Fighting Worcester thrash Newcastle with league suspension looming

Eighteen years ago this month, Worcester made their first Premiership appearance, arriving in the top flight with excitement and aspirations, buoyed by the benevolence of their backer Cecil Duckworth. Optimism was in the air and it is worth glancing back to those more innocent times because, as fate would have it, the visitors that day were Newcastle Falcons. If this rousing victory over the same opposition, nearly two decades on, does prove to be Worcester’s last game in the Premiership there is a serendipity to how they have come full circle.

In short term at least, there was a far happier outcome too, because back in 2004 they were comfortably beaten, whereason Saturday, they out-thought, out-fought and eventually overwhelmed Newcastle, scoring five well-worked tries and delivering a reminder that Steve Diamond has quality at his disposal here if the house can be put in order. Beforehand Diamond had promised Worcester would be out on the town come what may against the Falcons, in recognition of how difficult the last weeks have been and as a reward for how the players and coaches have stuck together. You’d imagine it will taste that little bit sweeter in victory before thoughts turn to what the future holds.

Newcastle had impressed in glimpses in their defeats by Harlequins and Leicester before this match but they were caught up on an emotional afternoon for their hosts, who were given a guard of honour by their wives, girlfriends and families before kick-off. The fact that the result is unlikely to stand if Worcester have indeed played their last match of the season cannot have helped Newcastle’s focus either.

They began brightly enough, forcing Worcester into conceding three penalties in the opening five minutes,