Saracens v Bedford Blues, Sat 31/8/2013 Allianz Park

Little DG and I have got into a nice habit over the past few years of visitingGoldington Roadfor the annual Bedford/Saracens warm-up match. It’s always been a most pleasant experience, usually a warm summer’s evening and a great way to get into the swing of the new season. This year we were a tad disappointed that the game was at Allianz (presumably so The Blues could get a taste of the artificial surface before the Championship “double header” there in a couple of weeks) and the later date meant little DG was in the States watching the NY Yankees.

The team for these fixtures has tended to be mainly an Academy Squad with a sprinkling of first-teamers so it was quite a revelation to find almost a full-strength side for both teams. The Bedford squad included a number of familiar names with something to prove, both former players of ours (Jake Sharp, Sam Stanley, Don Barrell) and dual registered players (Nick Auterac, Luke Baldwin Tom Jubb). Interestingly Ben Ransom was named in the Sarrie’s squad suggesting we may see a bit more of him in the first team this season.

AllianzParklooked lovely in the late summer sunshine and sitting in the East stand getting a sun tan, drink in hand, definitely made me think that summer rugby could be a good idea! This was also my first opportunity to watch the latest version of the scrummage laws in operation. For those who haven’t kept up we now go for “crouch-bind-set”, the idea being that the packs can’t push until the ball enters the scrum. Pushing early should result in an immediate free-kick, no resets. Crooked feeds are also supposed to be outlawed. Well if today is anything to go by it didn’t work. Just about every scum was reset at least once and given that atAllianzParkyou can’t blame the surface, I’m not sure what was going on. (I’m not sure referee Ian Tempest, of whom I’ve not previously heard, was too sure either). We did at least have 2 crooked feeds penalised so maybe we are making some progress.

Bedfordstarted the match on the front foot. They entered the spirit of the contest by putting a kickable penalty into touch but when they got no change from Sarries defence opted to go for goal from the second offence when Jake Sharp hit the post. The game was 7 minutes old before the first try came when Sarries made hard work of their dominance. Farrell chipped the ball out to Ashton’s wing when a pass to hand was a better option. The ball ended up on the other wing before Hargreaves took things into his own hands and smashed through the middle for the first try which Farrell converted. A central penalty followed and Sarries were on their way. There was some enterprising play and the backs were throwing the ball around a bit but the handling was still not top notch and inevitably there was an interception and Bedford winger Neville Edwards was too quick for everyone else and scored in the corner followed by an excellent conversion from Sharp. 10-7. Closer than it appeared but as they say “the scores are on the doors”.

Sarries gently went up through the gears and Ashton appeared to be through but didn’t manage to get the ball down. Sarries were camped in theBedford22 and after a couple of strong scrums Chris Wyles scored in the right hand corner. Farrell showed his kicking skills are still right up there with a super conversion. It looked like the flood gates might be opening. Sarries came close again when Farrell found Wyles but Bedford were penalised for killing the ball and following a few fisti-cuffs and the intervention of Mr Maybank on the line, Tom Armes was yellow carded forBedford. Sarries opted for the scrum from the penalty and inevitably it went down. This time the referee went straight under the posts. Farrell kicked a simple conversion and stretched the lead to 24-7.

Right on half time, Strettle got involved and scored in the left corner after receiving Ashton’s pass to give Farrell a bit more kicking practice. This time he missed but with the clock showing 40 and half the spectators in the bar or the loo Mr Tempest decided there was time for a restart! All pretty pointless. Wiggy kicked the ball out and at 29-7 everyone departed for oranges. A pretty encouraging half after a shaky start. Billy made a couple of bulldozing runs, scything down anything and everyone in his way. Jamie George looked solid and threw well, Wiggy was very sharp, Barritt was his usual granite self and Ashton was all over the pitch looking for the ball.

Inevitably there were changes for the second half. Farrell came off for well-earned rest to be replaced by Mordt and Ben Ransom came on at full back. Within 5 minutes, Ashton had his try after a lovely backline move involving Strettle and Tomkins. Mordt kicked an impressive conversion as Sarries moved into the 30’s. Joubert then got his name on the score sheet showing an impressive turn of foot from the back of an increasingly dominant scrum. Another good kick from Mordt made it 43-7 and time for more substitutions. Wray, Kruis, Botha, Wilson, Taylor and Spencer replaced Borthwick, Hargreaves, Billy, Ash, Barritt and Wiggy. Shortly after Spurling and Mako replaced Gill and George. (Question, why do we so often replace our hooker on our own line-out? Inevitably we lose the throw?) Old friend Barrell took the field to a round of “roll out the..”

Just to show that they were still there,Bedfordscored a second try, again through speedy Neville Edwards who intercepted another loose pass and scored again in the corner. Sharp couldn’t repeat the difficult conversion butBedfordwere to double figures. Ash clearly decided he wanted a bit more of the action and returned to the field for Strettle. Tagi made a welcome return for Tomkins and Melck for Joubert. Burger received an enthusiastic round of applause, departing after an hour for Hankin and Du Plessis replaced Stevens. AsBedfordwearied, Sarries became more dominant. Ben Ransom scored in the corner after the backs combined and Ashton put him in. Spencer took over the kicking duties with another excellent conversion to bring up the half century, 50-12.

Now it was pickings for all. Hankin ran straight and true to score and again Spencer converted thenWilsonjoined in picking up on good work by Tagi and Taylor. FinallyTaylorcompleted the score with Ashton touching the ball down as well just in case. Spencer again converted and the final whistle went leaving Sarries easy winners 71-12.

It was an excellent afternoon’s entertainment – lovely weather, 10 tries, entertaining rugby and a feeling that it was good to be back. Irish will be a tougher proposition next Saturday but let’s hope for a performance at HQ like last year.

Teams:-

Saracens: Wyles (Ransom) Ashton (Wilson) Tomkins (Tagicakibau), Barritt (Taylor), Strettle, (Ashton) Farrell (Mordt) Wigglesworth (Spencer) Gill (M Vunipola) George (Spurling) Stevens (Du Plessis) Borthwick (Botha) Hargreaves (Kruis) B Vunipola (Wray) Burger (Hankin) Joubert (Melck)

Bedford: Atkinson, Tapley,Stanley, Dodge, Edwards, Sharp ,Baldwin, Fearn, Clare, Cooper, Tupai, Howard, Armes, Fox, Vandermolen

Replacements: Auterac, Steenkamp, Boulton, Gulliver, Jubb, Harding, Barrell, Veenendaal, Le Bourgeouis, Burke, Lord

Scores;_

Saracens:-

Tries: Hargreaves, Wyles, Penalty, Strettle, Ashton, Joubert, Ransom, Hankin, Wilson,Taylor

Conv: Farrell (3)  Mordt (2) Spencer (4)

Pen: Farrell

Bedford:

Tries: Edwards (2)

Conv: Sharp

Referee: Ian Tempest