HEAD coach Carl Hogg hailed skipper Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier and fly-half Tiff Eden as the architects in Worcester Warriors’ 35-5 cup final victory against Doncaster Knights.

Hogg thought the duo delivered the visitors’ game-plan to perfection as Warriors dominated the first-half and roared into a 29-0 lead at the break.

“We executed the game-plan fantastically well and our nine and 10 were outstanding,” said Hogg.

“They put us in the right areas of the field and we had a forward pack who could apply some pressure.

“It was always going to be difficult because of the weather conditions and I thought we executed the game-plan fantastically well in the first-half.

“We were in pretty much complete control for 40 minutes and held high field position.

“It was difficult to play attractive free-flowing rugby. The game that we played was simple and direct and we used the set-piece and our kicking game.

“The forwards have to be in the right areas of the field to get the drive and set-piece going and it comes down to your nines and 10 and kickers to put you in the right positions and then you can apply pressure.”

Doncaster improved after the interval and scored the only try of the second-half through Ben Hunter from a driving maul.

“We knew Doncaster would come out fighting and they always had to show their hand,” said Hogg.

“In the second-half, they went a bit more tight in keeping ball and played a little more off nine, so they had a lot of forward runners.

“We knew we had to sit and weather a storm. We were a little bit ill-disciplined for the first 15 to 20 minutes and let them back into the game slightly. But we kicked a couple of goals towards the end to shut the door.

“I think the damage had been done in the first-half and I was really pleased with how clinical and accurate we were in the first-half.”

Hogg believes Warriors’ British and Irish Cup squad grew a strong bond during the competition and are a huge credit to the club.

“We want healthy competition – the guys have been an advert for what we are trying to do,” he said.

“Even at the tail-end of the game Doncaster broke away but we had people scrambling to make tackles although we were 30 points ahead. That epitomises this group and what they are all about.

“If this group are a barometer for the health of the club then we are in really good shape.

“It’s not the easiest to play in the British and Irish Cup group or the A-team group but players have united behind JB (Bruzulier) and showed fantastic spirit and unity.”

Doncaster scrum-half Tomasi Palu had no complaints about Worcester’s victory.

“We knew we had to lift our game, especially against a side like Worcester,” he said. “It was really tough but we tried our best but they were too physical.”