By Gryff
October 9 2006

A sunny but chilly afternoon at VR for the second round of the EDF Cup. With Wasps beating Sarries last conquerors, London Irish, a victory for Sarries against a strong-looking Cardiff Blues would open the group up to a thrilling final weekend in December. However, it was not to be as a thoroughly professional Blues side pounced on the (this season) ever-present Saracens mistakes to run out comfortable winners. Sarries failure to hold onto possession; in particular the lineout which only had an approximate 50% success rate, and from which many attacking positions were lost; and the knocks-on – today’s award going to Simon R - made it hard for Sarries to compete. By the 4th quarter it was clear Glen Jackson was looking for any option other than kicking to touch and surrendering possession.

That said, Saracens again flattered to deceive. Cardiff started the first half strongly but the initial threat should have been cleared. A lineout was overthrown, when the ball was spread wide the Sarries defence couldn’t adjust and Marc Stcherbina showed his class as he straightened and dummied to score. The conversion was made. 3 minutes gone, 0 – 7. Glen Jackson kicked a penalty shortly after, to bring the score to 3 -7.

Ten minutes later the Blues struck again. The ball was again turned over close to half way and quickly passed, along the line, to ex-Sarrie, Tom Shanklin, to run in with only Paul Gustard chasing. General unhappiness in the crowd as it appeared, in the build up to the turnover, that Shanklin had tripped his good friend, Kevin Sorrell, following a dummy run, but this went unnoticed by Spreaders. The conversion missed; after 16 minutes the score was 3 – 12.

The second try, and probably the feeling of injustice, appeared to galvanise Sarries who entered their best period of the match. Good play and handling by Sarries forwards and backs resulted in a delightful pass from Glen Jackson to put Tomas De Vedia over in the corner. Sarries were clearly buoyed and Glen added the conversion from the touchline – 19 mins, 10 – 12.

However, the Blues were next to score with a penalty following a Sarries infringement at a ruck. Shortly after, a scintillating Sarries move, controlled by Glen, had Cardiff desperately defending and giving away a penalty which Glen kicked. After 24 mins, the score was 13 – 15. Another sweeping move saw Saracens racing towards the Cardiff line, but a deliberate knock on by Rhys Thomas, the Blues hooker, resulted in a spell in the bin and another penalty for Glen. Cardiff were creaking under Sarries pressure organised by Glen and seemed happy to give away 3 points to stop the tries. As the game turned half hour Saracens were now in the lead for the first time of the game, 16 – 15.

In the following 10 minutes Saracens were running strongly and the Blues gave away 2 further penalties that Glen converted giving a half time score of 22 – 15. The Blues were lucky to only have 1 man in the sin bin in this period.

Again, the Blues started much stronger after the break and the Saracens of the second quarter had disappeared. A Blair penalty came back off the post and Tom Shanklin managed to disrupt the Saracens cover, despite being up against Simon R and 4 other defenders, to force a 5 metre scrum. The ball was worked wide and mark Lewis went over to score in the corner. Blair converts, 48 minutes, 22 -22. Lewis was hurt scoring the try and replaced by All Black Xavier Rush – no let up for Sarries! Minutes later Blues attacked again creating a 2 man overlap for Tom Shanklin to score; Blair missed the conversion; so, after 51 minutes, the score was 22-27.

Five minutes, later Sarries were penalised for offside and Blair kicked the penalty, 22-30. A further penalty came back off the posts but this time was successfully defended; however another penalty was successfully converted, 22-33. Sarries then launched a series of attacks attempting to recreate the glory of the second quarter. However, an attack on half way fell apart when a pass from Ben Johnston was intercepted by the Cardiff wing, Moses Luveitasau, who gleefully ran in under the posts. Blair adds the conversion, 22-40.

Saracens attempted to come back and the Cardiff replacement Bradley Davies was sin binned on 70 minutes, having only been on the field for a minute. A lovely floated mispass from Glen found Ben Johnston in space to run under the posts with Glen quickly adding the extras by drop goal, making the score 29 – 40. However, Sarries were unable to add any further points in the remaining 7 minutes.

So another defeat making the seasons record P6, W1, D1, and L4. Sarries had flattered to deceive leading 22 – 15 half time and the crowd looking forward to a good second half. The failure to win our own lineout ball, and to keep hold of it, was our downfall. Soft tries were served up on several occasions. Plus points for Sarries were Neil De Kock, looking good and committed to the cause; Seymour, a storming man of the match display; Haughton looking decent at full back, subject to fitting proper studs to cut out the slips.

However, we again lost a game we could have won; we had 5 tries scored against us, and it looks like a long season ahead, unless things don’t click soon. Finally, a mention for Andy Farrell, who came on in 60th minute to good applause, did his job, and made some good passes. Gaffer has confirmed he’ll get a try at 12 when appropriate. Hopefully the speculation can stop and be no further distraction to a team that needs to turn its season around – now!

SCORERS: Saracens: Tries: De Vedia (18min), Johnston (78). Conversions: Jackson 2. Penalty goals: Jackson 5 (6, 25, 30, 33, 40+3). Cardiff Blues: Tries: Stcherbina (3), Shanklin 2 (15, 51), Lewis (48), Luveitasau (70). Conversions: Blair 3. Penalty goals: Blair 3 (22, 58, 68).

SCORING SEQUENCE (Saracens first): 0-7, 3-7, 3-12, 10-12, 10-15, 13-15, 16-15, 19-15, 22-15 (half-time), 22-22, 22-27, 22-30, 22-33, 22-40, 29-40.

SARACENS: R Haughton; T de Vedia, K Sorrell, B Johnston (rep: R Penney, 24-34), K Ratuvou; G Jackson, N de Kock (rep: A Dickens, 69); N Lloyd, S Byrne, J Visagie (rep: T Mercey, 80+1), I Fullarton (rep: B Russell, 63-79), S Raiwalui, K Chesney (rep: A Farrell, 63), D Seymour, P Gustard.

CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; M Luveitasau, T Shanklin (rep: N Macleod, 22-33), M Stcherbina, C Czekaj; N Robinson (rep: D Flannigan, 75), M Phillips (rep: W Evans, 78); G Jenkins (rep: J Yapp, 74), R Thomas (sin-bin 33-41; rep: D Goodfield, 78), G Powell, D Jones (rep: B Davies, 74; sin-bin 75), R Sidoli, S Morgan (rep: Goodfield, 36-41), M Williams, M Lewis (rep: X Rush, 50).

Referee: A Spreadbury.

Attendance: 5,742.