Late Challenger try secures bonus point win over Nottingham

Worcester Warriors secured a fourth consecutive bonus-point win to start the Elior Champ Rugby season with a seven-try victory over Nottingham.

The scoreboard started ticking after just five minutes when Warriors built strong early field position before prop Fraser Balmain burrowed over from close range, his first try for the club.

Nottingham fought back almost immediately when David Williams broke through the Warriors' defensive line to score under the posts.

In the following periods, both sides had opportunities to add a second try, with Nottingham coming close from an attacking line-out and the Warriors saw Louis Brown break the visitors' defensive line, but nothing came from either opportunity.

It was the Warriors who did strike next, with Jake Garside adding two in quick succession.

First he took the inside pass from Rory Taylor off a line-out to race in for his first try before Siva broke the Nottingham defence and through a looping bounce-pass out to him for his second of the game and Worcester’s third.

The visitors again fought back, this time through centre Levi Roper, and the Warriors ended the half with 14 men after Matt Kvesic saw yellow following a scuffle.

It was a barnstorming start to the second period for Worcester as field position was gained from a Will Lane grubber kick, phases built before Tim Anstee crashed over the line.

But again, Nottingham hit back from an attacking line-out with captain Jay Ecclesfield narrowing the deficit.

Both sides rang the changes as the second-half progressed, including the introduction for the Warriors of former Nottingham man Jack Dickinson.

And Dickinson made the impact, burrowing over from a tap penalty close to the line to cross against his former club.

With Nottingham number eight Jacob Wright in the sin-bin for a cynical penalty, Anstee grabbed his second of the afternoon after receiving the ball outwide, cutting inside and racing in for Worcester’s sixth try.

Nottingham still had time for one more try, with debutant Spencer Jones adding his side's fourth, taking the Warriors out of bonus point range.

But like last week against Richmond, Worcester still had fight in the legs, and the bonus point was secured with a minute remaining when fan favourite Ashley Challenger found his way to the line from a driving maul.

Warriors 49

T – Fraser Balmain 5’, Jake Garside 27’, 34’, Tim Anstee 43’, 71’, Jack Dickinson 65’, Ashley Challenger 78’

C – Will Reed 5’, 27’, 34’, 43’, 65’, 71’, 78’

YC – Matt Kvesic 39’

Nottingham 24

T – David Williams 9’, Levi Roper 37’, Jay Ecclesfield 47’, Spencer Jones 75’

C – Shane O’Leary 9’, 37’

YC – Jacob Wright 68’

Warriors Team

15 Louis Brown, 14 Jake Garside (Zach Armstrong 78’), 13 Siva Naulago, 12 Rory Taylor (Tom Seabrook 49’), 11 Will Trewin, 10 Will Reed, 9 Lloyd Williams (Will Lane HT); 1 Billy Keast (Cam Miell 55’), 2 Austin Wallis (Jack Dickinson 55’), 3 Fraser Balmain (Ashley Challenger 65’), 4 Tom Savage (James Tyas 56’), 5 John Hawkins, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Matt Kvesic ©, 8 James Cherry (Owain Evans 65’)

Nottingham Team

15 Harry Simpson, 14 David Williams, 13 Levi Roper (Spencer Jones 62’), 12 Morgan Adderly-Jones, 11 Luke Rokomoce (Evan Mitchell 69’), 10 Shane O’Leary, 9 Will Yarnell (Matt Durbridge 56’); 1 Oran Murphy (Aniseko Sio 56’), 2 Max Pearce (Harry Clarke 65’), 3 Ale Loman (Ollie Crane 65’), 4 Jay Ecclesfield ©, Will Ramply, 6 Sam Green (Michael Green HT), 7 Lawrence Adediran (Kody Vereti 59’), 8 Jacob Wright