JUST SUPER, TED!
Warriors’ Hill ends Leicester fightback
UTTER CHAOS descended here yesterday as Worcester scored six tries and 44 points at this once great fortress — but almost contrived to lose.
Trailing 37-11 with 23 minutes to go, the Tigers belatedly found their bite, having looked like pussycats for the first half.
In raced Jonny May, David Denton and Sione Kalamafoni, then George Ford’s dazzling break and subsequent conversion had Leicester level with three minutes left. That try might have been ruled out, as referee Luke Pearce looked to have blocked a Worcester tackler to open up the space, but it was given.
It did not matter as Ted Hill, a 19-year-old lock on league debut, dived in at the left corner for his second try of the match.
Duncan Weir’s kick, giving him 22 points in the match, meant the Warriors had battled through for their first victory of the season.
And Worcester boss Alan Solomons said it was inspired by a quote from American philosopher Elbert Hubbard about prospects seeming darkest when really they are on the turn. Solomons said: ‘If you keep at it the tide turns. That is the point I made to the boys this week — if you are resilient it turns, and the momentum will swing. It was a wonderful performance.’
This is the third time Leicester have shipped 40 points this season, and they have now conceded 22 tries this month.
With every mistake, another Geordan Murphy-sized handprint appeared on the glass in front of the interim coach’s seat in the stands. Unhappy was an understatement. After 25 minutes Leicester had attempted 15 tackles, and missed 10.
They trailed 22-6 then, Worcester ripping them to shreds through the midfield and on the flanks. Weir had two tries, and Jack Singleton another on the left — the only response two Ford penalties. Bryce Heem, Ryan Mills and Weir were pulling strings like Gepetto, and Leicester were strung up.
A rolling maul, with Guy Thompson scoring, showed resistance at last but then the Tigers conceded again before half-time. The excellent Mills floated a pass to Chris Pennell and that was Warriors’ bonus-point try already.
Hill scored for Worcester before May latched on to a Ford chip and raced in past four defenders. Then Denton crashed over and when Kalamafoni scored their bonuspoint try with 10 minutes to go, Leicester were only seven points back. Then, bedlam as Ford scored and Hill gave this stupendous game a fittingly incredible finish.
Murphy said: ‘We are talking the talk, but not walking the walk.’