Goode puts Warriors on pole

Posted on May 12, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Cornish Pirates 12 Worcester Warriors 21

Andy Goode bagged 16 points to put Worcester Warriors in pole position for a return to the Aviva Premiership.

The former England fly-half grabbed a first-half try and kicked three penalties and a conversion as Warriors left the Mennaye Field with a nine-point lead going into next Wednesday’s RFU Championship final second leg at Sixways.

“We’ll take nine points back home with us but it could have been more,” said Goode. “In first half we were in complete control but in the second they threw everything at us and chucked the ball around with nothing to lose. We gave too many penalties away, which only gave us a nine-point cushion when it could have been 12 or 15.”

For Pirates wing Rhodri McAtee it was a frustrating night but he added: “We can still do it. Nine points is not a big deficit at all. We are disappointed not to have scored any tries but they defended well.”

The Warriors got on the score-sheet in the sixth minute after being camped in the Pirates ‘22. They beat a forwards’ march to the line before bringing centre Dale Rasmussen into play and wing Miles Benjamin proved why he is Warriors’ top try scorer by stepping out of McAtee’s tackle and over the line.

The livewire wing put the disappointment behind him to lead the Pirates fightback with a chip and gather but it came to nothing.

Goode put Worcester 8-0 up before Rob Cook pulled back three points but it was small respite.  

The Warriors’ forwards had the upper hand in a series of reset scrums on the Pirates’ line and with such a dominant platform, scrum-half Jonny Arr fed Goode, who skipped out of Gavin Cattle’s reach for the try which he converted.

Cook landed his second penalty but then Pirates infringed straight away and Goode slotted another kick for an 18-6 halftime lead.

He missed a chance to put the Warriors safe but hooked it wide and Cook did no better with a chance of his own.

Goode rediscovered his radar to extend the lead before Cook pulled back two more penalties, one when Neil Best was sinbinned.

Cornish Pirates: R Cook; R McAtee, M Hopper, T Luke (D Locke 54), W Davies (R Elloway 63); J Bentley, G Cattle (capt); P Andrew (R Storer 63). D Ward (T Holmes 75), A Paver (C Rimmer 69), I Nimmo, M Myerscough, C Morgan, P Burgess, L McGlone (K Marriott 69). Rep not used:J Doherty.

Scorers: Pens– Cook (4).

Worcester Warriors:C  Pennell (capt); M Garvey, A Crockett (A Grove 57), D Rasmussen, M Benjamin; A Goode (J Carlisle 75), J Arr; A Black, C Fortey (A Lutui 54), T Taumoepeau (B Douglas 61), G Rawlinson (G Kitchener 61), C Gillies, N Best (A Balding 69), J Abbott, K Horstmann. Rep not used: O Frost.

Yellow card: Best 58-68
Scorers: Tries – Benjamin, Goode; Pens – Goode (3); Con –  Goode

Referee:  Martin Fox (RFU)

Att: 3,500

Pennell returns to Warriors lineup for Championship final

Posted on May 10, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Captain Chris Pennell returns to the starting line-up for Worcester Warriors in the first leg of the RFU Championship final against Cornish Pirates in Penzance on Wednesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Pennell has been ruled out of action since the victory over Nottingham Rugby in the play-off pool stages, but now makes his return in the biggest game of the season.

Head Coach Richard Hill makes a total of three changes to his starting team as veteran hooker Chris Fortey starts in the front row alongside Adam Black and Tevita Taumopeau.

The final change will see a start for flanker Jake Abbott at seven and he will join Neil Best and Kai Horstmann in the back row. Fit-again back row Adam Balding is named on the replacements bench.

“There will be a bit of pressure on the Pirates, they are on their home ground and they will see it as a must-win,” said Hill. “We have got to go down there and play exceptionally well to try and get something from that game. What we are hoping for is a really good start.

“We are hoping that by going away first that will help us, but we have got a tough first hurdle to get over and that one-off first game is going to be vital.”

