LIVE updates from our man at the Lady Bay, Geoff Berkeley, where Worcester Warriors face fourth placed Nottingham in the Greene King IPA Championship.
The live updates have now finished.
MATCH SUMMARY: Ben Howard, Max Stelling and Charlie Mulchrone all bagged braces as Worcester Warriors stormed to victory over Nottingham.
The hosts opened the scoring with a penalty from Will Maisey, but after the score, which came on the third minute, it was all Worcester who had the bonus point secured by the 35th minute.
Howard and Stelling scored two tries apiece in a dominant opening period and Worcester refused to take their foot off the gas after the break.
Mulchrone got a quick-fire double before Warriors finished with a flourish as Jonny Arr and Tom Biggs completed the eight try rout. Andy Symons also helped himself to an 18-point haul as Worcester returned to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship. Thanks for following.
FT: NOTTINGHAM 3 WORCESTER WARRIORS 58
More on try – A bit of showboating from Stelling as he produces a superb crossfield which finds Biggs in space to touchdown in the corner. That also completed the scoring as Symons failed to add the extras.
80min – Nottingham 3-58 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION MISSED – Symons
79min – Nottingham 3-58 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Tom Biggs
More on try – Arr has only been on the field a couple of minutes but he gets his name on the score-sheet after Warriors mounted another attack.
77min – Nottingham 3-53 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION – Symons
76min – Nottingham 3-51 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Jonny Arr
70min – Warriors sensing another try as the match enters its final ten minutes as Biggs kicks into space after sprinting up field. But Notts just do enough to clear the danger.
-Nottingham coming into the contest now as they pinned Worcester back for about five minutes. But they were unable to turn it into points as the visitors cleared their lines. Both teams have also made a number of replacements, with Howard notably switching to full back after Pennell came off for Ravai Fatiaki.
More on try – After Worcester claimed a lineout deep in Notts’ territory, Charlie Mulchrone collected the ball and finished with ease.
56min – Nottingham 3-46 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION – Symons
55min – Nottingham 3-44 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Mulchrone
More on try – Warriors go further clear as Jonathan Thomas power forwards before Symons and Stelling combine to open up the chance for Mulchrone to score near the posts.
5g 2min – Nottingham 3-39 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION – Symons
51min – Nottingham 3-37 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Charlie Mulchrone
46min – Nottingham 3-32 Worcester Warriors – PENALTY – Andy Symons
-Warriors almost in for another try as Ryan Hough lets the ball squeeze underneath him as he looked to pounce on Charlie Mulchrone’s kick upfield. But the unrushing Tom Biggs was just unable to control the ball to score.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
HALF-TIME SUMMARY: Braces from Ben Howard and Max Stelling separate the two sides at the Lady Bay. Nottingham opened the scoring with a penalty from Will Maisey, but since that score, which came in the third minute, it has been all Warriors, who secured the bonus point on the 35th minute.
Howard and Stelling deservedly got over for their tries after some superb work in midfield, while Tom Biggs, Andy Symons and Ryan Mills have also looked threatening with ball in hand in a dominant opening period.
HT: NOTTINGHAM 3 WORCESTER WARRIORS 29
More on try – Howard also secures his brace before the break. He benefitted from a strong run from Leonardo Senatore which opened up the opportunity.
36min – Nottingham 3-29 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION – Symons
35min – Nottingham 3-27 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Ben Howeard
More on try – A powerful driving maul sent Nottingham back peddling before the ball was twice recycled and Stelling went over after receiving Mills’ pass.
30min – Nottingham 3-22 Worcester Warriors- CONVERSION – Symons
29min – Nottingham 3-20 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Max Stelling
25min – Loose errors stopping Warriors from extending their lead as Nottingham remain camped in their own half.
-Nottingham having to withstand plenty of pressure in the opening 20 minutes as Biggs attempts to go on one of his weaving runs.
14min – Nottingham 3-15 Worcester Warriors – PENALTY – Symons
-Warriors looking threatening whenever they get hold of the ball, with Howard and Symons looking particularly lively.
More on try – Warriors quickly add another try as Ryan Mills moved into space before finding Ben Howard who flicked the ball outwide to Stelling to ease over the line.
8min – Nottingham 3-12 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION – Symons
7min – Nottingham 3-10 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Max Stelling
More on try – Tom Biggs broke through and offloaded to Senatore who was stopped short of the line. The ball was then spread wide and Howard spotted a gap and crashed through it. Symons was wayward with the conversion attempt.
5min – Nottingham 3-5 Worcester Warriors – CONVERSION MISSED – Andy Symons
4min – Nottingham 3-5 Worcester Warriors – TRY – Ben Howard
3min – Nottingham 3-0 Worcester Warriors – PENALTY – Will Masiey
-Early mistake from Warriors as Leonardo Senatore spilled the ball which allowed Notts attack, with Rupert Cooper.
KICK OFF
-Bristol moved above Warriors in the table with victory at London Scottish yesterday. But writing for the Worcester Observer, Warriors legend Craig Gillies believes there has been a change in the race for promotion, with Worcester now edging in front. To read his thought visit http://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/craig-gillies-column-contract-talks-can-unsettling-side/
-Expect Andy Symons to take on the kicking duties today with Ryan Lamb not involved in the squad and Ignacio Mieres on the bench. But Ryan Mills has spoken of his desire to one day have the chance to go for goal. See interview here http://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/mills-reveals-quest-become-warriors-kicker/
Nottingham: Robinson, Hough, Carpenter, Pohe, Iongi, Maisey, Romans, Ma’afu, Malton, Holford, Freeman, Cooper, Wilson, Everard, Calladine
Replacements: Brownlie, Carey, Vickers, Laxton, Styles, Smit, Lynn
Worcester Warriors: Pennell, Howard, Stelling, Symons, Biggs, Mills, Mulchrone, Bower, Annett, Rees, Williams, Thomas, Senatore, Betty, Van Velze
Replacements: Creevy, Rapava Ruskin, O’Shea, Arr, Mieres, Fatiaki
Welcome to the Lady Bay in Nottingham where Warriors will be aiming to claim a 20th straight victory this season, which would equal the club’s record sequence.