Match Details
Att: 520
Referee:
Venue: Sergio Lanfranchi
Date: Sat 15th Dec 2007
G.R.A.N ParmaWorcester Warriors
Quote
"We want to keep on winning so we can guarantee a spot as one of the highest scoring sides in the tournament and make sure of a home draw in the quarter finals and also, hopefully, in the semi finals" - Mike Ruddock, Director of Rugby
Other Challenge Cup matches
Sale Sharks32 - 10Bayonne
Montauban34 - 6Bucuresti
Montpellier31 - 3Petrarca Padova
Bath Rugby59 - 15Albi
Auch24 - 20Overmach Parma
Dax15 - 16Castres Olympique
El Salvador8 - 40Brive
Calvisano27 - 26Leeds Carnegie
Newcastle Falcons39 - 0Connacht Rugby
At a glance
Pos
Team
Pl
Pts
1Worcester Warriors419
2Montauban411
3Bucuresti46
4G.R.A.N Parma42
Match Report Match Stats
Four-star Rico!
Gear strikes as Warriors run riot
15 December 2007, 3:54 pm
Match report by Ben Mottram
Outstanding performances from debutant Sam Tuitupou and man of the match Rico Gear all but assured the Worcester Warriors of a place in the quarter finals of the European Challenge Cup as they ran in ten tries to beat Parma 66-16 in Italy.
Worcester beat the Italians by a 50 point margin for the second time in two weeks but this was a far better performance that their first victory at Sixways.

Speaking after the match, Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock said he was delighted with the result but that they weren't getting carried away.  "I was very pleased with the way we attacked and the performances of the squad but we've still got a long way to go," he said.

"We want to keep on winning so we can guarantee a spot as one of the highest scoring sides in the tournament and make sure of a home draw in the quarter finals and also, hopefully, in the semi finals."
 
Although Parma started strongly, Worcester's first score on ten minutes gave the 60 or so supporters who'd made the trip to Italy a taste of what was to come.

Quick handling and interplay between Rico Gear, Netani Talei and Sam Tuitupou opened up the defence and Gear touched down for the first try.

A penalty, line out and rolling maul saw Kai Horstmann cross for number two 16 minutes later and when Marcel Garvey scored try number three after bursting through at least four Parma tackles Worcester really looked to be enjoying themselves. Gear added numbers four and five to secure his hat-trick and the Warriors' bonus point as they went into the break 9-31 ahead.
 
Worcester weren't happy with last week's second half performance against Parma and it showed as they attacked straight from the re-start. Garvey added his second try on 46 minutes by bursting through the home side's defence and when Rico Gear added his fourth and Worcester's seventh just moments later the Warriors' fans were really on song.

The beer was flowing and the vocal group took great delight in mimicking the Italian tanoy announcer's mispronunciation by changing all of the club songs' lyrics to 'Worchester.'

They had every right to sing as the speed of hand, excellent passing and demolition of Parma's set piece was a delight to behold. Chris Pennell showed why the coaching staff were so keen to stay with Worcester until at least 2010 as he ran the length of the pitch to score try number eight and Matt Powell capped off a dogged performance with number nine before making way for Jonny Arr. 
 
Parma did manage a fight back at the end of the game and were duly rewarded with a try of their own by replacement Alessandro Onori but the Warriors had the last laugh as Miles Benjamin finished off the match with try number ten.

Mike Ruddock and Clive Griffiths have made no secret of the importance that they place in consistency and after the game, Clive Griffiths said this was just the start of a long road for the team.

"There was some top draw stuff shown out there today and we're very pleased but this is where the fun begins," he said.  "This is what we've been aiming to do for some time but there's still a long way for us to go and we've got work to do before the next two games."

Previous Meeting
15/12/2007G.R.A.N Parma16 - 66Worcester Warriors
08/12/2007Worcester Warriors50 - 0G.R.A.N Parma
G.R.A.N Parma Team
15. Rima Wakarua-Noema   14. Anthony Tahana   13. Diego Sacca'   12. Roberto Pedrazzi   11. Filippo Vezzosi   10. Tommy Hayes   9. Matteo Mazzantini   1. Claudio Russo   2. Tim Dow   3. Marcello Munoz   4. Piet Myburgh   5. Martin Engelbrecht   6. Paul Derbyshire   7. Andrea Barbieri   8. Antonio Mannato  

16. Luciano Artal   17. Vittorio Golfetti   18. Gianmarco Pulli   19. Damin Buzaj   20. Matteo Arbelti   21. Alessandro Onori   22. Tito Tebaldi  

Worcester Warriors Team
15. Chris Pennell   14. Rico Gear   13. Dale Rasmussen   12. Sam Tuitupou   11. Marcel Garvey   10. Shane Drahm   9. Matt Powell   1. Matt Mullan   2. Aleki Lutui   3. Tevita Taumoepeau   4. Greg Rawlinson   5. Craig Gillies   6. Netani Talei   7. Pat Sanderson   8. Kai Horstmann  

16. Shaun Ruwers   17. Chris Fortey   18. Will Bowley   19. Drew Hickey   20. Johnny Arr   21. James Brown   22. Miles Benjamin  

Scorecard
NameTriesConvPen KicksDrop GoalsTotal Points
G.R.A.N Parma
Rima Wakarua-Noema1311
Alessandro Onori15
Total113016

Worcester Warriors
Matt Powell15
James Brown24
Shane Drahm612
Marcel Garvey210
Kai Horstmann15
Rico Gear420
Chris Pennell15
Miles Benjamin15
Total1080066
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