Wasps v Sarries Part 1
By J O'G
November 11 2013
Rugby on a Friday evening in London for a second time in as many months; I could get used to this. Only 30 minutes by train from Marlebone and a shuttle bus took the same time from the station to the Industrial Estate. Ticket purchased on the gate to the terrace I arrive as the minutes silence finished. Sarries have a pretty strong side but so do Wasps, with Haskell and old Sarrie Jacobs amongst others, but in the crowd its all black and gold. I only saw half a dozen fezzes all night.
Sarries started brightly enough and were awarded an early scrum penalty; not the last in the game either and were able to push up into the Wasps 22. It didn’t last long and after a brief kick exchange Sarries ended up with a scrum about 10 yards out from their own line. The scrum was won easily, but the ball squirted out the back and Matt Everand squeezed in for the try. The conversion was good and the home supporters were all happy.
Sarries kept playing though and camped in the Wasps 22 for a while. A penalty came for offside and Spencer seemed to us to have clawed back 3 points. Ashley Rowden running the line didn’t think so and a 22 ensued. The next 20 or so minutes seemed to be what I would describe as error-strewn. Both sides were trying a little too hard and passes were dropped and kicks were not of the highest class. It was from one bad clearance kick from Wasps that Ransom snapped up and started a counter attack. Streather combined well with Tompkins, to drive close and from the next phase Ransom crossed. Spencer missed the conversion.
Wasps attacked back and contrived a great overlap, but not for the last time in the match wayward passing in the centre ending with the ball in touch. At least 6 times in the match. Sarries though were starting to get control Kruis was looking to be the best forward on the pitch. A driving run set up a great position and when the ball came out, Mortd put in a great grubber kick and Tompkins beat Daly for the touchdown. Third time lucky for Spencer with the boot to make the score 7-12; the half-time score.
Sarries didn’t give up in the second half and they were in total control for the first 15 minutes. Winning a lineout deep in Wasps half, the pack got a great drive going and although held up initially Barrington drove over from close range. Soon afterwards Wasps were caught in possession and from a great turnover Wilson raced away to the corner to seemingly wrap up a 5 points victory. 7-24 seemed a comfortable margin and with the substitutes coming on (including Charlie Hodgson) the game seemed up for Wasps.
I thought so too and went for another £4 beer can but Wasps substitutes certainly did the trick for them. Suddenly they had all the possession and started to make inroads. After a period of sustained pressure the replacement hooker Cockrane ran in from close range and with the conversion going over, suddenly it was a 10 point game. There had to be around 15 minutes left; enough time. Then more attacks and Sarries slowed the ball down too many times and with two penalty offences in the 22 within two phases meant Wilson got a yellow card. Rather than taking the points Wasps went for the corner and looked to get the drive on but failed to convert.
Sarries got it clear, but Wasps soon returned and eventually another penalty this time in front of the posts. Surely here was the time to take 3 points, but no Wasps go for the corner again. I feel that had the situation been reversed Sarries would have taken the kick. The line-out ended in a big mess of bodies over the corner–flag. Ashley told the referee it was a 22; perhaps fair results for the missed kick. However the respite did not last long until Wasps returned but the minutes were ticking away and Wilson was soon to return. It seemed certain that Wasps would score on their next visit to the 22. Tying all the defenders to the left, the ball came swiftly to at least a 5 man overlap. However Jacobs could not resist the cut inside for the line; he failed to make the line though and was held up. A five-yard scrum and from that play Wasps finally got to the line; Jacobs making up for his mistake.
With the conversion making it a 3 point game, Sarries were returned to full strength for the remaining 6 minutes and after the first of them Kruis turned over possession and the clock was rolled down. Pick and drive again and again and the clock was down to 3 minutes. Then disaster the ball was lost and Wasps came back down the pitch. Slow progress and with just one minute left they made the 22. Disaster for Wasps as they were penalised for hanging on. The kick to touch and all Sarries needed to do with 50 seconds on the clock was to win the lineout, which they did and grind down the clock which they did not.
The lineout drive was halted and Sarries must play the ball and Charlie makes a pigs-ear of the kick down the throat of the full back. As the seconds tick away Wasps run the ball as if their lives depended on it. Sweeping wide as 80 minutes are up, the ball is on the outside towards the corner flag, seemingly with the match won. Then the cavalry in the shape of James Short arrives from the left wing; taking player and ball into touch 3 yards out and Sarries have the breathless victory.
Those who made the trip would probably agree that it was the most exciting game this year and . always a pleasure to silence an Adams Park crowd.
Wasps: 15 Tommy Bell; 14 Jonah Holmes, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Charlie Hayter, 11 Josh Bassett; 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Charlie Davies; 1 Ricky Reeves, 2 Tom Lindsay, 3 Will Taylor, 4 Tom Palmer, 5 James Cannon, 6 James Haskell©,7 Matt Everard, 8 Guy Thompson
Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Alex Lundberg, Phil Swainston, Esteban Lozada, Sam Jones, Jack Moates, Ben Jacobs, Tom Howe
Saracens:15; Ben Ransom; 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13. Tim Streather, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Jack Wilson; 10. Nils Mordt ©, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jared Saunders, 3. Petrus Du Plessis, 4. George Kruis, 5. Mouritz Botha, 6. Justin Melck, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Jackson Wray.
Replacements:16 Max Crumpton, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Biyi Alo, 19. Eoin Sheriff, 20. Matt Hankin, 21. Neil de Kock, 22. Charlie Hodgson, 23. James Short.
Wasps: Tries - Jacobs, Cochrane, Everard; Convs – Carlisle (3)
Saracens: Tries – Tompkins, Wilson, Ransom, Barrington; Cons – Spencer (2)
Referee Neil Hennessey
Attendance 5,200
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:24:17:07:07 by Darraghgirl.
Not many of us there on Friday, but the players still came out to acknowledge our efforts and sore throats!
Phew, close or what?!
Well done again!
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
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It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!