Worcester edge out Wasps
Tom Arscott scored two tries and Joe Carlisle kicked 10 points as Worcester prevailed 20-19 against Wasps.
Last Updated: 15/10/11 6:35pm
Worcester got their LV= Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 20-19 victory over Wasps at Sixways but only after a careless performance which almost allowed the visitors to snatch an unlikely win.
The home pack were the dominant force and the Warriors should have won more comfortably.
A member of staff from Worcester was taken ill on the TV gantry prior to kick-off and as a result the game was delayed for 45 minutes while emergency services dealt with the situation.
When play eventually began Worcester made the brighter start. They dominated the opening 10 minutes, neglecting to take two kickable penalties in favour of more attacking options but despite a sustained period of pressure the visitors' defence held firm.
Rewarded
The Warriors were awarded another penalty and on this occasion chose a kick at goal with Joe Carlisle making no mistake with his kick from 40 metres.
Worcester's dominance of early proceedings was further rewarded with the first try of the game after 17 minutes.
From a ruck inside the visitors' 22, Carlisle, Josh Drauniniu and Andy Short combined cleverly to send Tom Arscott over for the try which Carlisle converted.
Minutes later Worcester nearly had their second try. Excellent handling from the three-quarters enabled Arscott to send Short away but a splendid cover tackle from Elliot Daly hauled the wing down just short of the line.
From a very rare excursion into the home territory, Wasps got their first points of the game when Ryan Davis was successful with a 40-metre penalty and minutes later they reduced the arrears even further when Daly knocked over an impressive 50-metre penalty.
Wasps were then dealt a blow when their prop Jeremy Castex was yellow carded for punching an opponent at a scrum but Carlisle could not take advantage with the resulting penalty as he fired wide from 35 metres so the score remained at 10-6 to the Warriors at the interval.
Early in the second half, Castex returned from the sin bin and Wasps took the lead for the first time after 48 minutes.
The visitors broke away from a lineout inside their own half and slick passing put Daly away on a 22-metre run to the line for a try which Davis was unable to convert.
Highlight
The Wasps' lead was shortlived with Arscott producing the highlight of the game with a marvellous solo try.
The full-back fielded the ball on his own 10 metre line, sailed through a gap in the visitor's defence and outpaced the cover for a try under the posts which Carlisle converted.
Davis then kicked a simple penalty for Wasps but it was cancelled out by one from Carlisle before Wasps set up a grandstand finish with a try 10 minutes from the end.
Skilful handling from the visitors gave Daly the chance to put Alex Cheesman away, the wing stepped inside Chris Pennell for the try which Will Robinson failed to convert.
Replacement Robinson's last-minute attempt to drop a goal failed to secure victory for the visitors as the effort sailed well wide.
