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Drauniniu double inspires cup win

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Worcester Warriors 24 Ospreys 14

LV= Cup

Geoff Berkeley reports from Sixways

JOSH Drauniniu struck twice to help Worcester Warriors end their LV= Cup campaign on a high at a snowy Sixways on Saturday.

With both sides unable to progress from the group, Warriors were still determined to secure a victory to give themselves momentum going into their next Aviva Premiership fixture away to Sale Sharks on Friday.

But, in blizzard like conditions, it was the Welsh outfit who started strongest as they went over with a superbly taken try from Matthew Morgan.

As Warriors found their feet they soon hit back with a try from Jake Abbott to level matters.

Richard Hill’s men stepped things up in the second half as Fijian winger Drauniniu crashed over twice in as many minutes.

Hanno Dirksen’s try cut back the lead, but Warriors held it together to see out the win.

Ospreys made the better start in the tricky conditions with winger Dirksen making a couple of skilful breaks to set the visitors on the attack.

And they deservedly took the lead inside the opening five minutes. Morgan took the ball on before expertly grubber kicking around the defence to touch down and score. The fly half then added the extras to give his side a 7-0 advantage.

Warriors seemed to be struggling to get out of their own half as they found life difficult in the snow early on.

But as the half wore on Richard Hill’s began to assert dominance.

And after a succession of kicks to the corner Abbott benefitted from a forward drive to crash over, which Goode converted to level the scores.

The hosts then came within a whisker of taking the lead when hooker Ed Shervington made a burst towards the try line but he was denied by the post.

On level terms at the break, Warriors were keen to kick on and did so as they struck twice in quick succession to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

After pinning Ospreys back, Goode flung the ball to Drauniniu, who finished in the corner, which Goode converted.

The duo then combined again to see the Fijian over for his second. Goode landed the extras to give Warriors a commanding 21-7 lead.

But the visitors came storming back with Dirksen getting a well-deserved try, which was converted by Morgan.

Goode then gave Warriors a bit of breathing space as he stroked home a penalty on the hour mark.

As time wore on, both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball as the snow continued to beat down.

It was the home side though who finished strongest and came close to finishing with a try but replacement Aleki Lutui was stopped just short of the whitewash.