LIVE updates from our man at Sixways, Geoff Berkeley, where Worcester Cavaliers face Saracens Storm in the final of the Aviva A League.
The live updates have now finished.
MATCH SUMMARY: Agony for Worcester Cavaliers as they fall at the final hurdle to powerful a Saracens Storm side at Sixways.
Three tries in the opening 25minutes from Saracens left Worcester with a mountain to climb. The hosts battled back with a penalty try and a score from JB Bruzulier just before the break.
A try from James Stephenson then gave them hope of claiming a eighth straight victory in the competition, but solid kicking from scrum half Ben Spencer steered them to victory and the title. Thanks for following.
SARACENS STORM WIN THE AVIVA A LEAGUE
FT: WORCESTER CAVALIERS 19-27 SARACENS STORM
80min – Worcester are giving everything in the final seconds. But Sarries appear to be doing enough to hold on with a series of big tackles.
77min – Worcester Cavaliers 19-27 Saracens Storm – PENALTY – Ben Spencer holds his nerve to slot home
75min – Worcester Cavaliers 19-24 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION MISSED – Ignacio Mieres pushes it narrowly wide.
74min – Worcester Cavaliers 19-24 Saracens Storm – TRY – James Stephenson
70min – YELLOW CARD – Saracens’ Catalin Fercu gets sin-binned after taking James Stephenson out in the air.
64min – Worcester Cavaliers 14-24 Saracens Storm – PENALTY MISSED – Spencer’s ambitious effort from range is low and wide
63min – Crucial period now. Nothing in it at the moment, with both sides down to 14 men. But Saracens have a chance at goal.
57min – Worcester miss a great chance to get off the mark in the second period as Dan Sanderson fails to hold to the ball as he charges towards the line.
55min – YELLOW CARD – Worcester’s Richard De Carpentier involved in an off the ball incident with Hankin, which results in both seeing yellow.
55min – YELLOW CARD – Saracens’ Matt Hankin
50min – Saracens pinning Worcester back as they look to extend their lead. But Worcester are refusing to buckle and secure a penalty to clear their lines.
46min – Worcester Cavaliers 14-24 Saracens Storm – PENALTY – Ben Spencer confidently slots the ball home in the heavy rain.
42min – Looks like Cavaliers have adopted Saracens’ strategy as they send up a high ball which leads to a knock on and the hosts are on the attack.
Second half underway
HT: WORCESTER CAVALIERS 14-21 SARACENS STORM
More on try: Worcester Cavaliers back in it and it is their captain, JB Bruzulier, who gets the try as he dives over in the corner after another catch and drive. Mieres’ conversion goes in off the upright.
39min – Worcester Cavaliers 14-21 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION – Ignacio Mieres
38min – Worcester Cavaliers 12-21 Saracens Storm – TRY – JB Bruzulier
More on try: With a man light in the pack, Saracens struggle to defend Worcester’s drive and the pressure tells as Cavs are awarded a penalty try, which Mieres converts.
33min – Worcester Cavaliers 7-21 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION – Ignacio Mieres
32min – Worcester Cavaliers 5-21 Saracens Storm – TRY – Penalty try
29min – YELLOW CARD – Saracens’ Maro Itoji
More on try: Cavaliers now facing a mountain to climb to get back into the contest as Harden Thompson-Stringer gets driven over to silence the home crowd. Spencer again adds the extras.
26min – Worcester Cavaliers 0-21 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION – Ben Spencer
25min – Worcester Cavaliers 0-19 Saracens Storm – TRY – Hayden Thompson-Stringer
20min – Saracens’ up and under tactic appears to be paying off as a series of high kicks are not being dealt with by Worcester, with Ben Howard especially struggling in the conditions.
More on try: Another mistake from Worcester leads to a try for their opponents. Saracens snatched a Cavaliers lineout before number eight Nick De Jager powered over in the corner.
16min – Worcester Cavaliers 0-14 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION – Ben Spencer
15min – Worcester Cavaliers 0-12 Saracens Storm – TRY – Nick De Jager
More on try: After a mistake under the high ball from Ben Howard, Saracens collect the loose ball and charge forward. Worcester dig deep to defend their line, but they were unable to stop Maro Itoke who burrowed over.
12min – Worcester Cavalier 0-7 Saracens Storm – CONVERSION – Ben Spencer
11min – Worcester Cavaliers 0-5 Saracens Storm – TRY – Maro Itoje
5min – Saracens under heavy pressure as Worcester pile forward, but they manage to turn the ball over after Alex Grove ran into traffic.
2min – Cavaliers quickly using their heavier and more experienced forward pack to their advantage as they power up field with a driving maul. But they miss the chance to take the lead as Niall Annett spills the ball after Worcester broke out.
KICK OFF
Cavaliers: Howard, Stephenson, Grove, Fatiaki, Hammond, Mieres, Bruzulier, Fainga’anuku, Annett, Rees, Percival, Sanderson, Taylor, Gilbert, De Carpentier
Replacements: Sowrey, Bower, Daniels, Kerry, Mulchrone, Keith, Humphreys, Boyce
Saracens Storm: Ransom, Ellery, Streather, Tompkins, Fercu, Mordt, Spencer, Gill, Saunders, Alo, Itoje, Smith, Thompson-Stringer, Hankin, De Jager
Replacements: Taylor, Culverhouse, Featherstone, Tredrea, O’Neil, Whiteley, Wilkins, Palamo
Welcome to Sixways where Cavaliers will be aiming to claim the Aviva A League trophy with victory over Saracens Storm. An estimated 4,000 fans have turned out at Sixways to support the two second-string sides.