Cold comfort for Sarries

Colomiers Rugby!
By Ben Harman
December 9 2002

It was a only a touch above freezing at Vicarage road and with the heavy, still air weighing down on players and pitch alike, conditions were far from ideal for running rugby.

Inspite of this, Sarries came out all guns blazing. Kev Sorrell - finally finding something close to his peak form - crashed through the Colomiers midfield in the first minute to create a clear scoring opportunity, which was squandered by a knock on from the late arriving support. This clumsy play was to be the script for much of the game.

Saracens, starting with Thomas Castaignede at 10, showed invention in the midfield that we are unaccustomed to seeing in the absence of Tim Horan.

It was the wizardry and sleight of hand of the French international which helped send Kris Chesney careering through the Columerin centres throughout the first half. This caused chaos in the visitors' defensive ranks and led to persistent infringements at the rucks.

After only 20 minutes, Winnan had attempted four penalties with a 50% success rate. Only a few minutes later Saracens found themselves with a scrum on the French 22, Bracken darted round the side but yet again the visitors infringed at the ensuing ruck. This time Castaignede stepped up to slot the three points to take Sarries to a 9 – 0 lead.

Soon after the restart Sarries were on the attack again. Hill took a quick tap just inside his own half and he comitted the opposition defensive line before spinning the ball wide, O’Mahony had joined Sparg on the right wing and took play up to five meters out from the try line.

AGAIN Colomiers went offside and this time the referee had seen enough to send the offending player (hooker Thibaut Algret) from the field for 10 minutes.

Two minutes later O'Mahony, standing at 10, burst through the now paper-thin defence to score. After Castaignede's conversion the score stood at 16-0.

Saracens went in at half time knowing chances had been squandered and that the score should have been higher, but with the second half ahead of them, a mighty lead could be racked up for the return trip next week.

Sadly the second half never really got underway. The visitors played with a little more fire and the home team failed to materialise. Play was extremely scrappy and this was not helped by the use of the full 14 substitutions from the two sides.

Full marks should be given to the touches of genius from Sadourny at 15, the consistency of Skrela at 10 and the bloody mindedness of Magendie at 7.

On the other hand "Nil Points" to the half time teamtalk from Shelford who appeared to have the team more scared of losing than enjoying the winning. A truly dire second period ended 16-6 and not a minute too soon for those present.

Sarries will take their 10 point lead to France for the second leg and could well find themselves another 10 points shy if they fail to improve on the schoolboy rugby they played for half the game.

* Next weekend's return leg will be broadcast on BBC 3 Counties Radio (630 MW) and online on the official Saracens site and BBCi's Rugby Union page. The game kicks off at 6.30pm GMT on Saturday 14 December.