Getting to the ground was reasonably straightforward, by train to Milton Keynes Central. I spent 5 minutes looking for the “free Saracens organised shuttle-bus !!! ”, or any information at all about how to get to the stadium, when 3 lads in black shirts were getting in a cab. Blagging a free ride alongside them (thanks very much) I arrived with plenty of time to spare.      

The match started brightly enough with the Bristol players showing plenty of respect for Hilly when he came on. Perhaps the name confused the west-country boys, as they certainly seemed totally confused for the first 20 minutes, by which time Sarries almost had the game tied up.  

Almost from the kick-off Bristol interfered at the ruck, with young Goode (discernable from the other Goode by the lack of pies in the stomach and chips on the shoulder) stepping up for a confidence boosting early strike. There was excellent early banter from the crowd, with a demand that Hilly should kick it. Shortly afterwards Bristol opened up some room on the left hand side hand Ches passed to Del after a strong run. With Ratty on his outside, Del has able to show and go to confuse Arscott; cruising in under the posts. Goode sealed up a 10-0 point advantage. 

Gustard was his usual self, giving away a kickable penalty almost from the restart, but Barnes drifted it wide. However, Sarries were not off the hook and a further offence 2 minutes later was not unpunished – 10-3. Sarries were not dismayed for long, and with Bristol not really in the game, a four to one advantage soon appeared on the right. Cobus could probably have crashed over close to the posts, but the ball was shipped out for a certain try with Noah Cato the lucky recipient on his full debut. Goode missed the kick and shortly afterwards kicked the ball over the dead ball line from his own half - not for the last time that afternoon.  

Due to the heat of the day, a short drinks break was taken by all the players (similar to the ones in the Double Header), but Sarries did not seem to profit by it. Bristol huffed and puffed from the scrummage restart, but 2 minutes later a lazy pass and a major knock-on from Goode gave Bristol the turnover ball on their 10 yard line. Players like Lemi need no free invitations like that and he exposed poor Mr. Cato to a masterclass – going round him on the outside and then forcing Del to make the tackle. The inside pass found Luke Eves (who had an impressive debut) who ran in under the posts. With a simple conversion, Bristol were back in it at 15-10. Probably the turning point of the game as Bristol realised they could still win it. 

The game then seemed to follow a predictable pattern for the next half-hour – Bristol would get the ball and drive forward around the fringes. Good defence kept them out, occasionally driving them backwards, even turning over the ball, but they looked in control and keen to play. Saracens on the other hand seemed to have difficulty with ball in hand. Usually there was a knock-on or a kick that ran into their dead-ball area. I am not sure what was the problem was, nerves or the desire to play with the ball before it was caught or a desperation to win for Hilly; the two debutants were definitely the worst offenders, but Gustard, DeKock (a schoolboy error dropping the ball from his own tap penalty) and Fullarton were also guilty. Please note that Sarries did look good with the ball in hand and always seemed to be creating overlaps and holes; its just they could not hang on to the ball for long enough to take advantage of them.       

Bristol did look dangerous but limited playing their simple tactics and it seemed to be rewarded with a number of penalties. They kicked to the corner with one, but once that danger was cleared by good Sarries defence, the second was taken to finish the half at 15-12. I was a little surprised that Bristol kicked the ball dead at half-time, as they seemed to have Sarries measure, but I for one was happy that they did so, hoping the Gaffer would work his usual half-time magic.  

It did not seem to, as Sarries seemed more error strewn in the first 10 minutes of the second half than they had in the first. Change of personnel seemed the answer, with Cobus and Del being replaced with Cencus and Ross (Goode moving to full-back). I was surprised that Cobus did not seem to get much of a cheer when he went off, but as he is returning as a coach next year, he is not really leaving.  

Worse was to follow, as the new defensive alignment took an immediate hit, with Eves crowning off a great debut with a simple run through the middle. With the conversion being made, Sarries were 15-20 behind and no real sign of a response, until the second half drinks break. This time Sarries were the stronger from it and started to string some continuity together. Ratty got the ball wide on the left and chipped over the top, he left the defence behind with his pace, but could not beat the bouncing ball which went over the dead-ball line.  

Ross I thought played very well, perhaps it’s not having Jacko on his shoulder that does it, and started to play us back into the game. After one passage of play, which again terminated with a knock-on we came back to a penalty advantage to close the gap to 18-20. Sarries were in control now; Ross pinning back Bristol with a monster kick but seemed unable to keep the ball in hand for long enough and it seemed (from yet another knock-on) that Bristol could hang on from the ball at the scrummage for the 2:23 remaining to close out the game.  

Lo and behold a strike against the head – it came out the back at a fair pace, so probably a ricochet, but gift horses should not be spurned and this one wasn’t. Initially a good break from Adam Powell almost made it through, but the ball found Ratty on the right, and a one-handed dive onto the line itself was enough for the game. Goode made the conversion, after using up his full minute for it; although there was time on the clock for the restart, the referee blew full time. 

Relief all round, especially for Hilly but on the balance of play I thought it was a fair result. Bristol will probably feel hard done by, but if we had a little luck with long kicks (they all rolled onward on the hard ground) or a few less dropped passes, Sarries would easily have scored more tries. Bristol’s first try, although well taken was a bit lucky in itself and the effect on the confidence on Sarries two U20s was palpable, especially Cato who seemed all at sea.          

There was then a presentation to Hilly, which I am glad to see all the Bristol players hung around for; however the PA system gave only every 3^rd word of Nigel Wray’s speech. I think Hilly got a presentation shirt – half Sarries, half England – signed by all Saracens living England internationals, but I am not sure.     

Fortunately, I watched the match with Martin who sits next to me at VR, so I was able to pinch a lift to the rail station and did not need to use the free Saracens shuttle-bus!! Although the facilities were better, the seats wider and more comfy I did not enjoy the experience at Milton Keynes – I missed the atmosphere of VR, especially sitting next to the dugout. I just hope that Watford doesn’t end up as soulless after the East stand is replaced.

I am off to Twickenham in three weeks – hopefully to watch Glaws v Bath; I just could not cope if Wasps won again.  

Saracens: R Haughton (G Ross 50min); N Cato (R Penney 57min), K Sorrell, A Powell, K Ratuvou; A Goode, N de Kock (capt, A Dickens 59min); N Lloyd, M Cairns, C Visagie (C Johnston 47min), T Ryder, K Chesney (I Fullarton 59min), P Gustard (D Barrell 69min), B Skirving, R Hill

Bristol: L Arscott; A Elliott, N Brew, L Eves (R Higgitt 63min), D Lemi; E Barnes, H Thomas (G Beveridge 45min); R Hogan (D Crompton 27min), S Linklater, P Bracken, M Sambucetti (A To’oala 66min), N Budgett, I Grieve, D Ward-Smith (capt), R Pennycook

Scorers:
Saracens: Tries: Haughton, Cato, Ratuvou; Cons: Goode (2); Pens: Goode (2)
Bristol: Tries: Eves (2); Cons: Barnes (2); Pens: Barnes (2)
Referee: T Wigglesworth (RFU)
Attendance: 8,050   

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