Comment

CAPTAIN for the day Drew Hickey admits the narrow 22-21 victory over Bristol will act as a wake-up call for Worcester Warriors ahead of their final two games of the season.

But the Memorial Ground triumph could easily have swung in favour of the hosts.

However, Aussie flanker Hickey, who is leaving Worcester at the end of the season to join Japanese club Kubota Spears, is convinced the victory will act as encouragement ahead of the European Challenge Cup final showdown with Bath on May 25.

Hickey said: "It was a great day for the Warriors and it was nice to do the double over Bristol - it is always pleasing to win when not playing your best. If nothing else, it is a bit of a wake-up call for us ahead of the next two games. We didn't execute our skills too well, but that bit of quality got us over the line.

"We didn't really get into the game and we had a bit of trouble with referee Ashley Row-den, who didn't seem to want to give us any over-the-ball penalties. We weren't rolling away and it really favoured the team with the ball in hand.

"We just couldn't get our hands on the ball in the second-half and, when you have to keep defending and the referee wants to give the advantage to the attacking team, it can be a hard day at the office. But, fair play to us, we managed to get the result.

"Head coach Clive Griffiths talked to us about how we are conceding a lot of points - 14 on average - when we are down to 14 men. Last week we managed not to concede with a man in the bin and we toughed it out against Bristol too. That is a pleasing thing for us and was one of the big things to come out of the game."

After being a loyal Warriors servant, Hickey is happy to be leaving the club in a better position than when he arrived.

He added: "Unfortunately for me, things all seem to be coming together just as I am leaving, but it is really impressive.

"Worcester has waited for the whole time we've been in the Premiership to create tries and open sides up. Now we have the class to do that.

"We've got one more game against Newcastle then the big cup final at Kingsholm. If we could manage to win that, it would be a great way to finish."

7:35pm Sunday 4th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment