By Jason Harris
January 20 2007

French Referee David Rosich declared the Hughenden pitch playable on the morning of the game but showers, followed by steady, heavy rain meant that the European Challenge Cup Pool 2 decider between Glasgow and Saracens turned into a damp squib. Those souls brave enough to stand out in the open were drenched by a downpour that lasted for almost the entire 80 minutes and, as everyone expected, the error count was high and the score low.

The Scottish media were there in force as they were after a good news story to publish about rugby after Borders' and Edinburgh's interests in the Heinken Cup were already ended and the Warriors were being backed to carry the Saltire into the knock-out rounds of a European competition.

Going into the game Pool 2 was still up for grabs as Glasgow had a mathematical chance of overhauling Sarries at the summit, if they could take four match points more than the visitors.

As it turned out, there were several winners on the night, even though the game finished 6-6.

First, of course, was the weather as it runied any chance of a running game. However, Glasgow were the proverbial ducks in the water as the coped much better than Sarries. On many occasions they used their locks Ali Kellock and Andy Newman to great effect around the fringes as Sarries missed their tackles, allowing the big men to make big gains on the boggy ground.

By way of contrast, Sarries looked nervous, almost shaky at times and some sound defence and outstanding work at full back from Dan Scarbrough who took almost everthing - and there was an awful lot - thrown at him was all that kept them from conceding tries against a Glasgow side very much in the ascendancy for the first 70 mintues.

Both sides came close to crossing the line with forward drives, but between knocks-on, solid defence and referee Rosich penalising the attacking side at the breakdown, neither try line was breached. Sarries did haave one chance out wide late in the first half when Kameli Ratuvou chipped ahead up the left wing, only for the Glasgow defence to beat him to the ball.

Sarries had opportunities at the end of the match to snatch the win but, like Glasgow, couldn't quite manage to cross the line.

The second and third winnes were the two teams. Although neither side could close out the game, Glasgow and Saracens both got what they wanted out of the match.

Two penalties in either half from the two outside halves provided the scoring and the Glasgow crowd were on their feet and cheering as if they had won, knowing that the two points picked up for the draw was enough to guarantee them a place in the last eight. Sarries also benefited from two points as they moved up to 26 in the Pool, guaranteeing them a home semi final as Bath failed to complete the impossible task of scoring 17 tries in beating Montpellier on Saturday afternoon.

The quarter final draw will see the Warriors travel to Vicarage Road as 7th seeds to play 2nd seeds Sarries while No1 seeds ASM will host Newcastle Falcons; Brive welcome Newport Gwent Dragons; and in the pick of the quarter final ties, Bristol will play neighbours bath for the fourth time this season.

The winner of the Saracens v Glasgow match will have a home semi-final against Bristol or Bath, while ASM or Newcastle will be at home against Brive or the Dragons. Quarter final ties will be played on 30 March, 31 March and 1 April.

Glasgow Warriors – Rory Lamont; Hefin O'Hare, Colin Gregor, Andrew Henderson, Thom Evans; Dan Parks, Graeme Beveridge; Justin Va'a, Fergus Thomson, Euan Murray, Andy Newman, Alastair Kellock (captain), Steve Swindall, John Barclay, John Beattie. Substitutes – Kevin Tkachuk for Murray (9-22 minutes and 75), Sam Pinder for Beveridge (50), Andrew Wilson for Swindall (64), Dan Turner for Andy Newman (68), Eric Milligan for Thomson (73). Not used – Jon Petrie, Colin Shaw.


Saracens – Dan Scarbrough; Richard Haughton, Kevin Sorrell, Adam Powell, Kamile Ratuvou; Glen Jackson, Neil de Kock; Kevin Yates,
Fabio Ongaro, Cobus Visagie, Iain Fullarton, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Paul Gustard, Richard Hill, Ben Skirving. Substitutes – Kris Chesney for Gustard (63), Matt Cairns for Ongaro (64), Hugh Vyvyan for Fullarton (73). Not used – Tom Mercey, Alan Dickens, Tomas de Vedia, Rodd Penney.

Scorers: Glasgow - Penalty Goals: Parks (12,60)
Saracens - Penalty Goals: Jackson (29,50)
Scoring Sequence: (Glasgow first) 3-0, 3-3, HT 3-6, 6-6 FT.

Referee – David Rosich (France).

Attendance – 2,570.