Whitchurch 28 vs Worcester 7
Edgeley Park saw a renaissance on Saturday after parting with their coach after a run of five losses. They came out against a team who lay in third place in the league and threatened to crush the home side. It was not to be and the Shropshire heroes came out with a spirit and determination we have not seen this season. Playing with the wind, the visitors pegged the Reds back and it took some fierce tackling from the whole side to hold them out and it was Whitchurch who scored first in the 24th minute. A fine break by the mercurial James Marvell ended with a ruck near the Worcester line. The ball was slipped out by James Hockenhull, filling in at scrum half, to his brother Henry who crashed over in the corner. A difficult conversion from the touchline and against the wind was completed by skipper Danny Nicholas. The Worcester men came back immediately but the defence held out. Just before half time the resistance was broken and visitors scored under the post after relentless pressure. The half time score was seven all.
Now playing with the wind, the home side were able to put the pressure on Worcester. Cleverly using the wind, Nicholas pushed the blues backwards to camp on their own line. The pressure had its required effect and on 48 minutes Whitchurch forced their guests back over their line for Tom Stone to touch down. Nicholas converted.
The Whitchurch forwards were no pushing their larger opponents backwards at every opportunity and it was no surprise when they were awarded a penalty try when Worcester collapsed the rolling maul for the third time. The visitors tried their utmost to get back into the game they were losing by 21 – 7 but to no avail. The home side’s determination saw them tackle like demons and cover the ground as if they had more than fifteen on the field. Substitutions to the reds didn’t appear to change their mood. In the 73rd minute, with the heavier Worcester pack tiring visibly, a blistering run from the outstanding Nathan Horton put Whitchurch only yards from the line. The ball was recycled twice before Horton himself burst through the exhausted defence to score himself. An immaculate kicking display by Nicholas was rounded off with the successful conversion. Whitchurch ran out comfortable winners 28 pts to 7 pts.
A fresh start to the season for Whitchurch. A Renaissance for Reds Rugby.
