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NO CHERRY ON TOP


By Behind the Bench
November 27 2016

In a gloomy and sometimes drizzly NW4 emerged a game which was anything but, as Saracens held off the challenge of an enterprising Gloucester side who led for much of the game. Team news saw Alex Goode available to take his place at full back in place of Andrew Fenby with only one other change from the win at Sale seeing Petrus du Plessis coming in for Juan Figallo at tighthead. That saw a starting line up of Goode, Mike Ellery and Chris Wyles on the wings outside a centre partnership of Marcelo Bosch and Brad Barritt. Alex Lozowski teamed up with Richard Wigglesworth in the half backs. In the forwards, Richard Barrington, Schalk Brits and Figallo formed the front row with Michael Rhodes and Jim Hamilton teaming up at lock and a back row of Kelly Brown, Schalk Burger and Jackson Wray.

Unsurprisingly, Gloucester made no changes from the starting XV fielded in the impressive 36-18 victory over Wasps at Kingsholm. So, James Hook began at full back with Charlie Sharples and Henry Purdy occupying the wings with Matt Scott and Mark Atkinson at centre, Billy Burns at fly half and Willi Heinz at scrum half. In the pack, the front row consisted of Paddy McAllister, hooker Richard Hibbard and John Afoa, whilst the second row featured Tom Savage and Mariano Galarza and the back row included Lewis Ludlow, Jacob Rowan and Ben Morgan

The Cherries had the brightest of starts as a knock on by Schalk Brits almost from the start gave them possession inside the Saracens 22. As the visitors worked through a series of phases, the ball went from left to right until Morgan went over from close range just to the right of the posts. Hook added the extras as Gloucester led 7-0 inside two minutes. Saracens had an immediate chance to respond as a Heinz kick forward trickled dead giving the hosts position on the fringe of the visitors' 22 with Brits at the heart of some pressing moves, but the Cherry and Whites were able to turn over. Having won a penalty in the same position after nine minutes, Lozowski kicked for touch to set up the rolling maul but the visitors' alert defence saw them snap onto the loose ball and clear.

However, parity was restored two minutes later as an attempted clearing kick by Atkinson within the shadow of his own posts was charged down as Barritt was able to gather and advance for an easy try, with Lozowski adding the conversion from bang in front. Gloucester, though, soon retook the lead as Heinz's kick wasn't dealt with properly allowing the impressive Burns to break through and score just to the right of the posts and he converted his own try for a 14-7 lead. Their failure to deal with the kick off would prove costly, though, as Brits made a purposeful break just inside the right touchline and slipped a pass for Ellery to go in at the right corner, although the conversion was missed.

Saracens edged in front with 19 minutes played as Gloucester infringed at a lineout taking the hosts to the edge of the 22. With an advantage forced, the home side played on with a fine crossfield kick by Lozowski narrowly eluding Wyles on the left wing, but instead the fly half was able to put Sarries into the lead. The visitors were impressing in defence and attack, and when the home side were penalised for holding on, Gloucester nearly had a third try as Burns clipped the ball over Ellery to find Purdey advancing along the left but he was hauled into touch through an excellent last ditch tackle by Goode. However, there had been an earlier advantage and Hook was able to make it 17-15 to the Cherry and Whites.

As an entertaining first half entered its closing minutes, the visitors appeared to be in the ascendancy as the influential half back duo of Heinz and Burns were making a real impact as was the ball carrying of Morgan. However, conceding a penalty on their own scrum halted the growing momentum though a stolen lineout blunted Saracens' attempts to take the lead before the break.  Gloucester had the last word as Hook closed the half with a long distance penalty attempt from his own half which fell just short following a Sarries offence at the scrum.

The second half was delayed due to treatment for an injured young player in the half time rugby, hopefully all is well now. Once play resumed, the match continued in its even vein with moves of promise from both sides just lacking a finishing touch, in particular on 50 minutes when a break and kick through by Burns just eluded a supporting player. Three minutes later, a penalty set up an ominous-looking rolling maul but Gloucester were able to defuse it.

Having trailed for around 30 minutes of the match, it wasn't a surprise when Lozowski opted for a kick at goal when Saracens were awarded a scrum penalty 40 metres out and the fly half duly took the chance for an 18-17 lead. As the clouds began to roll in, the visitors were reduced to 14 men on the hour mark when Afoa was yellow carded for offending at the scrum. The home side immediately looked to use their numerical advantage, attacking at pace and winning a penalty for offside which Lozowski got to create a 21-17 lead.

Gloucester rallied, though, and when Sarries didn't roll away just outside their own 22, Hook stepped up to reduce the gap between the sides to a single point. That was the cue for relentless Saracens pressure as they looked to close the game out, forcing a penalty for offside as Lozowski added another three points to restore the four point lead with seven minutes to go. However, there were some nervous moments as Gloucester won a scrum penalty almost from the kick off but rather than kicking for the corner and potentially setting up a match-winning try, Hook opted for another long-distance kick which was missed. There was a chance for some late drama as half breaks from replacements Thorley and Braley threatened for the visitors but the home side were able to scramble clear and secure a hard-fought victory

Line Ups
Saracens
15 Alex Goode - 14 Mike Ellery - 13 Marcelo Bosch (23 Nick Tompkins 66) - 12 Brad Barritt - 11 Chris Wyles - 10 Alex Lozowski (22 Andrew Fenby 75) - 9 Richard Wigglesworth (21 Ben Spencer 60) - 1 Richard Barrington (17 Titi Lamositele 56) - 2 Schalk Brits - 3 Petrus du Plessis (18 Juan Figallo 43) - 4 Michael Rhodes - 5 Jim Hamilton - 6 Kelly Brown - 7 Schalk Burger - 8 Jackson Wray

Replacements not used
16 Jared Saunders - 19 Mark Flanagan - 20 Joel Conlon

Gloucester
15 James Hook - 14 Charlie Sharples - 13 Matt Scott - 12 Mark Atkinson - 11 Henry Purdy (18 Paul Doran-Jones 66) - 10 Billy Burns (22 Billy Twelvetrees 62) - 9 Willi Heinz (21 Callum Braley 66) - 1 Paddy McAllister (17 Josh Hohneck 56) - 2 Richard Hibbard - 3 John Afoa (23 Ollie Thorley 72) - 4 Tom Savage - 5 Mariano Galarza (19 Joe Latta 67) - 6 Lewis Ludlow - 7 Jacob Rowan - 8 Ben Morgan (20 Matt Kvesic 68)

Replacements not used
16 Tom Lindsay

Scorers:-

SARACENS (24):  Tries Barritt, Ellery. Conv: Lozowski; Pen: Lozowski (4)

GLOUCESTER (20): Tries Morgan, Burns. Convs: Hook (2); Pens: Hook (2) 

Attendance: 7,891

Referee: Greg MacDonald

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NO CHERRY ON TOP
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 27/11/2016 21:00
TheSaracens.com
27/11/2016 21:00
Thanks Gerard, excellent report and prompt as ever.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:12:12:07:54:01 by Darraghgirl.

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