Worcester Warriors 32 Jersey 29
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IF EVER the Sixways faithful needed reminding how competitive this league is, Friday night’s tension filled match said as much as they needed to know.
Worcester Warriors had to rely on a last-gasp penalty from Ryan Lamb to secure victory as Jersey came very close to ending their winning run.
On paper, Warriors should have eased to a comfortable home win and they looked like doing so when they led 17-0 until the 37th minute.
But as winless Plymouth Albion showed last week, nothing necessarily goes to script in English rugby’s second tier as Jersey battled back and twice levelled the scores before Lamb fired home the winner.
With Worcester knowing a victory would move them above Bristol for the first time, there were a few early nerves as Lamb misjudged a high ball, while Jersey were making best use of the wet conditions to frustrate their opponents.
But once again it was their powerful forwards which settled them into the match. Warriors’ driving maul, which proved the difference against Plymouth last week, was looking too hot to handle as Mat Gilbert was shunted over. Lamb added the extras.
Worcester’s scrum was also functioning well in the early stages as a big hit led to a penalty, which Lamb duly dispatched to move his side into a 10-0 lead.
Jersey made the occasional burst into Worcester’s half, with Mike Williams doing well to force Drew Locke into touch, but the hosts seemed in complete control and soon increased their advantage.
This time, a well rehearsed driving maul saw Val Rapava Ruskin burrow over from close range before Lamb made it 17-0 with the conversion.
Jersey continued to plug away in the opening period, though, and they got their reward just before the break when Nathan Noone raced through a gap to score.
This try along with the half time interval may have disrupted Warriors’ flow, but they showed little sign of it affecting them as they struck within the opening five minutes.
Gilbert scored his fifth try in four games when the flanker forced his way over in the corner. Lamb failed to land the conversion, but Worcester looked to pretty much have the game sowed up as they led 22-5.
The visitors, however, had other ideas as they went straight on the front foot and quickly got themselves back in the contest. Noone went over for the second time which Jonny Bentley converted to get within ten points of Worcester.
Warriors brought on experienced duo Chris Pennell and Jonathan Thomas who were both returning after lengthy lay-offs, in a bid to steady the ship.
But the Islanders simply refused to give in and began to dominate their opponents as Bentley closed the gap further with a penalty.
Warriors then suffered a double blow on the 64th minute when Williams saw yellow before Jersey were awarded a penalty try which Bentley dispatched.
This levelled the scores at 22-22 and left the home fans shell shocked, but both sides were soon playing with 14 men when Jersey’s Sam Lockwood was sin-binned.
The yellow card came after intense pressure from Warriors who were eventually awarded a penalty try of their own. Lamb made no mistake with the simple kick to put his side 29-22 in front with seven minutes remaining.
But still the match was not won as the away side hit back once more, with Locke collecting a loose pass and sprinting through to score before Bentley found the equaliser from the tee.
With the scores locked at 29-29 with only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Warriors were at serious risk of losing their winning streak, which stretches back until the opening day of the season.
And the nerves appeared to be getting to Worcester as Lamb went inches wide with a penalty late on. But with seconds remaining, the fly half made amends as he slotted home a kick which sealed a dramatic victory.