At
least this season Gloucester managed to win at Sixways but it was a close-run
thing as ex Gloucester player Willie Walker hit the post with an attempted
drop-goal in the final play of the game.
From
a biased Gloucester perspective this was yet another match which should have
been wrapped up within the hour but like so many other occasions during this
depressing sorry season, despite having ample possession and territory the
Cherry and Whites were quite unable to make it tell when it mattered.
This win was only Gloucester’s second win away from Kingsholm in the
Premiership programme and as in almost each and every game during this poorest
of seasons, Gloucester’s dreadful defence kept up its lamentable showing
by once again surrendering twenty-plus points — in nine away league
matches opponents have topped twenty points. The only ones to miss out were
Leeds 10 and Saracens 19!
Mistakes are very often what decides matches and once again mistakes came
so very near to handing the game to the opponents. Sadly for Gloucester it
was Nicky Robinson who made the crucial errors. Two bad decisions directly
led to two converted tries.
His blunder late in the game enabled Worcester to score and set up a tense
finish with the hosts coming oh so close to securing the spoils in a thrilling
finale for the Warriors but heartache and worry for the loyal long-suffering
travelling Gloucester who like their rugby live.
Gloucester back-row was conspicuous by its lack of presence as a unit, all
too often they could not, or would not provide telling passes as chances were
missed crucially by poor handling which made their opponents defensive efforts
so much easier.
Worcester were first to get a score when from a charge-down they exploited
a gap in the Gloucester mid-field defensive line for Chris Pennell to score
easily under the posts.
Gloucester began to sort themselves out and gained ascendancy in the set-piece
enabling Robinson to kick a penalty before they took the lead when Akupusi
Qera snapped up a loose ball to score wide out. 5-8.The visitors had the better
of the exchanges before Lesley Vainikolo seized upon a kick ahead to from
Mike Tindall to cross in the corner. 5-13.
After having scored Gloucester did what they have done all too often this
season conceded a penalty and then a soft try as Robinson threw out a suicidal
long pass on the halfway line that was gratefully accepted by centre Alex
Grove who crossed unopposed under the posts. The simple conversion took the
score to 15-13.
It was Gloucester who mounted the meaningful attacks after the break but were
let down by slipshod handling , suspect decision making and poor finishing
as chances went begging but Robinson kicked another penalty before pressure
from the pack eventually resulted in a converted try for Scott Lawson. 15-23.
However
Worcester raised their game going into the final quarter and when Robinson
failed to clear the line from within the in-goal area and was tap-tackled
before the ball went loose and Chris Latham scored. Carlisle’s conversion
set up a frantic final few minutes as the home side strived for the win but
were denied when Walker missed out.
Another
poor performance from Gloucester in what has turned out to be a very poor
season that has been disrupted by a raft of injuries but that does not disguise
the fact that at the moment this Cherry and Whites has consistently underperformed
so questions about the playing personnel and coaches remain.
T.H. 9/5/2010
Pricey's
Postscript -
Gloucester’s
performance this afternoon typified the season as a whole; unstructured in
attack, wide open in defence, sloppy in possession and appeared desperate
to hand the game on a plate to Worcester.
The pack had Worcester on toast in the scrum and the backs appeared to be
able to burst through the home team’s defence at will yet they scraped
a victory by one point and along the way leaked three tries. Any disciplined
team would have easily scored 40 points, possibly 50 against Worcester who
defended doggedly but looked totally inept in attack but took their three
gifted tries with ease. Gloucester’s passing was untidy and inaccurate
and time and time again they butchered opportunities. At times it would have
been easier to score but the poor passing was only matched by poor handling
and appalling decision making.
I rarely criticise players but today I will make exceptions. A man with no
hands would have better ball skills than Peter Buxton. Luke Narraway has still
not realised the benefits of off-loading the ball in contact. Akapusi Qera
must have gone to basketball training when they were doing passing as a young
boy learning rugby. Their effectiveness as a back row unit was nil and their
individual skills were no better. Two of the three tries conceded were the
sole responsibility of Nicky Robinson who probably had his worse game ever
in Cherry and White.
So
the season ends with a narrow victory over weak opposition making a total
of 10 wins out of 22 games. There will have to be massive improvements in
Gloucester’s game next season, that, there is no doubt.
John Price - 8/5/2010
At
last a win at Sixways and away from Kingsholm in what has been a disappointing
season to say the least. Two wins away from home in the premiership is not
good enough for a team and fan base that needs Heineken Cup rugby.
A poor game, the scoreline of which only shows how bad the Glos defence was
yet again, in addition the team were unable to exploit the possession and
territorial dominance they had.
This was a game, to quote a neutral I spoke to on the way back to the car,
'Glos should have won by a mile." He added that with the personnel Glos
have they should not be grovelling around the floor of the table for scraps
but be sitting at the top table. Again silly mistakes and the inability to
capitalise on the territory and possession Glos had, led to a tense and nervy
performance.
Glos gifted Warriors their three tries through poor execution and decision
making. What was Nicky Robinson thinking of, with 5 minutes to go, boot the
ball first time hopefully into touch?
A poor season has at last come to an end, hopefully new personnel will arrive;
maybe on and off the pitch and the loyal and passionate Glos fans will have
something better to look forward to in September.
Mike
Last Season - Worcester 12 Gloucester 9 - Sunday 22 March 2009
Premiership Record versus Worcester
