Welsh Rarebit

Saracens v Scarlets LV Cup 17.11.13Ahh the LV Cup. You have to love it! Well at least this year you do because whether or not this was planned, at the half way stage Sarries sit top of their league with maximum points. So it looks like a bit of silverware could be there for the taking and that’s not to be sniffed at!  

It’s quite new for us at Sarries to have to “manage” this autumn International period. We always used to look at the opposition and hope to get one of the “big guys” while they were understrength. Now the boot is on the other foot and it’s our strength in depth that is being tested and where better than the LV Cup.

Sarries put out a relatively strong team for this first home game of the competition and after a superb 5 pointer last week in High Wycombe hopes, nay expectations, were high for a repeat performance at home against a depleted Scarlets team.

When the teams took the field it did require a bit of a double take as both seemed remarkably similarly attired and particularly as the daylight faded and the floodlights took over it wasn’t easy to tell the English and the Welsh apart – which may possibly excuse some rather strange decisions from Mr Fox but then again it may not! The travelling welsh support was in good voice, far better than the home support for “that song” which sounded no better when belted out by a pretty soprano than it did by a slightly podgy tenor.

Scarlets started the game on the front foot with a super break from their full back Kristian Phillips but Jack Wilson made the first of many significant contributions when he bundled him into touch and Sarries were able to clear their lines. Sarries went on the attack and Charlie found a superb touch from a penalty. Sarries attacked from the lineout and after 2 or three attempts, Matt Hankin scored under the posts. Spencer converted and Sarries were in the lead with only 7 minutes gone. More was to follow a few minutes later when Charlie Hodgson & Wilson set up another attack. Wray almost got there and then Charlie generously passed the ball wide to Wilson to score in the corner. Spencer kicked a superb touchline conversion and Sarries took a 14-0 lead.

Scarlets' hooker Darran Harris made a dangerous-looking break but Wilson was there to stop him and Du Plessis turned the ball over. Scarlets were awarded a penalty on half way and Josh Lewis landed a lovely kick to open the score for the Welshmen. Spencer replied almost immediately with a Sarries penalty to restore the 14 point lead. From the restart, Scarlets set up a dangerous looking maul which Sarries stopped illegally. Lewis put the penalty onto the 5m line for a Scarlet’s line out. Everyone in the East stand apart from the touch judge saw them drop the ball but those who mattered were blind and the Welshmen rolled the ball over the try-line for a fortunate score. Lewis added the extras from the touchline to restore the 7 point gap.

Sarries set up another determined attack and won another penalty which Spencer again converted (as Sarrie the camel did a circuit of Allianz Park on a scooter). Solid work from Hodgson and Ben Ransom won yet another penalty and Spencer again did the honours for 23-10. As half-time approached Sarries continued to attack. Tompkins could (probably should) have passed to Wilson outside him for a likely score but in the end Sarries won a 5m penalty, opted for the scrum and Wray peeled off the back to score under the posts and give Spencer an easy conversion and a 30-10 half time lead.

Sarrie did a splendid performance at half time (who needs Angels! Give me camels any time). Little DG tells me he performed The Worm before lapsing back into Gagnam Style. Whatever it was far more entertaining than the over-hyped cherubs.

Sarries started the second half in similar vein. Tompkins made a lovely run off Hodgson (is there anyone who can run a back line as well as he can, it is truly beautiful to watch). Ransom headed for the tryline when Short was free outside him. Botha was almost over but in the end Charlie slipped a lovely inside pass to Jamie George who scored under the posts. Spencer converted, the bonus point was secured and there were still over 30 minutes to go.

Not surprisingly Charlie was taken off for Mordt – he needs wrapping carefully in cotton wool. Shortly after there was the inevitable raft of substitutions and not surprisingly Sarries lost their shape for a while. Mr Fox also lost his bearings (that’s me being charitable) – he gave a knock on that wasn’t and didn’t give one that was but by then dusk had fallen and the similar strips meant the two sides were virtually indistinguishable.

After an hours play Sarries seemed to have scored but Mr Fox couldn’t see the grounding and with no TMO to refer to he gave the 5m scrum. Sarries made a mess of the attacking opportunity and turned the ball over. Meanwhile a stretcher was called for Botha (although he eventually limped off under his own steam) and all other substitutes having been used, Barrington replaced him, gamely packing down in the second row of the subsequent scrum. For once Mr Fox seemed to have got a knock on right only to be over-ruled by his touch judge!

Nick Tompkins won a penalty for his team which went to touch. From the line out Streather made a break. The ball came back to Mordt who had 3 backs outside him. His floating pass found Ransom who slipped the ball to Nathan Earle to score. Mordt carried on the good work with another excellent touch-line conversion and Sarries led by 44-10.

Ransom and Earle showed excellent understanding as the game rolled to its close with several delicate interchanges. There was a rather farcical period of play where both sides seemed to knock on and the ball came off various parts of the anatomy before finally the referee decided to award Sarries a scrum. De Kock made a lovely break deep into the Scarlets half, the ball was recycled and this time de Kock put Streather in under the posts. The conversion took Sarries past the half century and ensured a comfortable win.

It was a very pleasant afternoon all in all. An enjoyable game, good to see some of the Storm players getting a chance to show their paces and a convincing win. Not a single goal kick was missed all afternoon – who says you can’t kick on plastic grass?

Exeter at Sandy Park will be a completely different proposition but at least the LV has put the smile back on our faces and the confidence in the team. Maybe none of today’s 15 will start next Saturday but they did their bit today. I was impressed by Jack Wilson who was literally everywhere. Spencer had a good game and kicked his goals and de Kock was on fire when he came on. And Charlie was imperious as ever. It just underlined how much he’s been missed. Owen can have a well-earned rest next weekend knowing the “10” shirt is in good hands.

Saracens:

Ransom, Wilson, Streather, Tompkins, Short (Earle), Hodgson (Mordt), Spencer (De Kock), Saunders, George (Crumpton), Du Plessis (Stevens), Hargreaves (Sheriff), Botha (Barrington), Hankin, Burger (Stringer), Wray

Scarlets:

Phillips, Climo (Warren), Hughes, Morgans, Knight, Lewis (Thomas), A Davies (G Davies), Evans (Hopkins), Harris (Elias), Jones (Jamieson), Snyman, Kelly, Rawlins, McCusker (J Davies)

Scorers:-

Saracens: Tries Hankin, Wilson, Wray, George, Earle, Streather

Convs- Spencer (4) Mordt (2)

Pens: Spencer (3)

Scarlets: Try: Thomas, Conv Lewis; Pen Lewis

Attendance: 7,242

Referee Martin Fox