By Martin Greaves
December 11 2006

The omens for a Saracens win were always looking good in the latest European Challenge Cup pool game against GrAN Parma. Sarries win handsomely whenever No.13 (*) misses a game (Wasps at home last season, Newcastle and Bath this season). Sure enough, a try-fest ensued, Sarries running out winners 71-16.

Saracens arrived at this game on the back of a season that so far has showed great promise (despite Worcester); the win at Wasps in the Anglo-Welsh cup last weekend showing that not only do Sarries have a talented first XV but have more than adequate cover. So, today’s game against GrAN Parma was going to be an opportunity for some of those that performed well the previous week to have another run out and stake their claim for a regular spot in the first team. Having said that, this game was not a game to be taken lightly, the ECC providing a real opportunity for Sarries to finally win some silverware.

GrAN Parma came into the game on the back of a loss against Treviso the previous week. Convincing wins against L’Aquila at home, and local rivals Overmach, indicated that they were a team not to be dismissed, in spite of their indifferent form so far in their ECC pool matches, with full back Rima Wakarua liable to punish any penalties given away by the opposition. So, with the group phase of the competition seemingly between Glasgow Warriors and Sarries, and with Glasgow winning with a bonus point against Narbonne, a good victory was necessary to ensure that Saracens maintained the pressure on the Warriors.

It didn’t take long for Sarries to start putting points on the board. With Glen Jackson kicking penalties in to touch, a line out after two minutes saw the ball spun out wide for Haughton to dive over in the corner. Jackson missed the conversion (5-0). Sarries dominated possession during the opening quarter denying Parma possession and seemingly scoring on every break; Powell going over after 7 minutes (12-0) and a catch and drive giving Cairns his first of the afternoon after 11 minutes - Jackson again missing the kick (17-0). After 15 minutes, the Parmenese finally got points on the board, errors in the breakdown giving Wakarua the chance to kick the ensuing penalty (17-3). A further penalty kick followed after 22 minutes when Russell upended Arbizu in front of the posts. Russell was sin binned for what was presumably deemed to be a spear tackle; Wakarua took the three points (17-6). Despite being down to fourteen men, Sarries continued to dominate possession and with little pressure at the set piece (both scrum and lineout were untroubled by the Parma forwards), it was only a matter of time until the bonus point was secured. Sure enough, after 24 minutes, following a break from just inside the Parma half, a series of quick passes found Richard Hill breaking through the Parma defence to go over for the bonus (24-6).

With Glen Jackson constantly attacking the line, Powell and Sorrell stretching Parma’s midfield, searing runs from Vaikona and the pace of Ratuvou, returning from international duty with the Pacific Islands, there was no reason to think that further tries would be long in coming and, sure enough, on 29 minutes a chip ahead found Ratuvou charging onto the ball, Jackson somehow managed to keep up with the wing and the inside ball allowed Jackson to score, Jackson again kicking the conversion (HT: 31-6).

Half-time and the cold that had descended on Vicarage Road was exacerbated by rain, almost a prerequisite for a home game at present. Fortunately, this didn’t seem to affect the handling, though perhaps the change in conditions was unnecessary punishment for a Parma side that came and entertained. Equally, it would have been no surprise had Saracens sat back, the game as good as wrapped-up in the first half. But perhaps, following the Worcester game, Sarries have finally learnt the lesson that there is no room for complacency. Within two minutes of the restart the ball was worked out wide for Ratuvou to run the ball into the corner (38-6). Wakarua kicked his third penalty four minutes later when a bout of indecision in his own twenty-two found Jackson penalised for holding on in the tackle (38-9).

The longest spell of the game without any further scores followed, a whole 15 minutes. Parma, relying largely on kicking for territory, camped inside Sarries twenty-two for long periods but great work by Sarries defence ensured that they were never breached, with Festuccia held up on the line. Finally, Sarries broke into the Parma twenty-two and, following a series of set pieces, Sarries were awarded a penalty try (61 mins) as Parma collapsed the scrum (45-9). Three minutes later and Sarries drove over following a line out, Matt Cairns scoring his second of the game (52-9).

With an hour gone one could forgive Parma had they thrown in the towel but to give them due credit they upped their attacks, taking the game to Saracens. However, the tries continued to come for a Sarries side determined to play for the whole 80 minutes, Jackson’s second coming in the 69th minute, running in after charging down a kick on the Saracens twenty-two (57-9), Sorrell adding yet another in the 72nd minute (64-9). Parma continued to attack inside the Sarries half and, on 77 minutes, following another concerted spell of pressure, Jackson found himself sin binned and Parma justly rewarded with a consolation try which Wakarua duly converted (64-9). In the final minute of the game, capping a fine individual performance, Ratuvou intercepted a pass out wide, running the length of the pitch unchallenged to score under the posts. Castaignède, on for Richard Hill, took over kicking duties, converting the try and running back to the cheers of the Saracens’ faithful and the sound of La Marseillaise (71-16).

Sarries find themselves back at the top of pool two at the mid-way point of the group phase of the competition, with the return leg at Parma beckoning next weekend, but again, there is no room for complacency. Another good win is required to keep the pressure on Glasgow. So, after another entertaining game – eleven tries this week, a great team performance from Saracens and with the knockout phase beckoning, the good news is that No.13(*) will not be at Hughenden come January.

[ (*) one of a number of guest journalists whose presence at games presages ill! Ed]


Saracens: Haughton, Ratuvou, Sorrell, Powell, Vaikona (Penney 66 min), Jackson, Rauluni (Dickens 62); Yates (Lloyd 58), Cairns, Mercey, Fullerton, Chesney, Russell, Hill (Castaignède 79), Skirving (Gustard 58min).
Replacements: Byrne, Lloyd, Ryder, Gustard, Dickens, Penney, Castaignède.
Tries: Haughton (2 min), Powell (7), Cairns (11, 64), Hill (24), Jackson (29, 69), Ratuvou (42, 80), Sorrell (72).
Conversions: Jackson (7), Castaignède (1)


GrAN Parma: Wakarua, Mannato, Rossi, Damiani, Manu, Arbizu, Mazzantini; Artal, Festuccia, Golfetti, Pulli, Llanos, Derbyshire, Engelbrecht, Mackinley.
Tries: Mannato (79 min)
Conversions: Wakarua
Penalties: Wakarua (3)

Scoring sequence (Saracens first): 5-0, 12-0, 17-0, 17-3, 17-6, 24-6, 31-6. Half Time. 38-6, 38-9, 45-9, 52-9, 57-9, 64-9, 64-16, 71-16.

MoM: Kevin Sorrell

Referee: David Rosich (Fra)

Attendence: 3,700 (approx)

PS A big thank you to the GrAN Parma staff that worked out their starting line up for me after the match!