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Gareth Simpson of Worcester Warriors dives over to score his team's second try during the Pau v Worcester Warriors European Rugby Challenge Cup match
Welsh outfit Ospreys will be hoping it is third time lucky against Gallagher Premiership side Worcester Warriors in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
The sides have met twice before in the competition with Worcester victorious on both occasions. The visitors, however, will be buoyed by an emphatic 39-15 triumph over Castres Olympique in round 1.
Worcester, meanwhile, suffered a 24-20 reverse at the hands of Pau, and will be hoping to rectify the opening round defeat to maintain their Challenge Cup hopes. The game at Sixways Stadium airs on S4C at 20:00 local time on Saturday.
Match facts:
- Worcester have won both of their two previous matches against the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup (2018/19 pool stage), the Ospreys picked up a losing bonus point in both games, however.
- Worcester’s 27-33 loss to Castres in Round 6 of the 2019/20 Challenge Cup ended a run of 10 pool stage home games without defeat (W9, D1).
- The Ospreys lost all three of their away games in their most recent Challenge Cup campaign (2018/19), two defeats in France (Stade Francais and Pau) and a defeat at Sixways to Worcester.
- Worcester’s Sam Lewis made the most tackles (20) of anyone in Round 1 of the Challenge Cup, teammate Justin Clegg ranked third (18).
- The Ospreys’ Rhys Davies made 19/19 tackles in Round 1 of the Challenge Cup, only Worcester’s Sam Lewis (20/22) made as many.
George North scored with six minutes to play as Ospreys beat Worcester in the European Rugby Challenge Cup
George North produced a dramatic late score as Ospreys beat Worcester Warriors in Round 2 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup in an enthralling eight-try game at the Sixways Stadium.
Ospreys took an early lead through two Stephen Myler penalties, but Worcester were quick to respond though an Ollie Lawrence try.
Melani Nanai Vai then crossed for Worcester just before the half hour mark but a penalty try and a Sam Parry score in the closing minutes of the first half saw Ospreys go into the break with a six-point advantage.
What a try from George North!! Less than a minute left! @S4cChwaraeon pic.twitter.com/NC8QGwmxTh
— Ospreys (@ospreys) December 19, 2020
Worcester halved that deficit less than five minutes into the second period through a Jamie Shillcock penalty, before Billy Searle and Ted Hill crossed in quick succession to give the Warriors a healthy lead.
Ospreys refused to be beaten though and hit back through a Morgan Morris score, leaving the visitors four points adrift with just under a quarter of an hour to play.
Worcester looked set to cling on for a first win in the European Rugby Challenge Cup this season, but North was on hand to give Ospreys the lead as he slid over in the corner with six minutes left on the clock, before Myler kicked two late penalties to seal a remarkable victory for the Welsh side.
Ospreys welcome Worcester to the Liberty Stadium in the reverse fixture in Round 3 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
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