European Challenge Cup
Warriors march into the last eight
Scrum.com
January 17, 2009
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Date/Time: Jan 17, 2009, 15:00 local, 15:00 GMT
Worcester Warriors 38 - 19 Bucureşti
Worcester's Rico Gear dives over to score, Worcester Warriors v Bucuresti Oaks, European Challenge Cup, Sixways Stadium, Worcester, England, January 17, 2009
Worcester's Rico Gear dives over to score a try in the corner
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Teams: Bucureşti | England

Worcester Warriors beat Bucuresti Oaks 38-19 in their European Challenge Cup Pool 3 clash at Sixways Stadium to progress to this season's quarter-finals.

Matt Powell scored twice in the final five minutes to finally shrug off a spirited display from the Romanians who recovered from 26-6 down to trail 26-19 in the 70th minute.

Ryan Powell looked to have set Worcester on course for an easy win inside 10 minutes. But Florin Vlaicu converted twice to shake up the Warriors.

Chris Latham got the Warriors back on track and All Black Rico Gear followed, after a penalty try, to clinch a bonus point. But Mike Ruddock's men almost paid the price for taking their foot off the gas as Bucuresti upset Sixways with Daniel Carpo's try before Powell steered Worcester home late on.

The victory, and a surprise defeat for rivals Bourgoin in Padova, means the Warriors have won the pool and guaranteed a quarter-final berth with one round of group matches to go.

Worcester Warriors: Chris Latham, Rico Gear, Hal Luscombe, Dale Rasmussen, Chris Pennell, Eoghan Hickey, Ryan Powell, Matt Mullan, Chris Fortey, Tevita Taumoepeau, Greg Rawlinson, Craig Gillies, Netani Talei, Pat Sanderson (c), Kai Horstmann

Replacements: Chris Horsman, Aleki Lutui, Will Bowley, Matt Cox, Matt Powell, Joe Carlisle, Alex Grove

Bucuresti: F Vlaicu; S Ciuntu, C Dascalu, C Gal Minya, J Makapelu; B Aoina, F Surugiu; N Nere, F Tasca, M Lazar, V Popirlan, M Macovei, S Burcea, Z Winslade, D Carpo

Replacements: A Radoi, F Dobre, A Grigore, V Ivan, I Dimofte, M Lemnaru, C Fercu

Referee: Patrick Pechambert (France)

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