Rugby-Union
Tigers power past battling Warriors

Buy photos » Warriors' number 8 Chris Jones found life tough against Leicester's rigid defence. Picture by Ian Smith

Worcester Warriors 13 Leicester Tigers 32

Aviva Premiership

Geoff Berkeley reports from Sixways

WORCESTER Warriors' second half fight-back was not enough to topple in-form Leicester Tigers as they romped home with an impressive victory at a packed Sixways.

Tries from Matt Smith and Toby Flood, along with a penalty got Leicester off to a superb start to lead 17-0.

Warriors hit back with a penalty of their own but this was cancelled out with Flood finishing the first half scoring off with his second penalty.

Despite the deficit, the hosts battled on, reducing the score to 20-13 after a Marcel Garvey try and Joe Carlisle kicking superbly.

But Leicester’s skill told in the final quarter as they struck twice through Louis Deacon and Horacio Agulla to seal off the win.

Warriors knew they were going to be in for a titanic tussle if they were going to have any chance of upsetting the nine-time English champions.

And it did not take long before their task became doubly difficult. A sweeping attacking move put Worcester on the back foot before Flood broke through the middle and offloaded to winger Smith who ran in under the posts to score. Flood then added the extras to give his side a 7-0 lead within the opening five minutes.

The England international fly-half was on the scoresheet once again three minutes later, this time dispatching a penalty.

Warriors tried to get themselves into the match but grew increasingly frustrated by the strong defensive display by the away side.

With ball in hand, Leicester also looked by far the more comfortable and soon got their second try on the board. Another sharp attacking move set Tigers on their way before Flood cut through to score, which he duly converted to take a commanding 17-0 lead.

Not to be undone, Warriors continued to test the visitor’s defence and the hosts eventually got their reward as Carlisle slotted home a penalty to reduce the deficit to 17-3.

But this glimmer of hope was dashed on the stroke of half-time as number 8 Chris Jones was sin binned and Flood knocked over the resulting penalty.

Despite the score-line and going a man down, Warriors began the second half brightly and came within a post width of scoring the first points of the half as Carlisle's penalty clattered the right hand post.

Fortunately it did not take long for the fly-half to make amends as he dispatched his next attempt.

And after pinning Tigers back Worcester eventually got the score they were searching for. A superb offload from centre Dale Rasmussen sent Warriors on the offensive before the ball was switched wide to Garvey, who dived over in the corner. Carlisle followed it up with a conversion to pull them back to within seven points at 20-13.

This looked to have got under Tigers’ skin as the visitors hit back in clinical fashion. After being denied a Tom Croft try from the TMO, Leicester got their third try of the match moments later as Louis Deacon crashed over to open up a 25-13 advantage.

After a number of changes by Richard Hill, including new signing Ravai Fatiaki and the experienced Andy Goode, Warriors tried and failed to peg the score back once again.

The home side were then dealt a blow towards the end when replacement prop Oliver Tomaszczyk was yellow carded to leave Warriors on the back foot with time ticking away.

And the tie was duly wrapped up at the death as winger Agulla collected his own crafty chip to pounce and score, which Flood converted to seal victory.