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Worcester Warriors were left heart-broken last weekend when Conrad Barnard slotted a last-minute drop-goal to salvage a draw for French newcomers Oyonnax in the opening round. It was the first time in six outings this season the Warriors had not lost and this in this weekend's all-English Premiership battle at Sixways they will be chasing their first win of the season. - 18/10/2013 13:04
Worcester Warriors were left heart-broken last weekend when Conrad Barnard slotted a last-minute drop-goal to salvage a draw for French newcomers Oyonnax in the opening round. It was the first time in six outings this season the Warriors had not lost and this in this weekend’s all-English Premiership battle at Sixways they will be chasing their first win of the season.
The stalemate stretched the English club’s winless run to 11 competitive encounters, but the club received a timely boost this week when their three Argentinean signings, Agustin Creevy, Mariano Galarza and Leo Senatore, joined up after duty with the Pumas in the Rugby Championship,
The Warrriors have won the last three clashes between the two sides on their home patch, but they will go head-to-head with a Sharks side that blitzed Biarritz Olympique in Round One, winning 33-10. Joe Ford carried off the man of the match award thanks to his 16 points, while Russian lock Andrei Ostrikov crossed for one of three tries in a comfortable victory.
Whoever comes out on top in this game will be well placed to push for the top spot in the Pool. The Warriors face back-to-back games with Biarritz in December, while the Sharks will meet Oyonnax.
Match Facts
- This is the first time Worcester have met another English club in the pool stage of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
- The Warriors have faced English opposition in the knockout stage before, beating Northampton and Newcastle in 2006 and 2008 respectively before losing to Gloucester and Bath in the same years.
- Sale secured their largest ever away win in this competition on their last trip on the road, beating Rugby Club La Vila 69-10.
- Worcester have won their last three home games against Sale in the English Premiership, this after a run of four straight defeats against the Sharks.
Dernière d'une des poules les plus relevées de cette première phase
Two-time Amlin Challenge Cup champions Sale Sharks took firm control of Pool 1 as they made it two wins in a row with a comfortable victory over their English Premiership rivals that left the Warriors still awaiting their first win of the season.
A week after having a win cruelly denied them with a late, late equalising penalty in Oyonnax, Dean Ryan’s men were undone in a first-half that ended 24-3 in favour of the visitors.
With former England outside half Danny Cipriani pulling the strings, the Sharks scored three tries in the opening half. Rob Miller burst through for the first after taking a long, cut out pass from Cipriani and the second was a penalty try.
The sucker punch came on the stroke of half-time when former Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum half Dwayne Peel scampered over. Cipriani added the conversion to give him nine points.
The Warriors rallied in the second half and tries from Alex Grove and Agustin Creevy raised the possibility of a grandstand finish, and a possible victory. The 21 point gap was reduced to nine at 24-15 with 27 minutes to go, but Mark Easter’s bonus point try ended home dreams and allowed the Sharks to leave with all the spoils.
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