Worcester build momentum after halting Harlequins’ express train

Competition for places is key if Worcester are to avoid their annual battle against relegation, says fly-half Jono Lance.

Worcester have yet to finish in the middle third of the Premiership since they were first promoted in 2004. Their best position was eighth in 2006. Otherwise, it has been a dogfight to avoid the drop, which they failed to achieve twice, in 2010 and 2014, before bouncing back at the first attempt.

For the Warriors, who edged out Harlequins, it has been a case of dreaming about a mid-table finish rather than expecting it.

Now, after two Premiership wins from four matches, the club hope the tide can turn. Director of rugby Alan Solomons even suggested they should have won a third when losing last week at home to Exeter by just four points.

Lance, who kicked four penalties and converted a try by Jamie Shillcock, was captain but has huge competition for the No10 spot, particularly from 27-times capped Scottish stand-off Duncan Weir.

The former Queensland Reds player said: “I think there are a lot of us who are not in the team each week and that is healthy for us. We have a lot of guys who are experienced and have played international rugby. But we also have a lot of young guys who are coming through and are really pushing to make their positions their own.

“For us, seasons are about momentum – we don’t want to look back in a few weeks and talk about that one good game against Harlequins.”

Shillcock had not started in the league for Worcester before Saturday in the previous 11 months because of injuries and the form of former England international Chris Pennell, among others.

Quins started like an express train, going up 14-3 after 13 minutes through tries from No8 Alex Dombrandt and captain James Chisholm, both converted by fly-half Marcus Smith, but soon went off the rails.

And now they face the huge away challenge of triple European Champions Cup runners-up Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard criticised referee Matthew Carley’s handling of loose situations saying: “Worcester are a very streetwise team around the breakdown and get away with a bit. We gave away three or four penalties for contesting on the floor at the breakdown and were not awarded one. For me, that was a little unfair.”