Saracens
Angelo-Welsh Cup: Tidy!
Glenda / Jacko
By Kat
November 2 2008
Ahh.. Gavin and Stacey - It taught us the value of Angelo-Welsh Harmony. Unfortunately the Rugby version is not such a national treasure. This weekend Saracens travelled to Bris; for what turned out to be (hopefully) their last play in the current incarnation of the cup and, as 'Nessa once said; "Everything is ship-shape and shiny down there now"
A very cold Saturday afternoon saw a small band of Fez accumulate at The Mem (many via The Wellington) to support an ‘interesting’ squad in what was promising to be a dead rubber in the West Country. The TV cameras, and anyone with any sense was ‘down the road’ to watch the Stains pick up enough points to see N’hampton through to the semis (And we beat them – Comfortably!!). But Hey; A game is a game, and with a week off from club rugby, a select few made the pilgrimage to Bristol; Me? Mostly because I was denied the opportunity to visit the ‘Land of the heavenly Pasty’ in the GP.
Rodd Penney managed to injure himself during the warm up and was replaced by (Percy) Thrower, leaving an inexperienced back three on Goode, Cato and Thrower.
From Kick-off Bris kinda dominated. They were granted two Penalties within the first five minutes, and Jarvis (actually managed) to capitalize on one to see an early 3-0 lead for the home team. Saracens then had a bit of possession, including Owen stealing a line-out, but a penalty for off-side resulted in a Bristol scrum, and a resulting try for David Lemi. The conversion was wide, bur the home team was looking in control.
Crossing at the restart gave a penalty to Sarries and their first sniff at points. The Uber-reliable Glenda slotted one over to give an 8-3 score-line.
The restart was taken by Thrower, and our magnificent Fijian SH Moses cleared to half-way. Fantastically Brucie took the line-out, but we were penalized again and sent back to our 22. A long injury break resulted in the first of many subs for Bris as Budgett was subbed in favor of Sidoli. A series of aerial ping-pong then ensued and yet the final kick saw us plough deep into the 22. Glenda was awarded the penalty, and things we looking up at 8-6. Uhhh-Hmmm.
Then came a string of penalties to the home team. I wrote ‘discipline’ on my note more times than Dylan Hartley’s teachers on his school report (allegedly) , but in retrospect, I don’t think that was the whole story, the ref may have possibly, maybe, perhaps, been just a tiny bit whistle happy . Jarvis missed a couple, was a winner in the cross-bar challenge with one from half way (but failed go over) and scored with another that Lyns described as, “If he doesn’t get this he doesn’t’ deserve to be in the GP.” Another great try for Lemi (IMHO Bristol’s MotM) gave the home side more confidence, however Jarvis once again missed the conversion, but the home side went into half time 16-6. Bris looked in control and looked good for the win. The Fez were a bit despondent.
This story of the half wasn’t entirely fair. True – Bris played the better, True – Sarries looked uninterested and gave away many penalties. True – Eddie was pacing so much he looked like he was trying to wear a hole through back to Aus. But I made the penalty count 10-3, (Other reports from around the ground I heard were also 10-1; 14-3 and 10-3, and 14-4 in most of the press reports), & whatever the reason; this could not continue into the second half.
Sarries came out all cylinders Um.. spluttering a bit – but definitely alight. For the first few minutes it was honours even; between Glenda’s boot and Lemi’s running; resulting in a Bris penalty (surprising, that). This time sub Ashwin was handed the kicking duties and… did. 19-6. As Mark Kermode (of Radio 5 fame) would say ‘Ho.. and indeed.. Humm’. The match was matching the weather, decidedly stormy.
Then the Saracens Cylinders fired. Restart and resulting kick by Jacko (See, I am now respecting him so much I have changed the habit of 4 years and NOT called him Glenda!) lead to a Bris line-out in the 22. The lineout wasn’t straight and we got the scrum. There was good play going forward, but the ref gave a forward pass when we were in sniffing distance of the line. Bris had another player down, which in itself was inconsequential, but it was a tale of Bris’ game. Personally, I wouldn’t have risked that many players in a ‘dead rubber’, but as Sarries fans know Richard Hill is a God and what he says goes (or am I getting slightly confused?)
