After their dramatic victory over Bristol to put them into league winning contention, Worcester travelled to Richmond confident that they could pull off an unexpected victory, however, the form book prevailed and the visitors were well beaten by the composed and clinical league leaders.
Having been forced into team changes through injury and international abstractions, Worcester knew that they had a tough task ahead, but could not have imagined the eventual onslaught that ensued after half time.
The game didn’t start well for the visitors, conceding a penalty after three minutes, which former Worcester fly half Abi Chamberlain gratefully accepted. A sustained period of pressure, orchestrated by Chamberlain and Amy Turner saw prop Vikkii Cornborough evading four tackles to score in the corner on fourteen minutes and the future looked glum for the visitors.
However, they rallied, with Rocky Clark and Bianca Blackburn prominent, but seemed unable to retain ball in contact, conceding numerous penalties as a result when in good attacking positions.
Worcester should really have scored ten minutes before the break having camped on the Richmond line, but were eventually turned over and on the stroke of half time, they squandered a four player overlap with the forwards locked in white line fever. Wingers Thompson and Bree were in danger of hyperthermia as the Worcester ball rarely moved wide, traditionally their strength.
Half time, 8-0, Worcester well in the game score wise, but after the break neither the excellent vocal supporters or players of Worcester could have imaged the pattern that the game would produce.
Richmond scored three tries within 9 minutes of the restart to effectively seal the result. Leanne Riley taking advantage from a tap penalty, with the Worcester defence sleeping, followed by a second from Cornborough, evading tackles in similar fashion to her first and fine try from winger Alicia McComish outpacing the Worcester back line.
Laura Kapo, a replacement for Richmond, made an immediate impact, charging through 5 tackles in much the same manner as she did in the home fixture to add to the embarrassment of the visitors and finally Worcester’s pack, who had struggled all afternoon, conceded a penalty try following a 5m scrummage in the closing minutes.
Final score: Richmond Women 35 Worcester Ladies 0
A game for Richmond to savour and one from which Worcester must learn.
Worcester travel to Cobham RFC on Sunday 17th to face local rivals Lichfield in a playoff for 3rd and 4th place, and will surely wish to return to their form of the previous weeks.
Match report by Dave Guest
