Diamond watches kids shine as Powell sees red
A RED card for young Bristol Bears fullback Charlie Powell in the 38th minute ensured there was only ever going to be one winner at Sixways.
But to put Worcester Warriors’ huge victory down to having a man advantage for 42 minutes would be a disservice to the hosts who were clinical with their chances to punish Bristol for their every error and run in ten tries.
With Steve Diamond – due to arrive at the club next week as a rugby consultant – watching from a box in the stadium, the young crop of players gave him plenty of reasons for optimism.
Powell, making his first start of the season, got his timing all wrong chasing a high kick and dangerously upended Warriors fullback Harri Doel to earn his marching orders just before the break.
Until that point, Doel had been the most dangerous player on the pitch as he ripped Bristol’s defence to shreds with his explosive sidestep and pace to help Worcester to a 35-8 lead at half time.
Worcester scrum-half Gareth Simpson opened the scoring with a stroll over after Doel cut through the visitors to put the try on a plate.
Bristol hit right back as Mitch Eadie burst through a gap, ran 30m and then drew the last defender to put Theo Strang in for his first try for the club.
Doel then scored a superb individual effort before Ioan Lloyd pulled back a penalty for the visitors but Bristol were soon caught out overplaying in their own half and, when Deago Bailey was stripped of the ball trying to run out from his 22, the pill was moved wide and Doel again gave the supporting Simpson a run in.
On the half hour mark the game turned. Lloyd danced his way through the Worcester defence before linking up with Antoine Frisch but the centre knocked the ball on trying to touch it down to blow the Bears’ chance to stay in the contest.
Moments later Doel was at it again, breaking down the left flank before giving winger Tom Howe an easy finish in the corner.
Three minutes before half time Worcester mauled their way over to score their fifth try through prop Marc Thomas.
Then came the red card which saw both full-backs depart as the red scrum capped Warriors dynamo failed his HIA.
If Doel was the star of the first half then Billy Searle was the outstanding performer in the second and did enough to walk away with the man of the match honours and 23 points from nine out of 10 conversions and a fine counter-attacking try.
Worcester wasted little time in making the extra man count in the second half with a second try from Howe after three minutes, beating the cover tackle with a superman finish in the corner before debutant Jack Johnson won a footrace to dot down for a try on his birthday.
Bristol hit back with a try from replacement prop Jono Benz-Salomon following another eye-catching burst from Eadie.
While Bristol had long spells in the Worcester half it was the hosts who finished their chances in the closing quarter with Tom Dodd, Fin Smith and Searle running up the scoreboard.
Both clubs return to Premiership action next weekend with the squads likely to be unrecognisable from this display.