IRISH DUO DARREN O’Shea and Niall Annett helped Worcester Warriors to an important 27-22 victory away to London Scottish in the first leg of their Championship promotion play-off semi-final this afternoon.
Having finished the regular season second in the table, the Dean Ryan-coached club were drawn against third-placed London Scottish in the two-legged semis.
With former Munster academy man O’Shea in the second row and ex-Ulster hooker Annett also in the starting team, the Warriors gave their hopes of advancing to the promotion final a major boost.
O’Shea was prominent throughout, particularly in the ball-carrying stakes, and it was his offload that set up a first-half try for Worcester’s Cooper Vuna. Annett played a vital role in the set-piece, before making way for Argentina captain Agustín Creevy in the second half.
On the London Scottish team that will hope to turn things around in the second leg next weekend were former Ireland international back row Neil Best and ex-Stade Français man Peter Lydon.
Fullback Lydon kicked a penalty and two conversions as the underdogs almost claimed a famous win, Worcester only securing the victory with a penalty try in the final minute of play.
Remarkably, London Scottish number eight Mark Bright brought his try-scoring tally for the season to 26 with a brace at Richmond. His excellence and the place-kicking of Lydon will be crucial again next weekend in Worcester if the Exiles are to advance into the final.
In the other semi-final, Bristol had a 32-20 win at home to the Rotherham Titans in the first leg of their tie.
Irishmen Sean Scanlon, Michael Keating and Ali Birch all started for the Titans. Former Munster fullback Scanlon has been in a rich vein of form this season, while ex-Leinster win Keating has scored six tries this season.
Ulster native Birch has been important to the Titans too with his clever play from the openside flank.
All three were part of a massive first-half effort from Rotherham, who led by nine points at the break before Bristol produced a fightback. Former Wales international Gavin Henson was part of that improvement after the interval, one that leaves Bristol with a 12-point advantage ahead of the second leg in Clifton Lane next weekend.
It’s long been expected that Bristol and Worcester would contest the promotion final, but London Scottish and Rotherham are far from buried yet.
