Worcester Warriors Mark Return with 54-12 Victory at Ampthill

Ampthill 12-54 Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors kick started their return to action with a 54-12 pre-season win on the road at Champ Rugby rivals Ampthill.

Worcester crossed for five first-half tries through Will Lane, Alfie Garside, James Short and a brace for Thabo Ndimande.

Hosts Ampthill crossed for two first-half scores of their own before in the second period Warriors added three more via two from winger Josh Bassett and one for Archie Vanes.

It took just three minutes for Worcester to find the try-line with Taite Fortey and Alfie Garside linking-up well to send Lane in for the opening try, with Will Reed adding the extras – his first of four.

Garside found himself on the score sheet minutes later after flying down the left wing and the Warriors had a third inside 15 minutes when Ndimande got his first from a driving maul.

Ndimande crossed for a second after emerging from under a pile of bodies before Ampthill crossed for their first try with winger Mason Cullen dotting down out wide.

Lane continued to add an injection of pace to the Warriors attack and his snipe from the ruck set up Short for Worcester’s 5^th try.

Ampthill added a second before the break with captain Fraser Strachan capitalising on bouncing ball  to score before Louis Grimoldby added the conversion.

A raft of half-time changes for Worcester brought a totally new XV in the second-half as the whole squad was given game time.

It was Bassett who crossed for the opening try of the second-half when he received the decisive pass from scrum-half Lloyd Williams, Tiff Eden converting the try.

Worcester’s defence held resolute across the second-half, including a period of sustained maul pressure from the hosts.

Bassett added his second when he read an Ampthill pass out wide to run-in before Archie Vanes rounded off the scoring when he powered over from close range.

Ampthill 12

T – Cullen 28’, Strachan 38’

C – Grimoldby 28’

Worcester Warriors 54

T – Lane 3’, A Garside 10’, Ndimande 15’, 22’, Short 31’, Bassett 55’, 71’, Vanes 78’

C – Reed 3’, 15’, 22’, 31’, Eden 55’, 71’, 78’