Bris had been making changes left, right and centre – but Eddie really impressed me in this match and unlike last year’s Sarries performances only made subs when necessary. The first half had seen us play poorly, but looking at the bench I was struggling to see the instinctive change as those that has innate replacements on the bench were also the ones playing well. Who to take off? Jacko (remember that’ s Glenda)? No. Moses? No. Faz or Powell? No. EJ made the right decision by subbing Brucie for Don; one of only three subs to be used, and Don did put a bit of ‘Ooomph’ into the Back row.
Jacko was awarded and scored a penalty to result in 19-9, but with the rain coming down hard, ten points was still a big ask. The ensuing restart resulted in a turning point in the match. Cato launched into the air to take the ball and came down onto Mat Turner, the latter was awarded a Yellow card for his troubles.
Although (naturally) I agreed with the ref at the time, it is just possible this might have been a tiny bit harsh. To be fair, Cato had jumped into the stratosphere and Turner was probably blinded by the (absent) sun. I don’t think it was malicious but having seen recent GP decisions I think everyone is careful about ‘takes in the air’ so was probably consistent. To Remedy this; I suggests everyone looks at the following Vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMYobK1c5VE) and then just learn to get the hell out of Cato’s way!! [Girlie, slightly ironic match report to follow] However I still felt sorry as the very pretty Mr Turner was sent to the bin and I had to make do with the attractive blonde sitting on our bench. [/Girlie, slightly ironic match report].
Saracens were buoyed by being a man up and Powelly makes a fantastic break to send Cato over in the corner. S-C-O-R-E!! Jacko converts – Obviously, and we’re back in the game at 19-16.
The restart sees Saully taken completely off the ball, and THAT in my opinion was a carding offence. It wasn’t; so honours even. Bris fans may be a bit miffed about the Turner Penalty, but ultimately; what goes around comes around so ‘Fair Doos’ Eh?
Faz fed Goode for a try but disappointingly the Jacko conversion was wide. The final 20 minutes see nails bitten on both side, but it results in one penalty a piece and a final score of Sarries 24: Bris 22. Phew, - it was narrow though – Could’ve gone either way. However I suspect we attained out Goal. We won – to keep momentum and yet learnt a lot about the squad chosen.
Lineout: It wasn’t really functioning. Were we missing Borthers, Jack or Ongaro? We were missing something – Worrying for the forthcoming Glaws match.
Borthers/De Kock: Steve, Steve so good I have mentioned him twice. Despite Faz, leadership was lacking.
Back Three: I Love Goode, I Love Cato & yes, Edd had to come in last minute. But out back three were not good. Attacking; they were Ok, but in defense we need better hands, surer catches and tackles that are going to allow our forwards to at least get there and put the brakes on. Again, something to address for Glaws. If we are going to play inexperienced wings we need a sound FB and vice versa. As I said I rate Cato and Goode, but I am regretting losing Leonelli, Ratty and Wyles to internationals and Del to injury all at the same time – so let’s all hope Penney is Ok!
Ultimately; we won, and I do feel sorry for Bris, who are a great team, with great fans and could have won it, but at Sarries it’s time to roll out the clichés ‘We can concentrate on the league’ and much more importantly;
‘A win is a win’
Bristol: Lilo; T Arscott, Brew, Eves, Lemi; Jarvis, Beveridge; Clarke, Regan, Hobson, Winters, Budgett, Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Turner for T Arscott (54), Ashwin for Brew (32), Linklater for Regan (50), Crompton for Hobson (71), Sidoli for Budgett (18), R. Pennycook for Salter (54).
Not Used: Thomas.
Sin Bin: Turner (57).
Saracens: Goode; Thrower, Powell, A Farrell, Cato; Jackson, Rauluni; Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Vyvyan, Skirving, Saull, Owen.
Replacements: Sorrell for Powell (72), Chesney for Ryder (58), Barrell for Skirving (52).
Not Used: Walker, Mercey, Wilson, Ross.
Att: 5,025 (Probaly 5,000 of them and 25 of us)
Ref: G Wilson (Scotland).
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