Worcester Warriors 16-7 Bath, Aviva Premiership
Worcester labour past Bath
ESPNscrum Staff
November 25, 2011
Date/Time: Nov 25, 2011, 19:45 local, 19:45 GMT
Venue: Sixways, Worcester
Worcester Warriors 16 - 7 Bath Rugby
Attendance: 10694  Half-time: 10 - 0
Tries: Benjamin
Cons: Carlisle
Pens: Carlisle 2
Drops: Goode
Tries: Beech
Cons: Barkley
Worcester Warriors 16-7 Bath Rugby
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Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Worcester eased their Avivia Premiership woes with a hard-fought 16-7 victory over Bath in a scrappy affair at Sixways on Friday night.

Worcester, in 11th place before kick-off with only two wins from eight league starts, dominated territory and possession to leave Bath living off scraps. Wing Miles Benjamin scored a superb solo try for the Warriors, while fly-half Joe Carlisle chipped in through two penalties and a conversion before Andy Goode added a drop-goal six minutes from time.

The win moved Worcester nine points above bottom club Newcastle, who visit unbeaten league leaders Harlequins on Sunday. Former England captain Lewis Moody ended a difficult week in more pain Moody with a trademark all-action performance ended prematurely on 49 minutes due to a shoulder injury. In his absence Bath managed a 69th-minute touchdown for prop Charlie Beech after he was driven over from close range - substitute Olly Barkley converted - yet it proved too little too late.

And to complete a miserable night for Bath, their England lock Dave Attwood was carried off with his neck in a brace following a lengthy stoppage midway through the second period while medical staff stabilised him.

Moody finished second-best after attempting to tackle Worcester wing Marcel Garvey just before half-time, departing for treatment before making a brief return that he eventually aborted. Only two days ago, Moody felt obliged to issue a strongly-worded statement hitting back at suggestions he put commercial gain before his rugby during England's dismal World Cup campaign. Rugby Football Union elite rugby director Rob Andrew reportedly criticised Moody for leading a senior player delegation that disputed the squad's World Cup payments.

Moody was also targeted by one unnamed team-mate for having too much contact with his agent during the tournament, the claims being made in post-World Cup reports leaked to a national newspaper. The 33-year-old at least attempted to do his talking on the pitch after a day when he also had a £10,000 RFU fine reduced by £2,500 for breaching World Cup commercial rules when he wore a sponsored mouthguard in New Zealand. But it all proved to no avail as Bath lacked the basic skills and organisation to seriously threaten a victory that would have lifted them into title play-off territory.

Carlisle missed an easy opening penalty chance, and although he opened Worcester's account through a 10th-minute strike, his opposite number Stephen Donald also suffered a wayward first half off the tee. Donald sent two penalties wide during a 13-minute spell, and Bath continued to struggle, hardly helped by a misfiring lineout caused in no small measure by prop Mark Lilley being pressed into emergency hooking duty with Lee Mears, Pieter Dixon and Ross Batty all injured.

A bloodied Moody exited four minutes before the break, and Warriors took advantage in emphatic fashion. Just when a dire opening 40 minutes appeared to be petering out, the home side conjured a memorable try that split Bath's defence asunder.

Carlisle delivered a superbly-timed pass to Benjamin, and the England Saxons player finished brilliantly as he weaved his way over from 30 metres out. Carlisle added the conversion and Worcester trooped off with a commanding 10-0 interval lead against opponents that offered next to nothing in attack.

Bath offered glimpses of what they could do as the game began to break up, but poor passing let them down and another Carlisle penalty extended Worcester's advantage. The visitors also floundered on a ferociously committed Worcester defence, at times battering away through phase after phase without crossing their line.

Beech eventually got the scoreboard moving for Bath, yet Worcester quickly regained a territorial foothold and Goode's late drop-goal not only confirmed Warriors' triumph but also denied their opponents a losing bonus point.

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