Worcester Warriors thrash Enisei-STM in European Challenge Cup opener
Worcester started their European Challenge Cup campaign by running in nine tries in a 57-14 rout of Russian club Enisei-STM.
Fly-half Jamie Shillcock grabbed a hat-trick of tries and kicked six conversions as the Premiership club made a flying start to their Pool One campaign in Krasnoyarsk.
Richard Palframan, Nick David, Shillcock, Jono Kitto and Joe Morris all scored first-half tries as the Worcester led 31-0 at the break.
Justin Clegg added another before Shillcock scored two tries in the space of nine minutes to complete his hat-trick, while the try-scoring was completed by Gareth Simpson late on.
Forwards Uldis Saulite and Dmitrii Krotov touched down for the hosts in the second half.
Edinburgh also started their campaign with a bonus-point win on the road as they beat Agen 31-10 in Pool Three.
George Taylor’s first-half brace and a Damien Hoyland try – all three converted by Simon Hickey – saw Edinburgh make a fine response to Thomas Vincent’s early penalty for the French side.
Masilevu scored a try for Agen in the 56th minute but hooker Cameron Fenton sealed Edinburgh’s bonus-point score in the last minute.
Elsewhere on the opening night of the competition, replacement Anthony Etrillard’s 75th-minute try rounded off a 20-13 win for Toulon at fellow Top 14 side Bayonne.
The visitors outscored Bayonne four tries to one in the Pool Two clash but they failed to land any conversions.
Marcel Van Der Merwe’s first-half brace put them 10-6 up at the interval but Peyo Muscarditz’s converted try gave the hosts the advantage early in the second.
Julian Savea touched down to give Toulon a two-point lead before Etrillard crossed against his former club.
In another all-French clash, Brive ran out 27-11 winners at Stade Francais in Pool Four.
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Everywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
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