Scoring in the Rain
By Behind the Bench
May 15 2015
In incessant rain, Saracens' line-up saw the welcome return of winger Nathan Earle to the side, earning the man of the match award in a scintillating 40 minute appearance, following a nine month absence with an achilles injury. Despite the difficult conditions, Sarries scored some well worked tries against an always competitive Army side. As expected, Saracens fielded a side akin to a Storm / LV line up. Catalin Fercu started at full back, having scored four tries here a year ago against Gloucester, whilst Mike Ellery was on the right wing, and Nathan Earle on the left, alongside a centre partnership of Max Wilkins and Baden Kerr, with the backs completed by the usual combination of Nils Mordt and Ben Spencer. A particularly strong front row boasted Richard Barrington, hooker Jared Saunders and Kieran Longbottom, whilst Hayden Thompson-Stringer and Hayden Smith featured at lock and the back row consisted of Nick de Jager, Matt Hankin and Ernst Joubert. The Army side largely differered from that victorous at Twickenham, although vastly experienced prop LCpl Budgen was at prop, having played extensively for Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs.
With the rainy day capes out in force, and no less than three open top bar buses (for connoisseurs of the genre, and there are some), it took a while before the game got going, given the understandable number of handling errors. Spencer, Mordt and Wilkins orchestrated an early move, but the ball trickled into touch. The Army responded with a promising passage of play on eight minutes as LBdr Davies made an excellent break from a lineout on halfway, but was hauled into touch. Saracens had a chance to exert their first real pressure as a penalty for a deliberate knock on took them close to the line, but they knocked on themselves and the visitors were able to clear. It was the British Army who could have gone ahead with 14 minutes played as LCpl Dixon attempted an ambitious penalty kick at goal from half way, but it drifted wide. The pitch was starting to churn up by now, with the game continuing to be punctuated by handling errors by both sides.
The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes, with a superb break by Earle from deep in his own half, although Spencer in support couldn't take the winger's pass, the ball was only half cleared, and play was switched from left to right, as Wilkins provided the ball for Mike Ellery to go in at the right hand corner for an unconverted try and a 5-0 lead. With Spencer showing some customary neat touches, Saracens were beginning to take a grip of the game, and after two penalties in quick succession gave them good field position, the pressure forced a penalty try on 26 minutes, converted by Spencer for a 12-0 advantage. They looked likely to go further ahead six minutes after a series of powerful drives won another penalty, but concerted pressure was abruptly halted by a knock-on.
Earle's cameo ended at the break, whilst Henri Williams replaced Hayden Smith too. It took only two minutes for Sarries to ease further ahead, in the aftermath of a yellow card for the visitors for a deliberate knock on. From the ensuing rolling maul, de Jager broke off to score in the right hand corner, but again the difficult conversion was missed. Just before a number of changes were made for both sides, the Army got their only points of the night, with 51 minutes played, thanks to a finely-struck penalty by LBdr Davies from 40 metres. Ellery continued to threaten with some intelligent kicking play, as had Earle in the first half, but a familiar source nearly yielded another home score as Spencer was close to scoring from a close range scrum.
The fourth try was exceptional in the context of the damp weather, as the ball was moved around from left to right and back to the centre by Saracens, as James Johnston was able to go over beneath the posts for a score converted by Spencer and a 24-3 lead on the hour. They could have had a fifth when superb interplay nearly saw Mordt and Perkins set up Fercu, but he couldn't gather the pass, and another piece of incisive play saw Fercu break from deep, and combine with Mordt and Ellery to initiate a sustained spell of pressure. The Army held firm until Rgr Leatham was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock on and from the ensuing pressure, the ball was worked to the left for Perkins to score, and Kerr added a fine touchline conversion. With the rain finally stopping in the closing minutes, replacement Tom Whiteley scored a great individual try as he raced from deep in his own half to advance to the right hand corner and Kerr provided the other two.
So, an entertaining night, despite the weather, and another indication of Saracens' strength in depth, as they showed the ability and application to adapt to the conditions well. They will return here in late August for a pre-season clash with Ospreys.
Saracens: 15 Catalin Fercu; 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Max Wilkins (George Perkins 60), 12 Baden Kerr, 11 Nathan Earle (Ben Ransom h/t); 10 Nils Mordt, 9 Ben Spencer (Tom Whiteley 60); 1 Richard Barrington (Titi Lamositele 53), 2 Jared Saunders (Brett Sharman 53), 3 Kieran Longbottom (James Johnston 53), 4 Hayden Thompson-Stringer. 5 Hayden Smith (Henri Williams h/t), 6 Nick de Jager (Kennett O'Neil 60), 7 Matt Hankin, 8 Ernst Joubert
British Army: 15 LBdr Davies; 14 Pte Bulumakau; 13 LCpl Nacamavuto; 12 Cpl Wessels; 11 Rgr Leatham; 10 LCpl Dixon (Pte O'Reailly 60); 9 LCpl Farrell (Spr Vata 53); 1 LCpl Reeves (Gnr Gill 34); 2 LSgt Dwyer (Cpl Fillier 60); 30 LCpl Budgen; 4 Lt Jones; 5 SSgt Ball; 6 CSgt Llewellyn; 7 LCpl Robinson (Capt Whittaker 60); 8 LCpl Koroiyadi (Cpl Jope 56)
Scoring in the Rain
Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2015 09:41
Thanks Gerard, sounds like a fun night despite the weather!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:23:19:52:48 by TonyTaff.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:23:19:52:48 by TonyTaff.
Re: Scoring in the Rain
Posted by: JO'G (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2015 15:44
I hope they had some Charles Wells for sale given the large numbers of Bombadiers on the pitch
i'll get my coat
i'll get my coat
Re: Scoring in the Rain
Posted by: CRFCRE (IP Logged)
Date: 15/05/2015 16:45
Special mention for the pioneers, who had to endure filthy weather and maintained their courtesy, helpfulness and cheerful and positive attitude. What great ambassadors they are for the club, often being the first point of contact for our guests. I take my hat (sou'wester) off to you ladies and gentlemen!
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