| London Irish (19) 45 |
| Tries: Donnell, White, Hassell-Collins, Arundell 2, Joseph, Creevy Cons: Jackson 3 |
| Worcester (0) 14 |
| Tries: Langdon, Shillcock Cons: Williams 2 |
London Irish made a successful begin to the brand new Premiership season as they ran in seven tries at Brentford to earn a bonus-point victory over Worcester.
On a subdued day in west London within the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Irish had been too good for the Warriors.
First-half tries from Ben Donnell, Ben White and Ollie Hassell-Collins set the Exiles on track for victory.
Henry Arundell got here off the bench to cross twice, whereas Will Joseph and ex-Warriors hooker Gus Creevy additionally scored.
Warriors’ Curtis Langdon did get a attempt again and Jamie Shillcock added a second late on, but it surely was teenage England winger Arundell, who scored a gorgeous attempt within the first Take a look at in opposition to Australia in July, who rounded all of it off together with his second attempt.
Financially-threatened Warriors have been severely unsettled by the funding disaster that has threatened the membership’s future in current weeks – and so they had been solely cleared to start out the season final weekend.
That was all put to at least one aspect earlier than the sport, with an impeccably noticed minute’s silence earlier than a rendition of God Save The King – and a giant spontaneous burst of applause all spherical the bottom, in honour of Her Majesty.
However, sporting final season’s equipment, as Worcester can’t but afford to pay for a brand new strip, regardless of a spirited effort from Steve Diamond’s aspect, that they had no reply to the Exiles’ further innovative.
With out injured membership captain Ted Hill, who was dominated out by a hamstring damage, Warriors gave begins to 4 of their summer time signings – flankers Cameron Neild and Fergus Lee-Warner, Russia worldwide loosehead Valeriy Morozov and Italy hooker Hame Faiva, whereas former Sale prop Langdon made a rewarding first look from the bench.
However, regardless of a vibrant Warriors begin, Irish had three early probabilities – and took two of them.
Hassell-Collins bumped into area to create the primary attempt for flanker Donnell, earlier than Scotland scrum-half White adopted him over. Hassell-Collins’ personal attempt simply earlier than the break all however settled the end result.
Irish had run in 5 tries earlier than Warriors even obtained on the scoreboard and, though the guests did present their battling qualities with their two late tries, it was a really completely different consequence from their final go to to Brentford, after they beat Irish to win the Premiership Rugby Cup in Could.
Worcester are scheduled to host Exeter subsequent Sunday, whereas London Irish are on account of be again in motion on Friday at Northampton.
London Irish head coach Les Kiss:
“Every little thing Henry Arundell touches appears to show to gold a bit of bit, but it surely’s not by chance.
“We noticed that unbelievable scenario within the Take a look at match in Australia. He creates moments.
“He is obtained one thing about him for positive, however there’s an actual true humility to him as properly.”
Warriors director of rugby Steve Diamond informed BBC Sport:
“The preparation has not been supreme, overshadowed by the unhappy information all of us obtained on Thursday. However there are some very proud Englishmen there – and never simply Englishmen – who wished to be there to look at the silence, sing the nationwide anthem and present their respect to Her Majesty.
“Did I count on a end result like this? Sure I did. However I am unable to be too harsh on the lads. They have been by loads. Bodily we’re simply not ready. And mentally they are a bit fragile.
“We’re three or 4 weeks behind the opposition by the appears of issues. Though we have tried to maintain our heads above water, it is such a bodily sport that, for those who do not put the work in, you are going be caught behind the eight ball.
“Folks play pre-season video games to get their our bodies attuned to the physicality of the game and we have not been ready to try this. However there isn’t any level whingeing about it. We have simply obtained to catch up.”
Warriors flanker Matt Kvesic informed BBC Hereford & Worcester:
“I am dissatisfied. We did not placed on the present we would hoped to, however the travelling help actually means loads to us. I felt fairly emotional on the finish.
“We had fairly a number of probabilities which we did not take – and so they capitalised with some properly taken tries. However we’ll get higher and hopefully the followers will persist with us. We’ll attempt to say optimistic. It is an actual problem for us in opposition to Exeter subsequent week however not less than it is at house.”
London Irish: Stokes; Joseph, Rona, Janse van Rensburg, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, White; Gigena, Cornish, Chawatama, Simmons, Coleman, Donnell, Pearson, Basham.
Replacements: Creevy, Fischetti, Parker, Ratuniyarawa, Cooke, Englefield, Morisi, Arundell.
Worcester: Shillcock; Humphreys, Lawrence, Venter, Hearle; Searle, Simpson; Morozov, Faiva, McCallum, Batley, A Kitchener, Lee-Warner, Neild, Kvesic.
Replacements: Langdon, Sutherland, Tyack, G Kitchener, Dodd, Chudley, Williams, Heward.
Referee: Wayne Barnes.
