LV= Final Previewed

By Whaley Shark
March 16 2013

I did take the faithful notebook to the semi-final last weekend, but the day job rather got in the way and I never got to write the report, but I thought I could turn it into a short preview of tomorrow’s Final.

 

 

 

Compared to the trials and tribulations of this season’s Premiership campaign, our path to the final has been quite straightforward. After a loss away to Irish in the first pool game, we had two home games, first sneaking home against Saracens 25-23 in a very even match, then beat a fairly disinterested Scarlets side more comfortably in the late January snow. We secured our semi-final place down in Wycombe, pulling well ahead of Wasps, then surviving a late Wasps comeback to come out 33-30 winners.  That set up last weekend’s encounter with Saracens (again!) in the Salford deep freeze.

Sarries may have started with a team lacking many of their big names, who were either away on international duty or on the bench, but they were certainly competitive, stretching away in some early penalty exchanges to take a 12-6 lead within half an hour. However, an unconverted Tom Holmes try just before half time brought us right back into the game. Sarries picked up another penalty but, with 15 minutes to go, a converted try, from Nathan Fowles this time, gave us a narrow lead and, with Danny Cipriani kicking another penalty, we were able to see the game out reasonably comfortably, even though Sarries emptied the bench with about 20 minutes to go. That was one of the sharpest and most composed performances from a Sale side this season and, as an Andrei Ostrikov fan, I was delighted to see the big Russian back from long term injury. In the other semi-final, a young Quins’ side demolished Bath fairly comprehensively in their semi-final.

And that sets up tomorrow’s showdown in Worcester. I suppose you’d have to say Quins were the favourites- it will be a ‘2nd XV’, but Quins’ 2nd XVs have seen off some pretty serious opponents already in this competition. Dimes seems to have picked a strong Sale side so I hope it’s a good game, with a Sale win laying the foundations for a strong finish to the Premiership campaign. Safe journey to all travellers.