Warriors take home five points from Penzance

Worcester Warriors returned home from Penzance with the full five points after victory over Cornish Pirates.

Three first-half tries before Obinna Nkwocha and Juan González crossed in the second secured victory in front of a wave of Warriors fans who had descended on the south coast.

The first five minutes of the game saw Pirates flanker Luke Ratcliff seeing yellow for an open palm strike, with the Warriors soon capitalising.

After building field possession, the ball was spread wide quickly by Matt Kvesic to Siva Naulago, who still had defenders to beat before running in to score his first competitive try for the club.

And despite Ratcliff returning to the fray, the Warriors soon had a second when Rory Taylor pounced on a loose ball to hack it through before picking it up outstandingly and finding Lloyd Williams, who ran in for his side's second.

For the majority of the rest of the half, Worcester continued to battle for a third try, twice going close following a penalty advantage with strong field position being secured by a number of scrum penalties.

With just a minute left of the half, the Warriors were rewarded with a third try after building pressure on the Pirates' try-line before Tim Anstee powered over in the corner, sending his side in 17-0 ahead at the break.

And the Warriors started the second half just as they finished the first, crossing for the bonus point try just two minutes into the half when Will Reed burst through the line before finding Nkwocha, who crossed under the sticks.

Pirates then crossed for their first points of the afternoon when winger Matty Ward received the ball outwide and ran in to score with Arwel Robson adding the extras.

Roared on by the visiting support, the Warriors didn’t let the Pirates' crossing switch the momentum and added a fifth try when the ball was spread wide with penalty advantage to González, who finishes well in the corner.

The final stages of the game saw some phenomenal defensive sets from the Warriors, limiting the Pirates to just one try.

Pirates' final momentum was also stunted when a member of their coaching staff saw red for an off-the-ball incident with around eight minutes to go.

Worcester continued their resolute defence, and victory was secured with the five points heading back up to Sixways.

Pirates 7

T – Matty Ward 48’

C – Arwel Robson 48’

YC – Luke Ratcliff 4’

Warriors 29

T – Siva Naulago 11’, Lloyd Williams 17’, Tim Anstee 39’, Obinna Nkwocha 42’, Juan González 60’

C – Will Reed 11’, 42’

Pirates XV

15 Angus Mawson, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Chester Ribbons, 12 Joe Elderkin (Harry Yates 45’), 11 Matty Ward, 10 Arwel Robson (Louie Sinclair 58’), 9 Dan Hiscocks (Will Becconsall 58’); 1 James French (Billy Young 58’), 2 Sol Moody (Morgan Nelson 45’), 3 Alfie Petch (Ben Woodmansey 68’, 4 Matt Cannon, 5 Josh King (Rory Suttor 73’), 6 Alex Everett, 7 Luke Ratcliff (John Stevens 45’), 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon

Warriors XV

15 Will Trewin, 14 Siva Naulago (Juan González 50’), 13 James Short, 12 Rory Taylor (Tiff Eden HT’), 11 Josh Bassett (Jake Garside 64’), 10 Will Reed, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Cam Miell (Livai Natave 50’), 2 Austin Wallis (Archie Vanes 50’), 3 Fraser Balmain (Ashley Challenger 42’), 4 Hallam Chapman (Thabo Ndimande 60’), 5 Obinna Nkwocha, 6 Tim Anstee, 7 Matt Kvesic ©, 8 Matt Rogerson (Hugh Bokenham HT’)