We Had What We Thought We Had.....

My reflections on the morning before the game, jotting this down in the car on the way to a belated baby shower for my little great-niece in Oxfordshire, are on the notion that this is the biggest game in Sarries’ history. I suppose you could argue that it depends on the result – if the almost unthinkable happens and we lose today, faced then with the prospect of having to fight like hell in the second leg, the game at StoneX will be the biggest: if, on the other hand, we rack up an unassailable lead in this one it may be looked back on the biggest in terms of setting Sarries up to march back into the Premiership. We’ve seen many milestone games in the past couple of decades as the club has moved forward, faltered, moved forward rapidly and fallen foul of the salary cap rules (whatever the Premiership says these are on a particular afternoon) but regardless of which game over the next week turns out to be the biggest with hindsight, this is existential stuff – I won’t even go there in terms of what could happen to our club if we don’t get up this season either at the hands of either Ealing Trailfinders or Covid-19. I’m sure we’ve all had disturbed nights’ sleep wondering about the consequences of another season in the Championship...

I’m able to listen to most of the game on the way back from the “do”, courtesy of BBC Radio London but due to the appalling reception on the M40 I’m none the wiser as to what actually happened during the game until I dive through the front door to watch the recording of the game on Premier Sports (memo to self – cancel the subscription, although the channel’s coverage of the Top 14 and whatever the Pro16’s now called are rather tempting).

On a day described by one of the presenters as “hotter than the surface of the sun”, we meet the coaches:

Ben Ward speaks diplomatically about the stories in circulation that Trailfinders’ ground may not be of a standard that would allow the club to be promoted, admitting that Trailfinders are awaiting information from the RFU.  I hope no-one’s holding their breath.

Turning to the game, Ben is clearly under no illusions about the task in hand.

Mark, in thoughtful mood during a recorded conversation with Brian O'Driscoll, speaks of so many things having happened in last year, but that he’s enjoyed the two months since the 6 nations ended; Sarries were in crisis mode, he says, and anything could have happened, but that he is proud that “we had what we thought we had”, which I have to say brings a lump to my throat and has to be my rugby quote of the season. The whole spirit of the club summed up in seven words.

Mark also speaks of the players having enjoyed themselves in the Championship, which felt like they were going back to when they started

This being the fourth time we’ve played Trailfinders, their squad has a familiar look, and with a vein of Premiership experience notably including Guy Thompson, late of Wasps, and former Exeter Chiefs Shaun Malton and Max Bodilly.

Sarries have a squad out today that would – and it is to be hoped will- make any Premiership or European opponents nervous, with Vincent Koch, Jackson Wray and Mike Rhodes returning to the starting XV, and Duncan Taylor replaces Dom Morris on the bench.

You’ll doubtless have all heard that Wayne Barnes is officiating today, and for the first time this season in a Championship match, TMO will be in use.  I do muse on what both of these factors will mean to the game – I’m sure we’ve all seen infringements go unnoticed this season, subject as they are only to the sharp but human eyes of the ref and touch judges. We shall see.  

Sarries walk out into the heat first, and swelter in the sunshine as they briefly await the Trailfinders players, who come out to an enthusiastic welcome from what I believe is a crowd of 1,600 consisting almost entirely of home fans  

Farrell starts things off, kicking deep and testing Ealing who gather, Sarries standing off as the ball is cleared.  Billy drives forward and dinks the ball through.  Ealing look calm in their endeavours to exit although Wayne Barnes tells them to hurry it up.

There’s an early scrum to Sarries which yields a penalty. Maitland breaks on the left but is stopped and Sarries work across the pitch as Davies snipes, Billy has a go and then Farrell is pushed back as the boys in black and red keep driving on forward eventually winning a penalty for a deliberate knock on which Farrell calmly slots home for 0-3 on 5 mins.

The restart from Willis goes long, and Davies’ box kick is gathered by Ealing who patiently work forward and pick up a penalty.  The exit for the line out is well worked, and it’s another advantage to Ealing who have started well.  

The ball is kicked to the corner and another good exit sets up a maul from which, cleverly, Ealing work the ball up the short side and go for line but it’s a penalty to Sarries for running in front without the ball.  Sarries kick to the Ealing 40 and press forward with good work from Maitland and Farrell, who takes a knock to the head in the process, as we close in on the line through a sharp-looking Swinson.  Mako goes in, Koch has a go as Ealing come under serious pressure before Itoje drives over on 11 mins.

 Farrell, in imperious form since coming back from the Six Nations, successfully converts and it’s 0-10.

Sarries continue to pile on the pressure, charging forward through a Swinson break followed a brilliant pickup from Farrell who then sets up Davies to crash over. The grounding is checked and all is in order, leaving Farrell free to make it 0-17 with 33 minutes played.  Although in terms of general play it remains a close game and Ealing are certainly not playing badly or being outclassed, Sarries are simply ruthless in taking their chances and it’s no exaggeration to say that few sides in Europe could live with us in this mood. 

Willis kicks too long and it’s a scrum to Sarries on the hallway line. The ball is worked left to Maitland in space but he can’t keep hold of the ball and it’s a scrum to Ealing. A great shove from Koch wins the penalty but the line out is a little sloppy as an overthrow does reach Billy Sarries who sets Maitland free on the left flank to jinks over but knocks on as he tries to ground the ball – this isn’t immediately apparent to the match officials and to his great credit admits to the infringement.

