Worcester on the brink

Benjamin touches down for Worcester

Worcester Warriors moved closer to an instant return to the Aviva Premiership after claiming a 21-12 away win over Cornish Pirates in the Championship final play-off first leg in Penzance.

First-half tries from Miles Benjamin and Andy Goode proved decisive on the night, with the Pirates only able to respond through four penalties from Rob Cook.

Worcester will now take a nine-point lead into the second leg, which, if they hold on to, will see Leeds Carnegie replace them in the Championship.

The Warriors, who finished the regular season 19 points clear at the top of the table ahead of Bedford Blues, started the game strongly and it came as no surprise when they took the lead on seven minutes.

Penalty

Fly-half Goode supplied the killer pass and the pacy Benjamin evaded a weak tackle to score in the corner.

Goode missed the conversion, however he made amends with a penalty 12 minutes later.

With the game going into the second quarter the Pirates got their first points on the board with a 22-metre penalty from the boot of full-back Cook.

Goode then attempted a 25 metre drop-goal but it was deflected wide off a Pirates defender before being touched down by Pirates wing Wes Davies.

Warriors were awarded a penalty at the five-metre scrum and opted for a re-set.

At the third attempt scrum-half Jonny Arr picked up at the back and Goode stepped inside and then broke a tackle to touch down under the posts before adding the extras.

Just before the interval fly-half Jonny Bentley broke from his own half before chipping ahead and Cook chased, but Goode was their to collect and the Pirates were penalised and Warriors cleared the line.

Strength

But minutes later the Warriors were penalised 12 metres inside their own half for not releasing the ball and Cook landed his second penalty, but Goode immediately cancelled that out to leave the Warriors 18-6 ahead at half-time.

Goode had an early opportunity to increase the lead for the visitors but his kick from close to the right touchline strayed wide of the far upright.

Goode added his third penalty 15 minutes into the second half but then the Warriors were reduced to 14 men when referee Martin Fox showed flanker Neil Best the yellow card for hands in the ruck, and Cook landed his third penalty.

With the game going into the final quarter the Pirates began to dominate possession but numerous handling errors hampered their progress when they tried to take advantage of the extra man.

Just as the warriors were restored to full strength, with Adam Balding coming on at the end of Best's sin-bin spell, Cook kicked his fourth goal when the visitors were penalised for not rolling away at the tackle.

Goode was short and wide with a 50 metre penalty attempt three minutes from time before he was replaced by Joe Carlisle.