Warriors vs. Cornish Pirates

15 Chris Pennell (c)
14 Marcel Garvey
13 Alex Crockett
12 Dale Rasmussen
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Andy Goode
9 Jonny Arr

1 Adam Black
2 Chris Fortey
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Greg Rawlinson
5 Craig Gillies
6 Neil Best
7 Jake Abbott
8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements
16 Aleki Lutui
17 Bruce Douglas
18 Graham Kitchener
19 Adam Balding
20 Ollie Frost
21 Joe Carlisle
22 Alex Grove

Championship Playoffs: record crowd set for Sixways final leg

Posted on May 9, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors are delighted to announce that a record crowd for this season will watch the RFU Championship final against Cornish Pirates at Sixways Stadium on Wednesday, May 18 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Huge interest in the second leg of the final, and with it a potential return to the Premiership, has seen the Warriors Box Office inundated with requests for tickets since they were made available on Monday.

The club is now pleased to confirm that ticket sales have already smashed through the 7,500 barrier in just one week and with 12 days to go until the massive game at the home of the Warriors.

The crowd will now already eclipse the season record of 7,474 that watched the league fixture with Bristol Rugby in October.

Corporate hospitality is also selling extremely quickly in all areas with some parts of the stadium now sold out. Corporate guests are asked to contact the Sales Team on 01905 454183 as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Charlie Little, General Manager at Warriors, said: “We have seen a phenomenal response from our fans this week to the final with Cornish Pirates and we are delighted to confirm that we will have the biggest crowd of the season at the second leg.

“The outstanding level of support we had at the semi-final played a big role in a positive result and we are now urging supporters to crank up the noise levels again as we need a repeat of that atmosphere. I would encourage fans to act as soon as possible to guarantee a seat for what is sure to be an historic day in our history.

“Evening games under the floodlights at Warriors are always memorable and special occasions and the final with Pirates will be as good as anything they have ever experienced before and is one not to be missed.”

Worcester’s Goode back in at No.10 for Welsh clash

Posted on Apr 8, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Fly half Andy Goode steps back into the hotseat and the No.10 jersey for Worcester Warriors as they prepare for the big RFU Championship play-off fixture against London Welsh at Old Deer Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Former England international Goode, who has scored over 300 points for Warriors this season and has 10 tries in 25 games, links up with scrum half Jonny Arr at half back as Warriors hunt the victory that would guarantee a home semi-final in the play-offs.

Head Coach Richard Hill also makes changes with a new-look front row as Adam Black, Chris Fortey and Tevita Taumoepeau pack down.

Kai Horstmann continues to captain the team in the absence of Chris Pennell while Aleki Lutui and Bruce Douglas provide front row firepower from the replacements bench.

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Errie to be Claass-ens act for Warriors next season

Posted on Apr 7, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Worcester Warriors have today confirmed that hugely talented and versatile back Errie Claassens will move to the club from London Welsh this summer.

Full back Claassens has been in excellent form for the Exiles and has a stunning record of 24 tries in 52 games for the club.

The South African-born star – who is now English qualified – joined Rotherham in August 2005 from the University of the Free State side Shimlas, Bloemfontein, before going onto make 87 appearances, including 38 tries, over his four seasons with the Titans.

The 28-year-old then took his try scoring exploits to London Welsh during the 2009/10 season, scoring 14 tries in 26 league appearances. In total, Claassens scored 19 tries in 34 appearances during the 2009/10 campaign.

Before joining Rotherham Titans, Claassens, the brother of Bath’s South African international scrum half Michael, won representative honours with Free State at Under-19 and Under-21 level, as well as playing for the Free State Cheetahs and gaining Currie Cup experience with Griquas Rugby.

“Errie impressed us at the very start of this season when we played London Welsh at Old Deer Park when he had a very good game,” said Head Coach Richard Hill. “He can play as a full back or wing, but he has been signed and will come to Sixways to be a full back.

“Errie has a strong left foot, which is an important asset to have in the side, and a lovely step and counter attack. His first instinct is to run and he is certainly an attacking full back.

“His attitude is outstanding and he is very much a sponge who will absorb everything you say. He sees this move as a really good opportunity to continue to improve as a player and we look forward to welcoming him in the summer.”