photo by Daniel Davis

By The Saracens
April 18 2022

Easter is a time when strange things happen, both Biblical and bunnological. The strangest has to be the worrying transformation of Sarrie the Camel into the Easter bunny. He must have come across the Wicked Witch of the West somewhere. This is deeply concerning and I for one will support any Camel Liberation Movement. Give us back our Camel!

But moving on to the equally strange game which unfolds before us on a beautifully sunny Easter Afternoon. And it is gorgeous. For those of us lucky enough not to be bogged down with family duties, StoneX is a wonderful place to be. I have to say I couldn’t quite work out the wind – at one point 2 adjacent flags were blowing in opposite directions which just about summed up this capricious breeze in the microclimate that is NW4. As Cardiff kick off, one assumes Sarries have won the toss but the breeze seems to be blowing across the pitch so probably not favouring either side unduly. Both teams are as originally stated but there is a change in the officials with the little frog, Monsieur Grenouillet, being replaced by Eric Gauzins in the TMO box.

Early on Goodey signals his intentions to go for the 50:22 but his first attempt bounces the wrong way and despite Sarries having the better of the early skirmishes, Cardiff are awarded a penalty for offside – something we will be seeing a fair bit of as the game unfolds. Cardiff have a good period of pressure before a turnover largely down to Taylor and Faz has a go for the 50:22 but is just short. Sarries get a penalty which Faz plonks in the Cardiff 22 but something goes wrong with the drive and Cardiff hoof the ball away with Goodey taking a superb catch over his shoulder. Cardiff win another penalty and after an unsuccessful line out, a second chance gives Priestland a shot at goal which he takes and the Welsh are ahead. Cardiff win yet another penalty for offside (this is getting tedious) but Sarries defend the lineout well. We have our first scrum (off the ref – Wray’s pass to Goode being intercepted by his girth) which is solid for both teams. Sarries launch their first real attack but the ball has other things on its mind and bounces awkwardly for Max Malins, a kinder bounce would have seen our first try. Sarries win a penalty and Faz kicks this to level the scores.

Cardiff get another penalty for not rolling away (this is getting silly) and Priestland plonks it deep into the Sarries 22 but Cardiff offend at the lineout for a Sarries free kick. The kick is long and not held by Amos but breaks out and should have found Lane on his outside for our first try however Lane muffs his line and Sarries survive although it has been a strong performance from the welsh. Alex Goode lands the 50:22 he’s been threatening and Sarries win a penalty which is then marched forward 10m so that even Marcus Smith couldn’t miss and Faz duly lands to take the lead. Goodey looks to be tackled in the air but the referee waves play on. Malins looks to have landed a super tackle but Monsieur Brousset deems it to be high so another Cardiff penalty and the men in Blue are back on the attack. There is a huge tackle from Cleary and a sublime take from Goode before Maitland puts in an enormous hit on Doctor-in-waiting Hallam Amos and wins Sarries a penalty. Faz goes for touch but the lineout is horribly overthrown and Cardiff clear. Sarries win a penalty in front and Faz kicks the points to go 9-3. The lead is immediately halved when the restart swirls in the air, Sarries don’t release and Priestland takes his chance.

Goode sets up a rare promising attack and finds Maro but Earl can’t hold the pass and Cardiff clear. Goode breaks for a 2^nd time, the ball is recycled through the forwards, Taylor is through then a no-look pass finds Morris who wriggles free of the Cardiff defence to score the first try of the game under the posts. Faz can’t miss and we have a bit of daylight just before half time at 16-6. But not for long. Carre replaces Domachowski. Cardiff take up residence in the Sarries 22 but Sarries turn it over. Tomos Williams breaks clear and heads for the try-line. Taylor grabs hold of him and as Williams falls he twists and reaches for the line. Has he grounded the ball or was there a knock-on? No relief for Sarries, the try is awarded and Priestland adds the extras with the clock dead and the gap is back to 3, 16-13 at half time.

It’s been a strange half. Sarries look far more solid under the high ball and are putting in some big tackles but Cardiff are very much in this. The Easter Bunny reappears at half-time (where IS Sarrie) and we regroup.

MMc makes 3 changes, it seems the perennially unlucky Taylor was injured in that last-ditch tackle so Manu has appeared with Faz going to inside centre. Barrington has been replaced by Mawi and Billy is on for Jackson Wray who bumped his head. The scrum instantly looks better and Sarries win a penalty only to give one away to Cardiff from the lineout for closing the gap. Cardiff look to have knocked the ball on but the referee deems Swinson came in from the side and gives Cardiff the penalty which for once Priestland misses. Sarries’ penalty count is now in double figures. A better team would be punishing them severely.

Maitland makes a wonderful break to the Cardiff 22 but Sarries waste the chance when Dylan Lewis wins a turnover for Cardiff. Worryingly Maro is receiving attention to his knee but he gets up and carries on, apparently none the worse for wear. The long Cardiff kick (it appears the breeze is now in their favour) seems to have been kept in field by an acrobatic Alex Goode but the assistant referee thinks otherwise. The Cardiff lineout is deep in Sarries 22 and Tomas Williams comes round the corner and offloads to Lane for a Cardiff try and they take a deserved 16-20 lead. Ethan Lewis replaces Pifeleti and Sarries seem to rise briefly at least from their slumbers. After a messy scrum,  they get a penalty advantage but don’t need it because Manu finds Malins. His break finds Maitland inside him and he takes out the last defender allowing Maitland to score under the posts. Faz converts and Sarries take the lead again 23-20.

