WORCESTER Wanderers avenged their North Midlands Cup final defeat to Bournville as they knocked out the holders in an enthralling quarter-final clash at Weston Fields.
That match was also decided after extra time, but this time it was Wanderers who came on top, winning 3-2 on tries scored as the clash was level at 17-17 at the end of extra time.
But it took until just after the interval before the match really got going as Bournville finally broke the deadlock with a penalty from Harry Griffiths.
Wanderers lost James Gunther to yellow card before Tom Richmond followed him into the sin-bin three minutes later.
Despite only having 13 men on the field, it was the hosts who took an unlikely lead when Kieran Morris released Mike Dodge to score in the corner.
Worcester then went on to enjoy their best spell of pressure, but against the run play Adam Woodfield intercepted Tom Biggs’ pass to run in unopposed from 40 metres, which Griffiths converted.
Bournville dug deep as they attempted to cling on to their 10-5 advantage, but in the closing stages Wanderers’ persistence paid off as Tim Pickard went over to force the match into extra time.
In response, the visitors through everything at Worcester before flanker Iestyn Pratt crossed the whitewash. Griffiths added the extras to move 17-10 in front.
But Stuart James’ men were in determined mood, while Biggs was in fine form with the boot as he gained crucial territory. And Worcester soon hit back with a converted try from Richmond, which ultimately proved decisive.
He missed a penalty late on, but crucially they held out to record the narrowest of victories to progress into the last four.