Worcester Warriors power to 47-7 win at Rotherham Titans

THE smiles will soon be returning to the faces of Worcester Warriors’ supporters if this performance is the sign of things to come.

This was supposed to be Warriors’ biggest test since their narrow opening-day loss at Bristol and they passed the examination with flying colours.

Any pre-match apprehension that Warriors had picked an inexperienced backline without Tom Biggs and, of course, injured flanker Mike Williams was quickly forgotten.

Saturday’s Greene King IPA Championship match at Rotherham’s Clifton Lane ground had been won before the interval as Warriors pow - ered into a 37-0 half-time advantage.

Dean Ryan’s men crossed the whitewash six times against Titans having achieved the four- try bonus point achieved on the stroke of half- time.

Georgian prop Val Rapava Ruskin has made a big impact since arriving at Sixways and pow - ered over for two tries in the opening period.

And fellow prop Mike Daniels shone in the scrum and in the loose as Warriors’ forwards dominated at the scrum and in the line-out.

Winger Perry Humphreys, making his first- team debut after being drafted in from the academy, showed few nerves and was influen - tial going forward and also made a try-saving tackle on Alex Rieder in the second period.

Fly-half Ignancio Mieres had one of his best games in a Warriors’ shirt, with a 17-point haul, including a faultless kicking display in the first period.

But Warriors’ defensive structure is just as important and they boast the best defensive re - cord in the division having conceded 11 points fewer than leaders Bristol.

Dan Sanderson, Matt Cox, Sam Betty and skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze all tackled with tenacity, with Betty blotting his copybook with a spell in the sin-bin for an illegal tackle which floored James Mackinney.

Most of the 1,475-strong crowd were stunned by Warriors’ accuracy and drive in the opening exchanges after Mieres had kicked the visitors into an early 3-0 lead.

Ruskin opened Warriors’ try account when he was driven over the line for a converted score and then Mieres soon extended the lead with a penalty.

Warriors remained in control and Andy Sy - mons brushed off a tackle from Daniel White to dive over the whitewash after combining with Charlie Mulchrone.

Mieres added the conversion and then slot - ted over a penalty from near half-way to give Warriors a 23-0 lead after 27 minutes. The hosts were reeling and Warriors registered the best try of the match nine minutes later.

Full-back Ben Howard was involved twice in the move and eventually slipped the ball for Sam Smith to score. Earlier in the move, Max Stelling had given a superb off-load to Ruskin.

The visitors finished off a relentless first-half showing when Ruskin burrowed over after Sanderson, Darren O’Shea and Mulchrone had all gone close.

The second-half was a more even affair in which Jonny Arr made his 150th appearance for Warriors and Mat Gilbert his debut.

Warriors were forced to defend in the early stages as Rotherham piled on the pressure.

Warriors had to wait until the 74th minute before registering their fifth try after Cox was bundled over the line.

The hosts responded through Jamie Broadley, who forced his way over the line for a converted score. But Warriors had the final word. O’Shea finished off a catch-and-drive from a line-out to give Warriors their biggest victory margin in this season’s Championship.

RUN OF PLAY 3-0 – Mieres pen, 3 min.

8-0 – Ruskin try, 7 min.

10-0 – Mieres conv, 7 min.

13-0 – Mieres pen, 16 min.

18-0 – Symons try, 25 min.

20-0 – Mieres conv, 25 min.

23-0 – Mieres pen, 27 min.

28-0 – Smith try, 36 min.

30-0 – Mieres conv, 36 min.

35-0 – Ruskin try, 39 min.

37-0 – Mieres conv, 39 min.

42-0 – Cox try, 74 min.

42-5 – Broadley try, 77 min.

42-7 – Barrett conv, 77 min.

47-7 – O’Shea try, 79 min.