(Photo credit - Martin Bennett)
Worcester Warriors ran out winners in round three of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Both sides took to the field at Sixways with clear attacking intent, with the ball changing possession on a regular basis in the opening half.
However, it was the Cherry & Whites who broke the deadlock on the 4th minute. After George Barton missed touch from a penalty, Warriors kicked back into the hands of the visitors who worked the ball wide for Tom Seabrook to race away to score in the corner. Barton converted the score excellently from the touchline.
The Cherry & Whites very nearly scored their second just two minutes later, after a kick from full back Jake Morris was chased down by Varney who came within a whisker of touching down, however the hosts just did enough to snatch the ball.
It was the Warriors who then took back control, using their forward pack to build momentum. Their first score came on the 28th minute as Justin Clegg powered his way towards the line, before the hosts scored their second on the stroke of half-time, as Kai Owen dotted down from the rolling maul.
Warriors continued to assert their strength up front in the second half, as the Cherry & Whites struggled to keep the penalty count down.
The hosts scored via Jack Johnson on the 50th minute, who dived over in the corner, his score converted by Billy Searle.
Warriors grabbed their second of the half through Lewis Holsey who powered over from short-range on the 68th minute, following a period of sustained pressure from the hosts.
However, the Cherry & Whites did finish strongly, after a neat break from Alex Morgan took the visitors deep into the Worcester half.
The Warriors were pinged at the breakdown, giving Barton the opportunity to put his side 5m out, with Seb Blake scoring on debut from the following line-out maul.
Alex Morgan then grabbed a score of his own, after taking an offload from Rob Nixon, the winger showed excellent pace and power to score to set up a huge finish!
However it was Billy Searle who had the last say as his penalty confirmed the Warriors victory.
KEY MOMENT - Tom Seabrook's try
Tom Seabrook provided the Cherry & Whites with the perfect start at Sixways scoring in the fourth minute.
WHAT’S NEXT
Gloucester Rugby face Harlequins in the next round of the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday 2 January. It’s set to be a cracker at Kingsholm so get your tickets here!
Penalty for Worcester. Billy Searle with the kick and that's that.
Alex Morgan under the posts! Great strength and pace from the winger to race away after the offload from Nixon!
Seb Blake scores from the maul!
Penalty called against the hosts for not rolling and Barton moves play to 5m out.
Lovely footwork from Al Morgan to escape the defence. Takes the Cherry & Whites up to the Warriors 22.
OFF: Henry Walker, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Stephen Varney, Giorgi Kveseladze
ON: Seb Blake, Rob Nixon, Matty Jones, Morgan Adderly-Jones
Try for Worcester.
Lewis Holsey powers over from short-range.
Cherry & Whites with some possession but unfortunately Varney's kick ahead rolls dead.
Warriors scrum just outside the Glos 22.
Seabrook OFF
Reeves ON
Warriors go inches short, but the Cherry & whites turnover the ball and clear up to halfway!
Warriors back on the attack in the 22 once more.
Penalties hurting the visitors at the moment.
Cameron OFF
Slater ON
Try for Worcester.
Jack Johnson is over in the corner, as the Warriors spread the ball wide.
Kveseladze returns as Worcester kick a penalty into the Cherry & White half. Varney penalised for not rolling.
It's a scrum penalty for the Cherry & Whites!
Barton finds a nice touch in the Warriors half.
Early opportunity for Worcester as they kick a penalty into the Glos 22.
Seville, Boughton OFF
Knight, O'Connor ON
Time is up but Worcester have the penalty and kick into the Glos 22.
Kai Owen scores from the maul.
Giorgi Kveseladze sent to the bin for not retreating 10 as Warriors look to go quick.
The hosts 5m out now.
Glos back on the ball as Warriors go into touch.
Varney clears to just outside of the 22.
It's a penalty at the scrum for the hosts.
Searle kicks up to the 22.
Warriors in possession with the scrum on half-way now.
Try for Worcester.
Warriors break down the wing, and Justin Clegg have the power to force his way over.
Warriors ease the pressure with a scrum penalty and clear up to half-way.
Ah, knock on after the line-out and Warriors have the scrum.
Worcester pinged this time at the breakdown, and Barton finds a nice touch 15m out from the try-line.
However, it's a Worcester free-kick at the scrum...
They opt to scrum again and Gloucester Rugby win the penalty!
Warriors knock on and we have the scrum in our own 22.
Cherry & Whites penalised for side-entry this time, and Searle kicks the hosts up to the 22.
It's a penalty for the hosts at the scrum and Searle clears up to the 10m line.
The maul starts rolling, but Worcester do enough to stop it an earn the turnover.
Lovely pass from Barton to Morgan, who breaks. We're 5m out again!
Worcester get the nudge on the scrum, but Varney does well to race away with the ball. He chips ahead and the Warriors kick it up to the Glos 10m.
Another big chance as the Cherry & Whites break! The ball is kicked ahead and Varney comes very close to being the first to the ball. Warriors regather and it's a goal-line dropout.
Seabrook finds the ball out wide and has the pace to finish in the corner!
Both teams having a touch of the ball early on, but the Cherry & Whites opt to kick and the Warriors attack from half-way.
However, we're over the ball and win the penalty!
We are underway at Sixways!