Gonzalez strikes to steal it for Warriors

■By JEAN BULL

Worcester ……..25pts

Tries: Wallis 9, Chapman 16, Gonzalez 76 Conversions: Reed 17, 77 Penalties: Reed 34, 46

Doncaster ………20pts

Tries: Kerr 39, Viliamu 70 Conversions: Bennett 40, 71 Penalties: Bennett 3, 64

WORCESTER Warriors avenged their early-season defeat to Doncaster Knights with a dramatic victory sealed by Juan Gonzalez’s last-gasp try at Sixways.

Following a run of four straight defeats, Worcester have hit back with back to back wins to move up to third.

Doncaster struck first when fly-half Russell Bennett opted for goal from an early penalty, calmly slotting the kick to edge the visitors in front. Warriors responded with intent, building territory before earning a lineout in the corner. James Tyas secured the throw and the hosts’ driving maul rumbled forward, Austin Wallis forcing his way over for the opening try.

Momentum quickly swung Worcester’s way. From an attacking line-out near halfway, Gonzalez sliced through the defensive line and surged into space before offloading to Will Lane. The scrum-half fed Hallam Chapman, who finished the move, with Will Reed converting at the second attempt. Reed soon added a penalty – only the fourth time Warriors had taken three points all season – to stretch the advantage.

Doncaster refused to fade and struck back just before the interval.

Ryan Olowofela took a quick line-out, catching Worcester cold, and Telusa Veainu burst through midfield before releasing Joe Margetts to dive over in the corner. Bennett’s conversion narrowed the gap to 15-10 at the break.

Reed extended Worcester’s lead early in the second half with another penalty, but the contest remained finely balanced. Josh Bassett produced a crucial defensive moment, winning a footrace to deny Zach Kerr after a clever chip ahead threatened to put Doncaster over.

Bennett kept the Knights in touch with a superb long-range penalty from beyond halfway, reducing the deficit to five points entering the final 10 minutes. The tension escalated when James Short was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on, and Doncaster capitalised. From the resulting pressure, Timor Viliamu powered over from a rolling maul, Bennett converting to hand the visitors a late two-point lead.

Parity in numbers followed when Kerr was sin-binned for taking Reed out in the air while contesting a high ball. Warriors seized the opportunity. A penalty was kicked to the corner and, after the forwards drove close, the ball was worked wide for Gonzalez to dive over under the posts in the dying moments.

Reed added the decisive conversion to seal a thrilling comeback win and ensure Warriors gained revenge.