Warrriors 57-14 Enisei-STM
European Challenge Cup
HEAD coach Carl Hogg praised his Warriors players after they ended their European Challenge Cup campaign with a devastating nine-try victory over Russian minnows Enisei-STM at Sixways on Saturday.
In freezing conditions, which the visitors would have preferred, Warriors swept their Pool C opponents aside with ease, rounding off the 2016/17 competition with 13 points from six games.
After Connor Braid’s early penalty, Val Rapava Ruskin crossed for Warriors to score in consecutive games, since the club announced his departure to Gloucester at the end of the season.
Enisei-STM tried to force a response through their physical forward pack, but it was Warriors who scored again when Springbok Dean Hammond sprinted freely across the tryline in the far left corner.
Full of momentum, the hosts were flying and crossed for three more tries before half-time, courtesy of winger Hammond who completed a sensational hat-trick and Sam Betty.
But the Siberian outfit did manage to cross just before the interval as Mikhail Gachechiladze bundled over, which Yuri Kushnarev converted.
The try spree continued in the second-half as Ben Howard forced his way over, but the Russians replied through Valeri Morozov, who bullied his way over to ground.
After Kushnarev was given a red card for illegally putting the ball out of play, Warriors were given a penalty try to extend their lead to 47-14.
Academy youngster Sam Ripper-Smith then broke through tackles in midfield to run freely across the whitewash, before Max Stelling rounded off the emphatic victory when he crossed at the death.
The hosts burst forward from kick-off and it wasn’t long before they were on the scoreboard when fly-half Braid successfully slotted a penalty.
Warriors then extended their lead when Matt Cox stole the ball and teed up Betty, who found Rapava Ruskin to ground and open up a 8-0 advantage.
This seemed to spark the Russians to life, as they bullied their way forward and nearly crossed in the far corner, but Worcester’s defence thwarted the danger.
The hosts further stretched their lead when Enisei-STM failed to clear their lines, which led to Hammond darting across the whitewash out wide.
Braid then missed a long-range penalty, adding to the two conversions he had missed prior, but had another chance moments later which he slotted to open a healthy 16-0 lead.
Only 30 minutes had elapsed in the contest but Warriors were surging with confidence as Hammond crossed in the far left again, following a sublime solo move by Howard.
Things got worse for Enisei-STM when Igor Kurashov was sin-binned, which resulted in Warriors’ bonus point try when Betty broke through tackles to dot down, with Braid adding the extras.
Hammond then bagged his hat-trick with another blistering run to the tryline, which Braid again converted.
But Enisei-STM made sure they weren’t heading into half-time without a point to their name, when Gachechiladze forced his way across the tryline.
Entering the second-half 35-7 down, the visitors tried to assert their authority on the game, but Warriors were clinical in their defending and picked up where they left off in the first-half, when Howard collapsed over the line following a spell of pressure.
Enisei-STM had their second try of the afternoon when Morozov bundled over following a physical battle on Warriors’ tryline.
The hosts were then awarded a penalty try when Kushnarev was red carded for illegally putting the ball out of play, as Hammond was bearing down on his fourth try of the match.
Ripper-Smith then weaved through Enisei-STM defenders to stroll across the line untouched, before the demolition was wrapped up by Stelling, who crossed in the corner at the death.
Warriors host Harlequins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).