Fighting Worcester thrash Newcastle with league suspension looming

• Worcester 39-5 Newcastle
• Hosts get five tries in what may be last game before suspension

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 20 years on, does prove to be Worcester’s last game in the Premiership there will have been serendipity in how they have come full circle.

There was a far happier outcome too, at least in the short term. In 2004 they were comfortably beaten whereas on 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 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 the players and coaches remaining united. You’d imagine it will taste a little sweeter in victory before thoughts turn to what the future holds.

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