By Big H
October 25 2006

It wasn’t pretty but Saracens got the job done on Sunday at a wet Vicarage Road. Marching back from 3-16 down to take the tie 28-23. The visitors started the sprightlier of the two teams despite a Glen Jackson penalty in the 5th minute. The game's best back-line move in the 7th minute saw former Wasp and popstar wannabee Thom Evans slice through the Sarries defence and then feed Francisco Leonelli who shook off the poor attempted tackle by opposite number Dan Scarbrough to score. Dan Parks converted, 3-7.

Sarries showed little to scare their opponents in the next half an hour, each time they made strides into opposition territory they made silly handling errors and Parks, with the help of the following wind, pinned back the Men in Black.

Parks' three penalties on 13, 20 and 34 minutes left Sarries staring down the barrel of a hefty half-time score line. What Glasgow had feared all game, however, came to fruition just before the break: Sarries were awarded a scrum 5 metres out and proceeded to bully their way towards the opposition line. On the second occasion that the Scots had crumpled under the pressure, Welsh referee, Tim Hayes, was left with no option but to award the penalty try. Jackson popped over the easiest of conversions and Sarries were back in the game.

Half Time: Saracens 10 Glasgow 16.

Sarries had to withstand a good amount of pressure early in the second half. After Parks had missed a long-range attempt at goal and Jackson had nudged Sarries closer with his second penalty of the day, Neil de Kock was forced to carry the ball over his own line and Glasgow were awarded the scrum. This could have swung the game in the visitors’ favour. Thankfully the defence of the scrum was fantastic, Hugh Vyvyan breaking off the scrum and disrupting the Glasgow attack, turning the ball over allowing Sarries to clear their lines.

This galvanised the Sarries 8 and when Sarries were awarded a line-out in the Warriors 22 everyone in the ground could see what was coming! The predatory try-scoring machine that is Kevin Yates was driven over from the line out and the crowd roared as Sarries took the lead for the first time since the 5th minute. Jackson hit the post with the attempted conversion 18-16.

Sarries were next to score from a regulation ‘SEYMOUR, SEYMOUR’ moment as young Dave caused a Glasgow attacker to hold-on at the break-down giving Jackson his third penalty of the game – 21-16.

Sarries extended their lead after Jackson forced the cover defence to carry the ball over the Warriors line. This sent the crowd into a frenzy as they could sense a repeat of the first half penalty try and the MiB didn’t disappoint – Penalty try number two and Sarries were looking at picking up a bonus point if they could cross the Glasgow white-wash again.

Sadly for the Fez, the fourth try was not forthcoming and despite having a number of opportunities - most notably from a couple of close-range line-outs which replacement Shane Byrne failed to throw in straight. In fact, it was Glasgow who had the final word, off the back of a quick tap penalty O’Hare scored, and Parks added the extras 28-23.

Sarries management and players admitted to being very frustrated by the performance, quite rightly so. The line-out was disrupted by Ally Kellock, the backs never really looked as threatening as their opposite numbers and the defence out wide was disappointing. Saying that, ‘a win is a win’ and all that, who cares if it’s an ugly win – beats losing!

Man Of The Match – Ben Skirving. After a quieter game on his return against Bath, Skirvs looks like he’s getting back to what we saw before his run of injuries started last season – Strong in the tackle, a useful ball carrier and devastating off the base of the scrum. It’s great to see him back in black.


SCORERS: Saracens: Tries: Penalty try (40min+4), Yates (58), penalty try (70). Conversions: Jackson 2. Penalty goals: Jackson 3 (7, 48, 63). Glasgow: Tries: Leonelli (8), O’Hare (73). Conversions: Parks 2. Penalty goals: Parks 3 (15, 21, 40).

SCORING SEQUENCE (Saracens first): 3-0, 3-5, 3-7, 3-10, 3-13, 3-16, 8-16, 10-16 (half-time), 13-16, 18-16, 21-16, 26-16, 28-16, 28-21, 28-23.

SARACENS: D Scarbrough; R Haughton, K Sorrell, B Johnston, K Ratuvou; G Jackson, N de Kok; K Yates, M Cairns (rep: S Byrne, 71), J Visagie, I Fullarton, S Raiwalui, H Vyvyan, D Seymour, B Skirving.

GLASGOW: F Leonelli; R Lamont, G Morrison, A Henderson, T Evans (rep: H O’Hare, 41); D Parks, G Beveridge (rep: S Pinder, 52); J Va’a , F Thomson (rep: S Lawson, 56), E Murray, A Newman (rep: D Turner, 56), A Kellock, A Wilson (rep: D Macfayden, 61; rep: K Tkachuk, 64), J Barclay, J Beattie.

Referee: T Hayes (Wales).

Attendance: 4,266.