Sale Sharks 10 Saracens 15

By Whaley Shark
February 15 2014

  This’ll be a slightly different style of match report because last week’s storm blew our internet connection half way to Glossop, and I’ve no idea when I’m going to be able to put it on the board.  

But I was immensely heartened by last night’s match against a strong Saracens side. We lived on the edge for much of the game- some of us considerably closer than others, Mr Cueto- but a supreme defensive display was just sufficient to shut Saracens out and we got the moral victory with the only try of the game. However, five penalties gave Saracens the four points and, overall, I think they actually deserved it.

Our try was nicely worked, and came from a stolen lineout on the Saracens 10 metre line. James Gaskell made good ground and, in stopping us, Saracens gave away a penalty. We put it into touch, and a solid lineout and immense rolling maul saw Marc Jones go over for the try.

There were some very good bits- I thought the starting scrum was excellent and stood up well to a very hefty Saracens’ unit, and Marc Jones really had his eye in at the lineout. But for me, the defence was outstanding. On two or three occasions, we drove Saracens back ten or twenty metres from being almost on our try line, we smothered, and covered, and put in some huge hits to stop their ball carriers in their tracks. Several times, after phase after phase of no progress, Charlie was reduced to a speculative chip or grubber, because there was no way they were getting through our dark blue wall.

On the downside, we occasionally got a bit overexcited, with ambitious passing and must have had half a dozen attempts to kick through charged down. In the end, discipline cost us, giving Saracens those five kickable penalty chances. Our kicking from hand was a bit wayward on a difficult night, and our chasing contrasted noticeably with Saracens’, who often had one or even two fast men putting serious pressure on the Sale catcher. Altogether, it looked like what it was- serious title contenders against a good, mid-table side, so a fair result and I am very pleased with what I saw. If we keep that up, anyone leaving Salford with a win will have earned it, and we have no reason to fear Tigers, Saints or any of the supposed big boys. My Man of the Match- Mike Forshaw, defence supremo!