Worcester Warriors beat London Irish to win Premiership Rugby Cup

London Irish: (16) 25
Tries: White Con: Jackson Pens: Jackson 6
Worcester: (18) 25
Tries: Kvesic, Humphreys, Hatherell Cons: Smith 2 Pens: Smith 2

STEVE Diamond secured back-to-back Premiership Cup titles and Worcester Warriors‘ first-ever major trophy courtesy of a dramatic final that was only separated on tries scored.

Lead rugby consultant Diamond – who is set to take over as director of rugby of the 12^th place Premiership side next season – secured back-to-back titles after he led his former club Sale Sharks to the trophy in 2020.

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 based around Henry Arundell after his call up to England’s summer tour of Australia, and the full back tested Worcester’s defence at times but he was contained well by a resilient Warriors defence.

The home side 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 make it a one score game with 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 Worcester’s heedless defence meant a snipe from scrum half Ben White put him through untouched under the sticks.

Worcester suffered with ill-discipline throughout conceding 22 penalties overall and Jackson scored his third penalty of the game.

However, on the stroke of half time Perry Humphreys regained the visitors lead.

A looping pass by Smith picked out Humphreys who powered over Arundell to finish in the corner before half time.

Irish were superior at scrum time, winning five penalties across the match and Jackson dispatched another three points to regain their lead.

Referee Wayne Barnes was strict on discipline and four times marched Worcester back 10 metres, with Jackson capitalising on the visitors’ ill-discipline 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.

Kyle Hatherell scored an 85^th minute try from close range after a series of pick and go’s following a quick tap penalty and Smith’s conversion took the game to extra time.

Both fly halves missed penalties in the first period of extra time before Jackson missed his fourth straight penalty leaving the home supporters with their heads in their hands as time ran out.

LONDON IRISH: Arundell 6 (Loader 72 6), Cinti 7, Joseph 7 (Rona 54 6), J V Rensburg 8, Hassell-Collins 7, Jackson 6, White 7; Gigena 7 (Goodrick-Clarke 47 7), Willemse 6 (Cornish 25 7), Van der Merwe 7, Munga 7 (Mafi 51 7), Simmons 7 (Munga 80), Rogerson © 7 (Donnell 64 6), Gonzalez 6, Tuisue 7

WORCESTER: Shillcock 7, Humphreys 8 (Hearle 62 6), Venter 6 (Lawrence 52 7), Beck 6, Van der Merwe 7, Smith 6, Simpson 6; Waller 5 (Sutherland 45 5, Judge 92), Annett 5 (Miller 65 5), Judge 5 (McCallum 45 5), Batley 6, G Kitchener 6 (A Kitchener 62 5), Hatherell 8, Kvesic 7 (Lewis 64 6), Hill © 7

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Attendance: 9,531

Star man: Kyle Hatherell – Worcester Warriors

Written by BEN JAYCOCK