European Challenge Cup: Worcester 23-7 Pau
- Published
European Rugby Challenge Cup |
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Worcester (20) 23 |
Tries: Adams, Faosiliva Cons: Weir 2 Pens: Weir 3 |
Pau (7) 7 |
Try: Mowen Con: Slade |
Worcester Warriors beat French side Pau in dismal conditions at Sixways to return to the top of European Challenge Cup Pool 2.
Flanker Ben Mowen gave Pau a seventh-minute lead with a try converted by New Zealand fly-half Colin Slade.
But Warriors responded with two tries in five minutes from last season's joint Premiership top scorer Josh Adams and number eight Alafoti Faosiliva.
Duncan Weir then kicked three penalties to seal a third win in four pool games.
After being set up by Wales wing Adams, Faosiliva injured himself going under the posts to score the second try, allowing back-row forward Carl Kirwan to come off the bench to make his first senior appearance in two years following a shoulder injury.
Warriors made 13 changes to their starting line-up following last weekend's 21-6 loss in the Pyrenees - their first group defeat.
But, although they managed just one Weir penalty after the break, it was in very tough conditions playing into the driving wind and rain.
What happens next?
The final two rounds of fixtures are staged in January.
On Friday 11 January, Stade Francais host Pau, before Worcester visit second-placed Ospreys the following day.
Then the following Friday (18 January), Pau will play Ospreys, when Worcester host Stade Francais.
Warriors in the Challenge Cup
Warriors: Van Breda; Heem, Venter, Mills (capt), Adams; Weir, Arr; Black, Singleton, Schonert, Bresler, Fatialofa, Hill, Mama, Faosiliva.
Replacements: Miller, Waller, Milasinovich, Phillips, Kirwan, Heaney, Lawrence, Humphreys.
Pau: Colombet; Lestremau, Nueno, Vatubua, Halai; Slade, Blanc; Mackintosh, Rey, Adriaanse, Metz, Ramsay, Ugena, Mowen, Erbani (capt).
Replacements: Calles, Moise, Tierney, Butler, Kuffner, Lebail, Hastoy, Septar.
Referee: Ian Davies
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- Published25 March 2018
- Published15 February 2019