Quarter-final revenge for Pembroke
Pembroke.........16 Worcester.........7 If ever there were a test of just how much a team wants revenge, this was surely it. Having had their promotion hopes dashed by Worcester on their own turf last term, Pembroke went into this cuppers match with a score to settle. In their way stood a formidable Worcester outfit, who had brushed aside Wadham 75-5 in the previous round.
Despite conditions being miserable for players and spectators alike, Pembroke were backed by vocal support, and rewarded the brave onlookers by exacting their sweet revenge. The match itself was a scrappy affair, owing perhaps more to the difficult conditions than to the technical abilities of the players. Pembroke may not on paper have been the better side, but their win owed everything to desire and passion.
The game was not pleasing to the eye, but Pembroke will not care, leaving the field with a win true to the spirit of cuppers. There was little action in the opening minutes, with both teams adapting to the slippery ball, which made flowing passing moves nearly attacking. Pembroke in particular resorted to kicking for touch, and their tactic worked as they spent much of the first half in Worcester’s half.
Their territorial superiority was nearly rewarded early on, as they had an attacking line-out on the five metre line, but the chance broke down. Worcester responded with a good lineout of their own, and a try was only prevented by a great saving tackle from Dom Hammond. Pembroke lost their scrumhalf to injury in the opening spars, as he suffered a knock to his face, and hurt his shoulder.
Worcester looked to take advantage of the disruption, but both sides’ efforts to open the scoring were thwarted by handling errors. Pembroke were awarded a penalty in a decent position, but missed the kick at goal. Moments later, Worcester had a penalty of their own, which they elected to run, but a handling error caused the opportunity to be lost.
Pembroke had looked the more likely to score, and their pressure was rewarded twenty minutes in, when Tim Catling went over in the corner following a scrum. The fly-half, who had made the pass for the try, missed a difficult conversion. Nonetheless, Pembroke led 5-0. Worcester were quick to respond, and forced a series of penalties which culminated in a line-out in the corner.
From the resulting ruck, they forced the ball over the line, and Matt Sherman converted the try to take a 7-5 lead, against the run of play. Pembroke restored their lead before half-time though, winning a penalty for offside, and sending it over to make it 8-7 at the interval. Pembroke’s dominance continued in the second half, as they emerged even more fired up. Their pack continued to dominate, with Marcel du Toit exerting great influence over the game.
They increased their lead with a drop goal from their effervescent centre Catling, and at 11-7, looked set to take complete control. Worcester very nearly hit back with an excellent break, but once again were stopped just before the line by a last-ditch tackle. Worcester desperately needed a score to put them back in contention, but they could find no way through Pembroke’s resolute defence.
The conditions did not favour Worcester’s attacking game, and on many occasions promising moves broke down after handling errors. Pembroke were content to maintain their territorial advantage, keeping the game closed down. It was this tactic which prevailed, as Pembroke secured the win with a late try. Another kick into the corner from Hammond set the irrepressible Catling free once more, and he did brilliantly to collect the ball and score.
The conversion was missed, but it didn’t matter for Pembroke, as they held on to secure a deserved 16-7 victory. Pembroke progress, and perhaps more importantly, they have laid to rest the ghost of last term’s defeat.
23rd Feb 2006