WHEN Ignacio Mieres pounced on a charged down kick to score on Saturday there was a sense around Sixways that may be it was going to be Worcester Warriors’ day.
Northampton Saints looked rattled, while their travelling fans watched on in disbelief as the Argentine dispatched the conversion to put winless Worcester 7-6 in front at the break.
But it appears not even a slice of luck can transform their fortunes as the visitors cranked up the pressure in the later stages of the second period before powering home to wrap up a comfortable 33-10 win with tries from Samu Manoa, Tom Collins and Tom Wood.
Although pleased with his side’s efforts over 60 minutes, director of rugby Dean Ryan said the one-sided score-line was still a reflection of how far Warriors were away from claiming that elusive victory in the Aviva Premiership.
“We are starting to understand the game and we are starting to understand what works for us.
“We are buying into the systems we are doing and we are testing ourselves against some of the best in the country, which we are getting confidence from.
“But we have just got to close that gap between the 60 minute mark and 80 minute mark.
“The players deserve credit for a tremendous 60 minute effort, but let’s not let people pat us on the back as we want to win games.”
Worcester should have taken the lead after a positive start to proceedings, but Mieres went wide with his first attempt at the sticks.
Kicking had been problems in previous games and it seemed like it would cost them again, while Stephen Myler stroked home two efforts to move Saints into a 6-0 lead.
But the visitors’ inability to breakdown Warriors defensive wall offered the hosts hope as the first half ticked by.
Even when Northampton did shoot through a gap on 27 minutes, with Ken Pisi running clear, the television match official led referee Tim Wigglesworth to rule it out for a forward pass.
And this appeared to be the stand-out moment in the opening period as the contest was mostly played out in the middle of the field.
But with three minutes to go the match suddenly sprung into life. Myler saw his clearance kick cannon off Paul Hodgson before falling into the arms of Mieres who eased over the try-line to leave a simple conversion.
The fly half then came within a post width of extending Warriors’ lead as his long range penalty effort bounced off the top of the crossbar.
A confidence boosted Worcester were now going toe-to-toe with Saints as Chris Pennell quickly cancelled out Myler’s penalty at the start of the second half.
The score put the home side 10-9 ahead with half an hour remaining to leave Worcester’s supporters beginning to believe an upset was on the cards.
Warriors were also defending resiliently for long periods, but as the intensity increased, the inevitable soon happened as Manoa powered over.
Myler added the extras and Saints just continued to up the ante as the game reached its conclusion.
Collins was next over for the away side as the wing avoided Pennell’s last ditched tackle to dot down in the corner before Northampton sealed victory with a try from Worcester academy ace Wood, which Myler once again converted.