LIVE updates from our man at Sixways, Geoff Berkeley, where Worcester Warriors go up against Leinster A in the semi-final of the British & Irish Cup.
The live updates have now finished.
MATCH SUMMARY: Worcester sealed their place in the final of the British & Irish Cup after edging Leinster A. It was not exactly a semi-final to remember as both sides slugged out a dour contest, but Worcester’s forward pack proved the difference.
A Mat Gilbert try gave Warriors a 7-6 lead at half-time before Perry Humphreys stole the show with a superb solo try on the 65th minute. A late try from Noel Ried, which Marsh converted, set up a tense finale, but Worcester held on to claim a hard-fought win. They will face either Bristol or Doncaster on Friday, April 3. Thanks for following.
FT: WORCESTER WARRIORS 15-13 LEINSTER A
More on try: Leinster A give themselves a lifeline as centre Noel Ried dashes over and Marsh coolly converts with less than a minute left.
80min – Worcester Warriors 15-13 Leinster A – CONVERSION – Marsh
79min – Worcester Warriors 15-11 Leinster A – TRY – Noel Ried
77min – Warriors closing in on a place in the final, but Leinster have them pinned back as they search for a reply.
75min – Worcester Warriors 15-6 Leinster A – PENALTY – Symons
72min – Warriors firing on all cyclinders now, with second half replacements Symons and Jonny Arr at the heart of the action.
More on try: Out of nowhere Warriors grab a try. Full back Perry Humphreys somehow wriggled through a gap before sprinting 45 metres to score. Symons was unable to add the extras.
66min – Worcester Warriors 12-6 Leinster A – CONVERSION MISSED – Symons
Stoppage in play here as referee Craig Evans gets taken off injured. Wayne Davies comes on as his replacement.
65min – Worcester Warriors 12-6 Leinster A – TRY – Perry Humphreys
-Symons’ miss makes it four three point opportunities Worcester have failed to land.
58min – Worcester Warriors 7-6 Leinster A – PENALTY MISSED – Andy Symons
52min – Leinster on the front foot and look the more dangerous with ball in hand, but Worcester are defending well as they turn the ball over once again.
-Still very scrappy. Kelleher made an impressive run from deep before being stopped by Ben Sowrey, but it is Worcester who secure the penalty.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
HALF-TIME SUMMARY: A DRIVING lineout which saw Worcester over the try-line and a Tiff Eden conversion separates the two sides.
Unsure of the scorer yet, but it has given Warriors the edge in what has been a dour contest. The kicking of Cathal Marsh keeps Leinster in touch, but they have looked threatening going forward. Worcester’s forward pack appear to be holding the key to their ambitions to progress to the final as they have dominated scrum time.
HT: WORCESTER WARRIORS 7-6 LEINSTER A
40min – Warriors survival a late Leinster onslaught. They pinned the hosts back for the remaining moments but a superb tackle from Tom Biggs on Tom Denton kept the visitors at bay.
40min – Worcester Warriors 7-6 Leinster A – PENALTY – Marsh
More on try: Moments after Leinster A go down to 14 men, with loosehead prop Peter Doolley in the sin, Worcester strike. A driving lineout saw Warriors’ forwards over the line. Mat Gilbert the likely scorer.
39min – Worcester Warriors 7-3 Leinster A – CONVERSION – Tiff Eden
38min – Worcester Warriors 5-3 Leinster A – TRY
37min – YELLOW – Leinster’s loosehead prop Peter Dooley gets binned as Worcester turn the screw in the scrum.
35min – Worcester Warriors 0-3 Leinster A – PENALTY MISSED – Tiff Eden
-Warriors might be behind, but they are certainly winning the forward battle. Another powerful surge in the scrum draws a penalty. This time Eden elects to go for the sticks.
27min – Worcester Warriors 0-3 Leinster A – PENALTY – Marsh
24min – Leinster miss a great chance to go ahead. Sam Coghlan Murray powered past Alex Grove and fed Cian Kelleher who was in space. But a superb last-ditch tackle from Sam Smith forced him into touch before Mick McGrath spilled it.
21min – Exactly the same situation plays out with Eden turning down the goal scoring chance and Worcester make a mess of the lineout.
19min – Worcester had the opportunity to open the scoring with a simple penalty, but Eden turned down the chance to go for goal and instead opted to set up a lineout drive which didn’t pay off.
16min – First try-scoring chance for Warriors sees Mat Gilbert find a gap and burst through before play was spread wide for Tom Biggs who was forced into touch.
-Lacklustre start from the both teams, but Worcester’s scrum is looking the stronger of the two.
11min – Worcester Warriors 0-0 Leinster A – PENALTY MISS – Marsh
-Chances for both sides to take the early lead, but the scoreline remains goalless as Cathal Marsh and Tiff Eden go wide from the tee. Nervy start.
9min – Worcester Warriors 0-0 Leinster A – PENALTY MISS – Tiff Eden
3min – Worcester Warriors 0-0 Leinster A – PENALTY MISS – Cathal Marsh
KICK OFF
-With several of the first team stars rested, there are bound to be a number players who will be desperate to stake their claim.
For head coach Carl Hogg’s thoughts ahead of Worcester Warriors’ clash against Leinster A click here
Team news:
Warriors: Humphreys, Smith, Grove, Fatiaki, Biggs, Eden, Bruzulier (C), Fainga’anuku, Sowrey, Rees, Percival, Sanderson, Cox, Gilbert, De Carpentier
Replacements: George, Bower, Daniels, Taylor, Arr, Symons, Hammond
Leinster A: Kelleher, Murray, Te’O, Reid, McGrath M, Marsh, McGrath L (c), Dooley, Dundon, Flynn, Molony, Denton, Marshall, Leavy, Timmins
Replacements: Byrne, Hirst, Beirne, Coghlan, Rock, Crosbie, O’Shea
Welcome to Sixways where Worcester Warriors will be looking to secure their place in the final of the British & Irish Cup with victory over Leinster A. The winner will play either Bristol or Doncaster.