Dinamo put to the sword

By Steve Boon at the Tei Stadium
October 12 2002

Five tries from Tom Shanklin and a faultless kicking display by Niki Little helped Saracens demolish Romanian Champions Dimamo Bucuresti 87-11 at the Tei Stadium in Bucharest.

Little started the scoring spree on two minutes with a penalty before Kris Chesney scored the first try on seven minutes courtesy of a pushover scrum. Little converted to make it 10-0.

Four minutes later, Tom Shanklin opened his account with Little again adding two more points. Dinamo were awarded a penalty just afterwards but their attempt was unsuccessful and the score remained at 17-0 until the end of the first quarter.

On 20 minutes, Richard Haughton was put clear by Thomas Castaignede to score Sarries third five pointer and Little drop-kicked the extra two. 24-0.

The try of the first half came on 27 minutes Haughton and Castaignede combined again from deep inside their own 22. The Frenchman started off on a long run and passed out wide to Haughton who continued the forward momentum. The winger returned the complement and gave the ball back to his fullback who rounded off the move to touch down and add the conversion for good measure taking the score to 31-0.

Just two minutes had elapsed before Haughton bagged his second try of the afternoon. Great work by the Sarries centres set up Del Boy - as he's affectionately known - who flew down the right wing to score. Once again a successful Niki Little conversion followed, nudging the Sarries total to 38.

The Bucharest reply came on 32 minutes after repeat Saracens infrningements and being tied-up in the loose gifted the Romanians an overlap which they didn't squander. Again, the goal attempt failed but Dinamo were off the mark at 38-5.

Back came Saracens two minutes later. Tom Shanklin bisected the midfield defence and charged in unaided for his second try which was goaled by Little.

The Welsh international grabbed his hat-trick and put Sarries past the half-century on the stroke of half time. Little added the extras to make the score at the break 52-5.

Nearly a quarter an hour of scrappy play opened up the second period before Dinamo were the first to trouble the scorers on 54 minutes. A penalty goal moving the hosts on to eight points.

Normal service was resumed at the start of the final quarters as Shanklin touched-down a kick ahead for his fourth score. Little - on his way to a perfect afternoon with the boot - once again converted. 59-8.

Coach Shelford then made some changes to the Sarries line-up. Matt Cairns, Brett Sparg and Johnny Marsters were replaced by James Parkes, Adey Winnan and Luke Harbut respectively with Winnan taking over at the back while Castaignede moved into scrum half.

Dinamo scored another penalty goal on 68 minutes to round-off their scoring for the afternoon.

Sarries, however, were not yet finished and with ten minutes remanining, a back line move got the ball to Kris Chesney who was loitering wide out on the left wing and the no8 went over for his second try. Inevitably, Little turned the five points into seven and the score was now 66-11.

Andy Goode came on to replace Kevin Sorrel shortly afterwards and Sarries were on the back foot after some poor play at the restart. Dinamo failed to capitalise on a rare period of pressure and turned the ball over to Sarries. Tim Horan was the gleeful recipient of the football and he ran in a 75 metre solo effort that was converted by Little. 73-11.

A minute before the end of regulation time, Adey Winnan emulated the Wallaby legend's feat, but his try - which he converted himself - was from a slightly shorter distance of 55 metres.

Fittingly, the final word went to Shanklin and Little. After a Dinamo deliberate knock-on, a quickly-taken penalty set up the Sarries wing for his fifth try and Little rounded things off with his eleventh goal for a personal total of 23 points.

Score summary:

Tries: Shanklin (5), Haughton (2), Chesney (2), Castaignede, Winnan, Horan.

Conversions: Little (10), Castaignede, Winnan.

Penalty: Little