Warriors fall to late defeat in Doncaster

Worcester Warriors fell to a last-minute defeat away at Doncaster Knights, after coming back from a 22-7 half-time deficit.

Second-half tries from Tim Anstee, Billy Twelvetrees, and a brace from Jake Garside twice put the Warriors ahead before a late try from Jordan Olowofela stole the victory.

It took just two minutes for the games opening points to be scored when Doncaster fly-half Russell Bennett kicked his first of five first-half penalties.

Bennett added a second penalty before the Warriors crossed for the game's first try when the ball spread to Alfie Garside on the left wing, who broke clear before sending in Will Trewin - Tiff Eden added the extras.

A third penalty was added by Bennett, and with Billy Twelvetrees in the sin-bin for Worcester, the hosts crossed for their opening try when Connor Edwards collected a chip over the top with Bennett kicking the conversion.

And the Doncaster fly-half added to his points tally when he added his fifth penalty just before the break to send his side into half-time 22-7 ahead.

Worcester began the second half brightly, pressuring the Knights line, and eventually they crossed for a second try with Anstee picking the intercept out wide to race in.

The lead was narrowed once more less than ten minutes later, when Jake Garside pounced on loose ball, kicked through, and collected his own kick to dot down.

Morgan Jones saw yellow for the Knights after a scuffle on the ground, and the Warriors took full advantage to take the lead when Tom Seabrook’s looping ball found Garside for his second of the game.

As the game ticked into the final ten minutes, the hosts took the lead once more when Semesa Rokoduguni crossed in the corner.

Bennett missed the chance to extend the Knights lead with a penalty, and with just minutes on the clock, Billy Twelvetrees burrowed over from close range with Eden adding the extras to put Warriors ahead once more.

But with the clock in the red, the game had one final twist when Doncaster wing Olowofela crossed outwide, securing the win for the hosts and subjecting the Warriors to just two losing bonus points.

Knights 34

T – Edwards 32’, Rokoduguni 72’, Olowofela 80’

C – Bennett 32’, 72’

P – Bennett 2’, 12’, 18’, 26’, 39’

YC – Jones 63’, Bainbridge 76'

Warriors 31

T – Trewin 15’, Anstee 46’, J Garside 54’, 70’, Twelvetrees 77’

C – Eden 15’, 54’, 77’

YC – Twelvetrees 30’

Knights Team

15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Zach Kerr, 12 Connor Edwards (Margetts 69’), 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Russell Bennett, 9 Ollie Fox; 1 Conor Davidson (Turner 64’), 2 George Roberts (Chapman 64’), 3 Joe Jones (Mulipola 58’), 4 Josh Williams (Ehizode 69’), 5 Morgan Jones, 6 Ben Murphy, 7 Rhys Tait, 8 Jasper McGuire (Bainbridge 64’)

Unused - 21 Will Wootton, 22 Morgan Bunting

Warriors Team

15 Will Trewin (Will Reed 22’), 14 Jake Garside, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Alfie Garside (Juan González 56’), 10 Tiff Eden, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Mikey Summerfield (Billy Keast 56’), 2 Jasper Spandler (Will Biggs 64’), 3 Tim Hoyt (Ashley Challenger 74’), 4 Hallam Chapman, 5 Will Jeanes, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Matt Kvesic © (Thabo Ndimande 56’), 8 Khalik Kareem

Unused - 19 Tom Golder, 21 Will Lane