Worcester edge dramatic final as Jackson misfires
STEVE Diamond claims Worcester are no longer a ‘soft touch’ after their long wait for a major trophy finally ended courtesy of a dramatic final that was separated only by tries scored after extra-time.
Lead rugby consultant Diamond – who will take over as director of rugby of the 12th place Premiership side next season – secured back-to-back titles after he led his former club Sale to the trophy in 2020.
“I’m pleased for the lads as they’ve endured more downs than ups over the last few years and hopefully something like this can be the catalyst to steady the ship,” Diamond said.
“I was confident going into extra-time that we could hold it out. The defence was awesome, chopping below the hips is the way to go.”
Diamond added: “There are 10 lads who we’ve brought in that aren’t big names but have played 100 plus games of top-flight rugby.
“Worcester have been synonymous with bringing superstar names in and underachieving, and I’m not going to do that. The academy pumps kids through, I did it at Sale and I’ll do it again. Worcester are no longer a soft touch going forward.”
The competition has endured calls for it to be scrapped in recent years, but this match had a grand final feel to it, with both sets of fans creating a fantastic atmosphere at the Brentford Community Stadium.
All the pre-match hype was on Henry Arundell after his call up to England’s training squad, and while the full-back tested Worcester’s defence at times, he was contained well by a resilient Warriors defence.
Irish took the lead after just three minutes through Paddy Jackson’s penalty, but Fin Smith dispatched his own three-pointer to level the scores before the visitors scored the first try of the night.
Matt Kvesic picked and went from a ruck just outside the 22 to the surprise of the Irish defenders who could only watch on as the flanker went under the posts untouched.
Worcester went further ahead through another Smith penalty but Irish enjoyed a purple patch that saw Jackson add his second penalty of the night before the home side drew level with a try.
Silky hands by the backline put Irish within five metres and scrum-half Ben White sniped through
a gap untouched to go under the sticks.
Worcester suffered with ill-discipline throughout, conceding 22 penalties overall, and Jackson put over his third penalty.
On the stroke of halftime, Perry Humphreys regained the visitors’ lead. A looping pass by Smith picked out Humphreys who powered over Arundell to finish in the corner.
Irish were superior at scrum time, winning five penalties across the match, and Jackson dispatched another three points to regain the lead.
Referee Wayne Barnes was strict on discipline and four times marched Worcester back 10 metres, with Jackson capitalising by slotting two further penalties.
With the clock in the red, Warriors won a series of penalties that were kicked to the corner, setting up a grandstand finish and Kyle Hatherell scored in the 85th minute from close range after a series of short range drives following a quick tap penalty.
Smith’s conversion took the game to extra time at 25-25.
Both fly-halves missed penalties in the first period of extra-time, and Jackson went on to miss four in a row leaving the home supporters with their heads in their hands as time ran out.
London Irish captain Matt Rogerson was hurting after losing by the finest of margins but was quick to support the misfiring Jackson.
He said: “To lose the game on a technicality hurts even more but we had our opportunities and didn’t take them.
“I said to Paddy it doesn’t just come down to him, in a 100-minute game there’s a million moments that could have led to us winning it; whether it’s penalties we gave away, balls going into touch or dropped balls, all these things contribute.
“Big occasions do things to different people and maybe there were a few lads that felt that pressure.”