By Rupes
March 12 2006

...and the 30 or 40 travelling Fez then awoke on the Saturday morning. Had they been dreaming ALL night or did they really drive for up to 6 hours up the M6 and watch Sarries beat the league leaders? Saracens won their first Guinness Premiership game since November on Friday evening, deservedly beating league leaders Sale Sharks 15-9. Scores from Ben Johnston and Glen Jackson, plus Jackson's penalty and conversion were enough to overcome 3 penalties from Valetin Courrent.

A performance full of heart and determination, this was exactly the opposite of performances which the Fez have seen in previous weeks. The defensive line was exactly that - a solid line, not a random selection of people standing out away from the ruck, maul or scrum. The discipline was out of the top drawer (most of the time); there was obviously organisation on the field, with everyone knowing their role, it told in the lack of space which the Sharks were allowed. But, most of all, the passion seemed to be back. Everyone in a white shirt giving it 110% to the cause.

Sarries led for the majority of the first half, a 7-0 scoreline via Johnston's try in the far corner (great sympathetic pass by Simon Raiwalui to create the score)after 30 minutes being turned into a 9-7 lead for the Sharks at half time. Those 10 minutes before half time were the only ones during the game in which the Saracens' discipline faltered - 3 penalties in quick succession from Courrent being the reward for the Sharks. But, throughout the first half, Sarries hassled and harried Sharks into mistakes, closing down the space and snuffing out the threat of Robinson and Hanley.

The first score in the second half would be vital - for a team playing with so little confidence in the past months, to concede a try would have been bad news for the Men in White. However, hard work and effort led to Glen Jackson scoring an individual try right under the noses of those in the UPM Stand, 12-9 up and game on. Another penalty later, 15-9. And then the hard work really started.

There were two moments on which the game turned. First, directly after Cobus was binned, Matt Cairns won a scrum against the head. Ball cleared to halfway, danger averted. Then, a Sale rolling maul following a series of penalties; the threat of a penalty try in the air. Heroic work by Ches kept the ball over the line but off the ground, 5m scrum and Sale getting no reward for pressure. In fact, Sale were kept scoreless in the second half.

The celebrations of the players at the end showed just how much it meant. 4 valuable points which, if everyone was honest, were not expected. But what a determined and disciplined performance and one which, if repeated, will stand us in good stead over the coming weeks.

So that's the match - but what of the 40 or so hardy souls who travelled to Edgeley Park? Well, there's the story of the Ford Focus that tried to be clever and avoid some of the M6 by coming off at junction 13, then taking a scenic tour of Stafford, Eccleshall, Nantwich, Crewe, Holmes Chapel, Jodrell Bank, Poynton and, finally, Stockport Station Car Park to arrive over 5 hours after leaving home. Then there's the story of the Renault Espace, which made kick-off with about a second to spare having stubbornly said "we're staying on the M6". There's the band at The Pineapple - a legendary pub - who got more than they bargained for when the second song of their (thankfully) short set was "Close to You". An honourable mention for The Sunrise Kebab House, holder of the title "Best Kebab on the GP Circuit", they took their annual fortune when the Fez visit; rest assured that we won't lack on the FB7s front this year. In fact, I think we've got a new scrum half and a possible "out of retirement again" as a result of conversations in said Kebab House. Finally, there's the journey home - it was hard enough to get everyone out of the Pineapple (the non-eaters of solids on a match day, anyway) to the station car park again, let alone down the M6.

But nights and performances like this put a smile on your face; it's great evenings like this which makes it all worthwhile. We're not safe yet, but we have thrown ourselves a huge lifeline and this correspondant was one of many who left Stockport with a grin like the local Cheshire Cat. And, to those who didn't travel, the question can justifiably be asked - "where were you when we were very good?"