Sarries do their best to lose from an unassailable position

The day looked damp and horrible, but actually turned out fine. The pitch would have been terrible to play on if it had been grass, but the game was just normal. There was a breeze, but not significant; certainly not the gale it was against ASM. Sarries played from North to South (against the wind) and started significantly enough. Within a couple of minutes the first penalty was awarded and Spencer struck over from around 40 metres.

Quins were not really in the game, struggling in the scrum and the lineout and only had possession from Sarries kicks. As for the first team in the last few weeks, the kicks were slightly overdone and the chase not threatening the collector and Quins were able to run the ball back. Their principal tactic seemed to be the ball carrier running wide and then inside passing to a crash-ball. They might as well have been playing a moveable wall as each time there was a clunk of bodies and some turnovers.

Captain Itoje was the principal beneficiary; he initially ripped the ball out of Quins hands, then afterwards turned one at a breakdown. He was forcing Quins players to hang on and from one such, Spencer missed from around the same range as the first. However, Sarries were pressing well and from a lineout drove to the Quins line. It was one of those where you could not see how a try was not scored; over the line and only Sarries players around the ball. Itoje was the seeming recipient, but Wavey Davey the TMO ruled it out. Sarries also seemed to have control of the subsequent 5 metre scrum, but the ball went loose. Quins were not completely out of it and did manage to make it to the Sarries 22 on several occasions. However, their ball retention was not great. Itoje again ripping the ball out under the sticks. Nils Mordt then made his first error of judgement and tried to run / pass it out rather than kicking. He knocked it on, but Sarries were able to win the scrum. Our other new player Fercu was a real livewire, running well with the ball and offloading superbly. He was too close to a jumping player fielding a clearance kick. To my mind he didn’t actually make contact, just seemed to be where the jumper came back to earth. Penalty but no yellow card seemed fair.

Sarries pressed again and not for the last time knocked on in the Quins 22. A sloppy clearance was charged down by Duncan Taylor and this time managed to ground it for a try. Sarries were in a purple patch and this was shortly followed by the second try. A set-piece move well executed with a wrap-round, Ransome coming into the line releasing Tompkins in enough space to slip his tackler for a 2 on 1. An excellent timed pass to Ellery meant that his covering tackler stood little chance and he scored in the corner. Spencer was unable to add the extras but at 15-0 Sarries were good value for it. They were well in control but kept getting penalised at the scrum. Given they were able to push Quins off the ball with ease, I’m not really sure why Rhys would need to commit an offence but the referee was sure he was. From one of these Quins A team did better than the seniors and put some points on the board. Even so with little pressure from Quins and predictable running from their backs, the only question was how many tries before half-time. As the half approached, Sarries had another dart in the corner; Tompkins dotted down the ball but was deemed to have a foot in touch.

The last play of the half seemed to be a Sarries scrum that started trundling towards the Quins line; as it went down it had penalty try all over it, but the ref just went for the penalty. The penalty was changed to a scrum; same result. Was it going to be third time penalty try; no Quins this time got the penalty, kicked to touch to end the half. All in all a very satisfying one from a Sarries perspective. Two tries, a bonus point seemed on for the second half playing with the wind. Great performances from a number of players, Itoje to the fore, but also Fercu, Tompkins and Ellery in the backs. Big Jim, Spurling and Ernst were also playing well. Figallo looks good with a promise of more to come; not just in the scrum but also drove well in the loose

After the stupid mickey mouse antics at half-time were completed I was looking forward to more of the same. Sarries had the game won, so didn’t seem to play at the same pace or intensity. Quins seemed to have woken up and managed to keep hold of the ball for reasonable periods and Sarries were unable to keep it when they did so. Knock-ons seemed to be the order of the day for the men in black. Nothing much happened for around 10 minutes, the usual round of substitutions around then. Then a good bit of play from Quins and a great twist from prop Lambert knocking past 2 men and just making the line. True to form the ref called in the TMO again but we were not sure why. I don’t think there was a Sarrie supporter in the ground who thought there was a problem, but as it kept getting replayed we wondered if there was. Quins new fly-half from the super15 added the extras and suddenly we were in a game.

The response was almost immediate, Bosch collecting a fairly innocuous pass and creating a little magic hole. Two sweet passes to de Jaeger and Wilson and suddenly we were looking for the bonus point. Quins though were not to be denied and the introduction of Sinckler started to make a few holes. Dickson added to the move with a line break and a missed pass saw Walker carve through and score. With the extras added Sarries were only 5 points ahead. Then the only yellow card of the game in almost the same place as Fercu’s penalty in the first half. This time no question as Lindsay-Hauge had his arms all over Wilson. Again we had a long TMO discussion for what seemed an open and shut case, but that’s Wavey Davey for you. Sarries went for the corner, but Sharman who had just come on made a mess of the throw (and all the rest of the throws to the lineout). Fortunately Sinckler decided not to bother binding at a scrum a bit closer and Spencer added the 3 points to make the gap 8 again.

Despite being down to 14 men, Quins were playing well and was no surprise when they had another penalty and a chance of a losing bonus point. We had a scratchy last few minutes, notable for 2 kicks straight into touch from Mordt when there were men outside and space to exploit. When Quins finally got the ball the defence was strong from Sarries and the victory ground out. Probably the correct result, but the missed bonus point may come back to bite us, Bath having made 5 points against London Welsh. All the positives were in the first half, very little to write home about in the second apart from the fact that Bosch is class

I watched the first half of the Ladies game, as we could not find the Canada game on anywhere. Maggie Alphonsi showed she is a very good player, being streets above anyone else on the pitch .

Saracens:

Ransome, Ellery (Wilson) Tompkins, Taylor (Bosch) Fercu, Mordt, Spencer, Gill (Barrington), Spurling (Sharman), Figallo (Alo), Hamilton (de Jaeger), Botha, Itoje, Burger (Hankin), Joubert

Harlequins:-

Chisholm, Walker, Lowe, Turner-Hall, Lindsay-Hague, Grimoldby (Swiel), Dickson, Lambert (Marfo), Buchanan, Collier (Sinckler), Merrick, Twomey, Trayfoot, Wallace, Chisholm

Scorers:-

Saracens- Tries: Taylor, Ellery, Wilson Conv: Spencer 2, Pen; Spencer 2

Harlequins- Tries: Lambert, Walker Conv: Swiel 2, Pens: Grimoldby, Swiel

Attendance: 7,012

Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)