Exiles too strong for Warriors

Homer: 22-point haul for full-back

London Irish ran in five tries as they collected an emphatic 42-24 bonus-point victory over Worcester at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

After a competitive first-half in which both sides scored a single try, the Exiles went in at the break with a six-point advantage, leading 16-10.

But they cut loose in the second and three quick scores from Chris Hala'ufia, Jonathan Joseph and Tom Homer all but killed the game off.

Worcester did manage three tries of their own with both wingers, Marcel Garvey (two) and Miles Benjamin getting on the scoresheet, but in the end they were well beaten.

The hosts opened the scoring when a clever late pass from fly-half Dan Bowden released David Paice and the hooker, faced by Worcester full-back Errie Claassens, timed his pass to Steve Shingler to perfection allowing the centre to race on and stretch over for his second career Premiership try. Homer added the conversion.

The Warriors - who had only scored three league tries heading into the game - responded when Garvey led an adventurous counter from deep inside his own 22. After a neat exchange of passes with Andy Goode the winger only narrowly failed to collect his own kick ahead with the try-line beckoning.

However, while unable to add any points, Worcester were boosted by the fact that the officials had spotted a pull-back by London Irish scrum half Darren Allinson on Jake Abbott during the move which saw the number nine sin-binned.

The numerical advantage paid off when Claassens came into the line and produced a neat show-and-go to nip through a gap in the London Irish defence before spinning out to Benjamin who had an easy run-in down the left touchline. Goode added a fine conversion from out wide.

But Worcester were then caught offside following an initial burst from Topsy Ojo allowing Homer an easy penalty chance in front of the posts which he easily slotted to restore the lead at 10-7.

The full-back added a second penalty - this time from longer range - five minutes later after Worcester prop Matt Mullan was penalised at the scrum.

Goode hit back with a penalty his own just before the half hour mark when Declan Danaher was pinged for pulling his man down at the line-out.

The visitors were soon back on the front foot and produced a decent spell of attacking play with the ball in hand after the impressive Claassens had made another eye-catching run to get them moving.

Costly mistake

But they ended up turning over the ball and it was to prove a costly mistake as flanker Neil Best was subsequently caught offside allowing Homer to land another penalty from distance.

Despite that Worcester should have led at the break after Chris Jones burst through on the 22 and, ignoring the unmarked Ed Shervington on his shoulder, opted to go for the line himself only to be prevented from grounding the ball by a combination of Alex Gray and Darren Allinson - a decision confirmed by the video referee.

That failure to score was to prove extremely costly as London Irish took complete control of the game with two tries in three minutes shortly after the restart.

The first came after Best was penalised for charging through at the ruck without the ball. The Exiles opted to kick into the corner and, although they made a mess of the subsequent line-out, they were awarded a scrum from the base of which Hala'ufia broke, bursting through the tackle of Abbott to score next to the posts. Homer added the extras.

They were soon over again after a fluid back-line move; Allinson spun right to Bowden who produced some sleight of hand before feeding Joseph who fended off the challenge of Dale Rasmussen before powering over. Homer again split the posts with his kick.

To their credit Worcester hit back almost immediately with a try of their own as Garvey withstood a big double-hit from Adam Thompstone and Hala'ufia before scrambling back to his feet and nipping over under the posts. Goode kicked the conversion to make the scoreline 30-17.

But by the hour mark the hosts had the bonus point wrapped up as Homer notched their fourth try, the full-back producing a barnstorming run from just inside the Worcester half and breaking the tackles of Goode and Rasmussen to touch down. The same player was again on target with the boot to re-establish his side's 20-point lead.

The Exiles put a gloss on the scoreline two minutes from time when they created an overlap out wide on the left and, when Hala'ufia offloaded to Thompstone, the winger was left with a simple touch-down.

Homer lost his perfect record with the boot as his conversion drifted narrowly wide and it was Worcester who had the final say when Garvey claimed his second try of the afternoon, a fine individual effort which replacement Joe Carlisle converted.