By T.O.K.S
September 19 2006

When I look back on my time on this planet, and hopefully reminisce on the successful rugby union career of one A. Farrell, I will be able to say that I had the honour of writing the match report on the day he made his debut! (Ed: You weren't at Imber Court then? ;o) ) Still, exciting and ecstatically-received as that 62-minute moment was, there’s lots else to talk about as well. So, without further ado…

A crowd of 7,213 assembled for this game, about a couple thousand down on what I had hoped for, this being the first “home” game of the season. Still, with due deference to Newcastle, it’s not just around the corner and the crowd certainly made themselves heard. On a beautiful day, Saracens took the early penalty honours assembling a 9-3 lead before a mazy Burke run and intelligent Noon cutback put Newcastle into a slender lead. However, the Saracens pack had started to impose themselves on proceedings and 21 minutes in felt confident enough to spurn the advances of Jackson’s hitherto 100% kicking record and kick to the corner. A classic catch and drive followed with Cairns getting the touchdown.

Better was to follow. On 26 minutes Saracens kicked a penalty to 5 meters outside the Falcons 22 and once again managed to rumble over the tryline, but this time right underneath the posts. The crowd’s excitement was hardly abated when Cobus emerged the try-scorer!

As well as Newcastle’s back-row and back-line were playing they were starting to really suffer in the front-five. Still, in the 29th minute they were handed an advantage in this area when Hugh Vyvyan was sin-binned having killed the ball near his own tryline. An intelligent working of the short-side saw James Grindal go in at the corner. Unfortunately for Falcons they were unable to add further points in the sin-bin period and, with Flood hitting the post with a penalty attempt, the half ended 23-15.

As the cliché goes, first score was vital in the second half. However, it wasn’t a score that was to prove decisive, it was the sin-binning of Falcons’ flanker Mike McCarthy after 2 minutes of the second-half for taking Dave Seymour out in the line-out. Saracens used this 10-minute period to add further tries through Ben Russell in the 47th minute off the base of a short-range scrum and Kevin Sorrell after a mazy run in the 52nd minute. Bonus point secured and victory gained.

Still, there’s always work to be done at this level, and having secured the five points the emphasis shifted to denying Falcons a four-try bonus. Andy Farrell came on to rapturous applause in the 62nd minute and he helped set up a fellow replacement, Shane Bryne, in the 64th minute. Staunch Saracens defending then prevented Falcons from adding to their tally until the final play of the game saw the excellent-throughout Visser go over in the corner. 44-20 was the final score.

A far improved forward effort from Saracens although Falcons’ opponents will be licking their lips if they don’t step up their front-five efforts from yesterday. Their back three and backline are being wasted without a platform.

Another accomplished and consistent performance from Ashley Rowden, who is rapidly turning into one of the best referees in the Premiership. However, Ash, if you’re reading this (and I know you often do!) there were two instances in the first-half (one following an alleged late tackle on Ratuvou and one following a collapsed rolling maul) where the touch-judge seemed to indicate that no infringement had taken place yet you awarded penalties to Saracens on both occasions. Would be grateful for your clarification on this. And one gripe (nothing to do with the referee this time). Why, with a stopping clock measuring actual playing time, was Vyvyan in the sin-bin for over 11 minutes? Surely, this can be eradicated?

Let’s finish on a funny note (although not for the recipient, if you read on…) As soon as Farrell came on, it was a question of when, not if, he would be trapped on the wrong side and receive a “welcome to rugby union, you rugby league ******” shoeing from an opposition “enforcer”. So, for those who had it in the sweepstake, it was 75 minutes with Robbie Morris administering the punishment!

On to Sale on Friday night….

SCORERS: Saracens: Tries: Cairns (20min), Yates (26), Russell (49), Sorrell (52), Byrne (68). Conversions: Jackson 5. Penalty goals: Jackson 3 (3, 5, 10). Newcastle Falcons: Tries: Noon (12), Grindal (30), Visser (80+9). Conversion: Flood. Penalty goal: Burke (8).

SCORING SEQUENCE (Saracens first): 3-0, 6-0, 6-3, 9-3, 9-10, 16-10, 23-10, 23-15 (half-time), 30-15, 37-15, 44-15, 44-20.

SARACENS: D Scarbrough (rep: T Castaignède, 65, sin-bin, 80+8); K Ratuvou, K Sorrell, B Johnston, R Penney; G Jackson (rep: R Laidlaw, 80+1), A Dickens (rep: M Rauluni, 68); K Yates, M Cairns (rep: S Byrne, 53), J Visagie (rep: B Broster, 68), H Vyvyan (sin-bin, 29-39), S Raiwalui (rep: T Ryder, 53), K Chesney (rep: A Farrell, 65), D Seymour, B Russell.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS: M Burke; O Phillips, J Noon, T May, T Visser; T Flood, J Grindal (rep: H Charlton, 53; rep: T Dillon, 68); M Ward (rep: D Wilson, 53), M Thompson (rep: R Batty, 65), R Morris, A Perry, A Buist, M McCarthy (sin-bin, 42-52; rep: B Wilson, 68), C Harris (rep: B Woods, 34), P Dowson (rep: E Gesinde, 79).

Referee: A Rowden. Attendance: 7,213.