callum Pascoe’s cross-field kick.
And the visitors took the lead four minutes later as Walker finished from the back of a driving maul and Nathan Chamberlain converted.
However, Worcester reclaimed the lead on 34 minutes when Wallis broke off a maul to crash over and Twelvetrees added the extras.
The lead changed hands again on the stroke of half time as former Worcester prop Owen burrowed over under the posts and Chamberlain converted to send Chinnor into the break with a five-point lead.
And Chamberlain kicked a penalty between the posts after the break to stretch the away side’s lead to eight points.
Warriors responded on 59 minutes when Anstee crashed over and Twelvetrees converted with Chinnor’s Conor Brockschmidt sent to the sin-bin.
And the home side crossed again five minutes later as Tim Hoyt broke through the line and offloaded to Bassett who ran in unopposed as Twelvetrees again added the extras.
However, Worcester lost Twelvetrees to the sin-bin eight minutes from time after he was penalised for an offence at a maul.
Warriors defended heroically with a man less and wrapped the game up with three minutes left to play as Naulago forced a handling error and crossed for his second try of the game as Will Reed converted.
Chinnor scored a try at the death when Thompson crossed from a driving maul and Chamberlain converted with the final play of the game.
Worcester face a daunting trip to unbeaten league leaders Ealing Trailfinders in the play-off semi-finals on Saturday, May 23 with kick-off at 4pm at Trailfinders Sports Ground.
