Royals Come Up Short in Heartbreaking Loss

Worcester fell to their first lost of the season in front of their home support on Sunday, losing 19 - 27 to the Warwick Wolves in a pulsating, physical matchup between two playoff hopefuls.

Coming off a 37 - 0 triumph against Staffordshire the Royals went into Sunday’s game full of hope and anticipation to deliver on their home field against a very strong Warwick side.

The hosts would come up agonisingly short in an encounter that seemed impossible to call from the start, but in their 8 point defeat Worcester could take away plenty of positives as they move into the bye week.

The two shining lights were RB George Salter, totalling over 100 yards with two TDs to his name, and CB Dan Laight who was targeted on numerous occasions but kept his receiver on an island all day, showing impressive coverage skills.

Establishing themselves early in the game would be very important to the Royals if they hoped to achieve any success, and with the defense coming on the field first it was up to them to lay the gauntlet.

Forcing the visitors to a three and out on their opening drive was the perfect start and the offense looked to advance quickly with good field position. A completion to WR Gareth Wilkinson and room to run in got them moving with the 2nd year receiver running past would be tacklers only to fumble on the 1 yard line. Warwick recovered in the endzone turning over possession in what was a crucial error from the Royals.

Warwick, looking to capitalise, moved the ball from their 20 yard line deep into the Royals half as their running attack kept the chains moving. Opting to go for it on 4th down the Worcester defense held their own, forcing a turnover on downs.

Both sides would exchange possessions, with the Wolves blocking a Worcester punt the only big highlight as the 1st quarter came to an end all square.

Opening the second quarter Warwick would begin with good field position as a result of a short punt by their opponents. They took full advantage of the break handed to them this time, running the ball into the endzone for the opening score of the game, and with the conversion, taking a 7 - 0 lead.

Worcester’s offense would struggle to get the ball moving with Warwick plugging up the run and QB Kieran Salais’ passes missing receivers by inches. The defense continued to hold their own against a well oiled Warwick attack, stopping the run and the passing game, giving the hosts the ball back again.

With under five minutes until the half the breakthrough finally came. RB George Salter escaped down the right hand side, leaving defenders behind, taking it the distance on a huge TD run. The PAT was successful and the Royals were level close to the half.

Forcing the Warwick offense off the field yet again the defense looked to finish the half keeping the scores level. But after another blocked punt they found themselves backed up deep in their own goalline. A couple of runs later and the Wolves punched it in, retaking the lead as time expired.

Starting with the ball after the break Worcester would’ve been hoping to bring back the gap and draw level. However following an exchange of possessions Warwick once again powered into the endzone as they escaped the contain, and after missing the conversion, took hold of a 20 - 7 lead.

This was the first real daylight between either side in what was becoming an increasingly tense and physical encounter. More possessions were exchanged and personal fouls conceded by both sides as tempers started to flare.

The defense were holding their own against a very different test continuing to get the ball back to the offense ,turning it over on downs and forcing numerous punts as the match entered the 4th. The Royals offense would not lay down and their persistence paid off. Salter broke through the line again inside his own half and, with nothing but open field ahead of him, thundered away from stretching Wolves defenders finding his way into the endzone once more.

Worcester would go for two, but with a receiver wide open in the endzone, was just missed. The score would read 13 - 20 in favour of Warwick. It was game on for Worcester.

Another punt ensued as the nervous Warwick offense struggled to get past the Worcester defense. The kick would roll up short of halfway and the Royals Offense would have a great chance to bring this game level.

The tension could be felt on both sidelines as the game moved closer to its climax, both sides barely able to watch. The Royals attack moved the chains beyond the Wolves 10 yard line, the endzone was within touching distance. An outside option to RB Markeec Butler sent the Royals sideline into raptures as they got the score, bringing the deficit to just a single point.

A high snap and a decision from the holder to roll out would prove to be crucial as Worcester failed to convert leaving the scores 19 - 20 with under a manic 5 minutes still to come.

Offense needed the ball back and the defense gave it to them, forcing a three and out. Starting inside their own half Worcester would have to go a long way to take their first lead of the game, but with under four minutes left they failed to get the ball moving and a punt followed.

It was blocked yet again by Warwick, an area of the game they truly dominated all day, and the Worcester D were backed up yet again. More heroics were needed with the Wolves desperate to get some breathing room and that’s exactly what they produced. On fourth down the visitors decided against a field goal attempt yet again, going for the score. Forced out of the pocket the QB threw to a receiver in the endzone but it was the stud performer Dan Laight to the rescue, knocking the ball out of the receiver’s hands giving Worcester one more chance to steal the win.

Now with the two minute warning gone it was all or nothing, and the ball began to slowly move up the field, getting closer to midfield as the Worcester attack tried to manage the ticking clock. With everything on the line a crucial interception by the Warwick defense and a big return gave them the ball back on the Worcester two yard line.

Rolling out the pocket again the Warwick QB, who impressed all day on the ground, waltzed into the endzone with under a minute left. Following a successful kick the lead was stretched to eight points, the scoreline 19 - 27 to Warwick.

This is how it would finish as Worcester, moving the ball back towards midfield again, with only a few seconds left threw it up in hope but were picked off once more. The clock expired and Warwick had won.

It was an agonising defeat and one that could hurt the Royals later on in the season, but the positives to take away will be so valuable in the grand scheme of things. Looking back on the previous year, losing 19 - 44 to the same side, the progress made by Worcester on both sides of the ball has been staggering.

They will now take this bye week to rest up and prepare for back to back games against division favourites Nottingham Trent. The first encounter, in Nottingham, is on November 29th with the return fixture at the Moors on December 6th.

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