Ruddock 'heartbroken' by late Attwood try
Gloucester 13 Worcester 13
Monday 04 January 2010
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Lock Dave Attwood salvaged a dramatic draw for Gloucester with a try deep into injury-time at Kingsholm. But fly-half Carlos Spencer sent the game's final kick – a touchline conversion attempt – narrowly wide and honours were shared.
Spencer's fellow substitute Attwood struck with just 16 seconds left, and a draw was just about what Gloucester deserved after dominating second-half territory. Worcester though, looked to have done enough to repeat last season's Premiership victory at Kingsholm and end an eight-month wait for a league away win.
First-half tries by wing Rico Gear and scrum-half Jonny Arr put Worcester in charge, while their former Gloucester back Willie Walker kicked a penalty.
The home side produced an early Akapusi Qera try and a second-half penalty from Nicky Robinson, but it was another sub-standard display in a miserable season by the Cherry and Whites. The result leaves both clubs scrambling about in the Premiership's bottom third.
And in a league of such small margins between success and failure, it seemed Gloucester would be left to rue three missed Robinson kicks as the Wales international endured an off-day.
But Attwood was the unlikely hero, leaving Worcester to reflect on a fourth draw from their last five Premiership games and still no away win in the league since they triumphed at Gloucester in April.
Worcester manager Mike Ruddock said: "It was heartbreaking to concede a try in the last minute.
"But in terms of the league, it is about picking up points as often as you can. We are a very hard team to beat, and we have got to keep on doing that – performing to a high level."
Ruddock added: "Our first-half performance was excellent, although we gift-wrapped Gloucester their first try through an interception. They upped the tempo in the second period, but we were tenacious in defence and it is about the overall performance. We will happily take the two points."
Scorers: Gloucester: Tries Qera, Attwood Penalty Robinson. Worcester: Tries Gear, Arr. Penalty Walker.
Gloucester: Morgan; Sharples (Molenaar, 36), Simpson-Daniel, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Vainikolo; Robinson (Spencer, 75), Lewis (A Williams, 68); Wood (Dickinson, 40), S Lawson (Azam, 61), Somerville, Eustace (Attwood, 52), Brown, Strokosch, Qera, Delve (capt, Narraway, 61).
Worcester: Latham; Gear, Rasmussen, Benjamin, Walker, Arr; Black (Mullan, 52), Fortey (Lutui, 52), Grove, Sourgens (Gilding, 71), Rawlinson, Gillies, Wood, Sanderson (capt), Horstmann.
Referee: D Richards (RFU).
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