Worcester Cavaliers 19 Saracens Storm 27
Aviva A League
Geoff Berkeley reports from Sixways
THIS season’s Aviva A League has been one to remember for Worcester Cavaliers as they have delighted the Sixways faithful with a string of stylish showings.
But their thrilling campaign ended on a damp note as a powerful Saracens Storm side proved substance can prevail by winning a fiercely fought final in torrid conditions on Monday.
The visitors stunned more than 4,000 supporters as they bulldozed their way into a 21-0 lead thanks to three tries in a devastating 25-minute spell.
Skipper JB Bruzlier tried to galvanise his troops as he went over shortly after Cavaliers secured a penalty try to close gap.
But Saracens’ remained resolute in the second half and secured victory with a 74th minute penalty from Ben Spencer after James Stephenson crossed the whitewash to give the hosts a glimmer of hope late on.
Having seen off Gloucester, Leicester Tigers, Northampton and Bath United to progress to the final, Cavaliers would have been confident of claiming another big scalp.
But as the rain continued to fall and Worcester’s error count increased, with Niall Annett notably fumbling a great chance to score early on, it quickly became clear the match was well suited for Saracens.
And in the 11th minute, the away side’s pressure told as promising lock Maro Itoje powered over from close range.
This came from a mistake under from Ben Howard, who failed to gather a high ball and it was another individual error which led to Storm’s second try.
This time, Saracens latched on to a loose Worcester lineout and number eight Nick De Jager dived over in the corner.
Things then went from bad to worse for the home side in the 25 minute when Hayden Thompson-Stringer was driven over. Spencer added his third successive conversion to leave Cavaliers with a mountain to climb.
But Worcester had not got to the final without finding ways to claw their way back and those battling qualities once again shone through.
With influential lock Itoje off the field following a yellow card, Cavaliers took full advantage as they secured a penalty try, which Ignacio Mieres dispatched before skipper JB Bruzulier touchdown. Mieres then followed up with a conversion which just edged home off the far upright to get his side within seven points at half time.
This could have rattled Sarries, but instead they re-group and crucially got off the mark first in the second period, with Spencer landing a penalty in the 50th minute.
There was nothing between the two sides for next 15 minutes, while tempers flared as Richard De Carpentier and Matt Hankin both saw yellow for an off the ball incident.
Worcester had the best chance to score in that period as Dan Sanderson failed to hold on to the ball after breaking free from a tackle.
But the hosts’ persistence was rewarded when Stephenson managed to squeeze over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 24-19.
However, this was not enough to spark a late fightback as Mieres narrowly missed the conversion before Spencer held his nerve from the tee.