Manu takes out his own scrum half in the air (don’t think you can be carded for an offence against your own team) but Cardiff get a penalty anyway and Priestland levels the scores once more. Cardiff have been dogged and Sarries don’t seem to be able to get away. With 25 minutes left the tryfest continues: Sarries have a scrum on the opposition 22, Faz finds Malins again (who has crossed from right wing to left) and Malins scissors with Maitland arriving from deep, for the Scot to score. Faz’s kick is horrible but at least they take a 28-23 lead. Theo replaces Itoje. Cardiff win another offside penalty (this indiscipline is keeping Cardiff in touch) and Priestland makes the deficit just 2. Segun replaces Goode, allowing Malins to go to full back, and Morgan replaces Summerhill for Cardiff.  Malins makes a promising break but he can’t keep his feet, however Faz tidies up and Morris puts in a nice little grubber, Maitland almost gets to it but Aled Davies does and scores another try. Faz misses again from the same spot but the lead has stretched to 7 points, 33-26.

The forwards get Sarries out of trouble with a huge hit against the head at a Cardiff scrum on the Sarries’ 22. Mawi is crucifying Belcher. Davies gives way to Van Zyl. More rewards with a free kick at the lineout and then a penalty which Faz directs towards the corner. The throw is secured by McFarland, the ball comes out, Malins sets Segun free, the ball is recycled and Sarries keep the ball alive without going far until Van Zyl finds Farrell who somehow slips the ball inside to Malins out of the back of his hand and Malins scores under the posts. Faz adds the extras and finally there is clear water at 40-26.

Cardiff ring the changes with Belcher, Priestland and Lewis giving way to Dacey, Evans and Davies-King, and Davies and Botham giving way to Williams and Bradley. The Welsh aren’t throwing in the towel yet though. Cardiff attack the Sarries’ try line but it seems Carre has lost the ball on the line and Van Zyl breaks to half way. Sarries push forward but there is a knock-on and Cardiff have a scrum. Hang on though, more strange things are going on, some 2 or 3 minutes after the event, the TMO thinks Carre actually scored. Surely we can’t go back after all this time? Apparently we can! The grounding doesn’t look clear cut, the referee isn’t sure but it seems the TMO has talked him in to awarding the try afterall. (Would the ‘little frog’ have been so presumptuous?) Faz doesn’t look impressed but Carre has scored, Evans adds the extras and we have a 7 point game with just under 5 minutes left, 40-33.

Could we be heading for extra time? Malins looks to have taken a superb high ball but the referee thinks there was an obstruction and Evans compounds Sarries’ woes with a huge kick almost to the 5m line. Cardiff try to set up a maul but Theo McFarland isn’t having it and wrests the ball from flailing blue hands for a turnover. Davies is back on for Thornton who has an HIA. 2 minutes remain. The scrum takes up most of it and Sarries win clean ball. Billy carries then Dom Morris breaks. 30 seconds left, all we need to do is keep the ball. Faz calms those around him like Jesus in the storm on the lake, the gong sounds and Malins cheerfully thumps the ball into the stands.

So an entertaining game ends with a win for Sarries over a feisty Cardiff team who never gave up. Max Malins deservedly wins Man of the Match with Sean Maitland a close 2^nd. M & M’s for Easter anyone? MMc’s gamble to rest key players and take others off early paid off and some of the subs, especially Mawi and Theo, looked very good. Sarries progress to the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup and a trip to Castle Grim to take on Gloucester Rugby. Both clubs are likely to face the same dilemma – prioritise top 4 or Europe? 2 good wins against Exeter & Wuss could see Sarries already home and dry by then with a home semi-final secured and a bit more leeway to take on Europe so even more important that the team turn up next Sunday when the Chiefs come to town.

SARACENS

Goode (Segun), Maitland, Morris, Taylor (M Vunipola), Malins, Farrell, Davies (Van Zyl); Barrington (Mawi), Pifeleti (Lewis), Clarey (Wainwright), Itoje (McFarland), Swinson, Christie, Earl, Wray (Vunipola)

CARDIFF

Amos, Lane, Smith, M Llewellyn, Summerhill (Morgan), Priestland (Evans), T Wiliiams, Domachowski (Carre), Belcher (Dacey), Lewis (Assiratti), Davies (Thornton), Lewis-Hughes, Navidi, Botham (Bradley)

SCORERS:

Saracens  44   Tries: Morris, Maitland (2), Davies, Malins  Conv: Farrell (3)   Pens: Farrell (3)

Cardiff 33  Tries: T Williams, Lane, Carre  Conv: Priestland (2) Evans  Pens: Priestland (4)

Referee: Pierre Brousset

STRANGE TIMES AND M & M’s

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 18/04/2022 18:24

TheSaracens.com
18/04/2022 18:24

With thanks to Daniel Davis for the photo



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:04:28:15:30:20 by Darraghgirl.

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The Bard
19/04/2022 18:15

A good solid summary, thanks

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NewPotnoodlehorn
27/04/2022 14:08

Great photo

Regards

PNH AKA Daniel Davis

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OldMarovian
27/04/2022 17:10

It is an excellent shot. Is it you who normally provides the pictures NPNH? Is so great work.

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