Cambridge slash it from 96 to 27

WHEN THE curtain falls on the league season, Worthing may well identify this game as one of their campaign's defining moments.

Before kick-off against a London Nigerian side fighting relegation Worthing had a points advantage of 96 over promotion rivals Cambridge.

But the end, it was a fragile 27 after neck-and-neck title rivals Cambridge had annihilated mid-table Old Albanians 119-15.

Worthing go to Old Albanians this Saturday.

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And after 20 minutes Ben Coulson, Ben Dudley and Duncan Taylor had all crossed the Nigerian tryline and with two Coulson conversions, the score stood at 19-0 and the garden looked rosy. Everything was ready for a glut of points but it just did not happen.

Nigerian with their bullocking down the middle style fought back with two tries scored by their skillful five foot fly-half, Jason Kidd and then their pacy winger Mike Ebuwei.

Sandwiched in between though was another Worthing try when Gavin Stephens' quick break allowed Coulson to set up Butler for a half-time score of 24-10.

The large crowd, basking in the April sunshine, hoped for better in the second period, but it was the visitors who were first out of the blocks. Some powerful midfield play and rapid passing created a large overlap, but the final pass was inexplicably dropped.

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Fijian Nacagilevu replaced the injured Alcott, but within five minutes was despatched to the sin bin when he infringed at a ruck in front of the Worthing posts.

Worthing suddenly awoke and their pressure brought three penalties all slotted by Coulson.

With five minutes to go Worthing produced the try of the match, although the earlier one from Dudley who dummied and sidestepped his way past four opponents, after a clever switch by Imrie, ran it close.

Quick passing inside their own 22 got the ball to Stephens on the wing and he was away like a greyhound and 80 metres later he joyously touched down, having chipped the full back on the way.

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Coulson, whose kicking throughout was excellent, brought his match tally to 20. Again the home side sat back and with quite unnecessary genorosity allowed Ebuwei in again.

WORTHING: Taylor; Coulson, Butler, Stewart-McDonald, Stephens; Dudley, Imrie (capt); Storer, Alcott, Bennett; Dove, B. McGowan, De Boer, Kirchell, O'Gorman. Bench: Nacagilevu (Alcott 51 inj), Phillips (Dove 67 inj), Coombe (Dudley 72 inj). Att: 324.

HEAD COACH Mick Orton chooses openside flanker Andy Phillips for Worthing's assignment at Old Albanians this Saturday. This signals an expansive style.

Orton told Richard Amey: "We will need to open them up to win well and hopefully we'll put points on them. We're good enough to do so.

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"Everybody in the team is going to be a key figure and we've got to play this game opened up but stillwith the control we've had all season."

But he warned: "Apparently, OAs had eight players against Cambridge who weren't first-team players, although their pack was pretty strong. All eight missing players may be back on Saturday to face us."

Worthing stay the same behind the scrum. The pack will be: Storer, Alcott, Nacagilevu, Dove, C.McGowan, Kir-chell, Phillips, O'Gorman. Bench: Bennett, De Boer, Coombe. Lock Ben McGowan has a shoulder injury.

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