Barnes appears to have a tiny piece of the pitch in his eye.  

The resulting scrum to Ealing collapses but the home side come away with the ball, and Hampson kicks long to clear the Ealing lines. 

Another Sarries penalty comes off a scrum as Ealing’s pack is coming under increasing pressure, and Farrell goes for posts this time to take Sarries to 0-20 as we pass the half hour mark.

Wray gathers the restart and Davies kicks long for a line out to Ealing.  The West Londoners work the ball wide but the ball falls loose and Wray prods it forward.

 Back come Ealing but lose the ball forward under pressure and it’s a Sarries scrum on our right

 Another reset and Barnes this time “has a word”. The sides pack down again and it’s a anther penalty to Sarries but the line out results in the ball being turned over to Ealing for going in early. A needed short breather for Ealing as they kick long, and then they work forward but the ball spills loose, although Tompkins overruns and back we come for a scrum to Ealing. Another mighty shove from Koch, yet another penalty to Sarries.

The clock’s now in the red as a strong drive from the Sarries maul ends with George  falling off the end and powering  gleefully over (if anyone ca power gleefully, it’s Jamie),  Farrell makes it 0-27 with the last act of the half.

At half time, as the teams are taking in some much needed fluid and I suspect there’s a conversation about staying motivated and disciplined going in the Ealing dressing room, although in terms of general  play, as I’ve commented above,  Trailfinders have done nothing  wrong - they’re just up against a side that’s still capable of going toe-to-toe with Europe’s finest, playing the classic Sarries brand of rugby with a smothering wolf pack defence, the set-piece processes working to perfection, and the ability to come away with points  every time they venture into the Ealing 22.

Let’s see how things go in the second half.   Ealing make some substitutions for the second half.

Willis restarts, which Maitland gathers to set Sarries grinding forward. Davies kicks a little long  but fortuitously the ball makes contact with an Ealing player on its way into touch so series have the throw-in –  the maul  is set up and Davies kicks for Hammond to gather but he’s penned in – the ball somehow reaches Bodilly in space who breaks at speed and makes 60 metres in what looks a promising break,  but the pacey Daly gets  to him, and although Ealing deserve at least something from the game and I certainly wouldn’t begrudge them a score, it’s still a “phew” moment.  

Sarries drive forward again and it’s our penalty – this time, Wayne Barnes has a word with them.  Unfortunately, Farrell misses a straightforward kick close to the posts, pulling the ball wide of the left stick. Sweat in his eyes?

Goode gathers the ball from the Ealing restart, kicks high, and Sarries surge forward with Daly showing well, going through the gears as Mako shows what soft hands he has for a front row brute,   but Ealing regain the ball and clear, only for Sarries, who are by no means wilting in the stifling heat, come back again but the ball is spilled forward. Ealing try to force the issue but a calm Lewington clears our lines.

Sarries pick up possession and Davies promisingly kicks high and straight but Sarries have four players in an offside position.  Ealing’s penalty is kicked to Sarries’ five metre line, and as with earlier in the game, it’s clever exit as the ball is worked to the short side, a ploy I rather like, and Hampson and Hammond combine well but are denied by the side-line.

Shortly afterwards, Tompkins surges forward in his inimitable and frequently  unstoppable way, and Ealing gather the ball but again are hemmed in by a Sarries defence almost as  stifling as the heat.

Sarries gather the ball and Davies clears, Ealing return the favour and Sarries flow forward and although Daly fumbles the ball we carry on up the left flank, work inside, then left again pulling a surely tiring Ealing around, but this good spell of play ends with a high tackle and it’s a Sarries penalty.  The line out in on 5 metres is gathered by Itoje, the maul crabs inside - and over we go through Billy on 44 minutes.  Farrell converts from the left and the score reaches 0-34.

Itoje gathers Ealing’s restart and Davies clears, from which Ealing try and drive forward in a good spell of possession, retaining the ball from a Hampson kick.

Sarries clear long, forcing Ealing to expend more of their remaining energy working their way back up from a deep position.  A box kick from Goode sets up a short kicking match and then Sarries push forward but it’s a turnover and Ealing try to break.  A kick goes long and a bone-jarring two-man hit on Mako coughs up the ball to Ealing who are still looking determined to go toe to toe with Sarries.

The next significant action in a game that remains a lot closer than the score line suggests is a penalty to Sarries for leaving hands on the ground.   Lewington  goes close after being fed from the maul as he tries to skip  through the Ealing defence but is stopped,  and shortly afterwards  good work from Davies takes Sarries towards the Ealing line and Tompkins does get over but loses control of the ball  and instead of wild celebrations it’s an Ealing scrum on their own 5 metre line.  

Reffell is now on for Rhodes.

Sarries turn the ball over from the scrum, and in a truly terrifying burst of power, Billy drives over from the left, to makes it 0-41 at 55 minutes. Some may disagree with me, but I’m sensing Billy is becoming once more capable of getting his mojo working – and it’s a wonderful if brutal sight.

Wray gathers the long restart, Davies clears kicks and Ealing, still trying to get something from the game, kick long and pressure Goode into fumbling his gather.

Adams-Hale is now on for Mako.  Both sides must be tiring by now as we pass the hour mark,, evinced by a few errors creeping in, with Sarries pushing forward, Ealing stealing back possession, Sarries retrieving the ball, and then Ealing regain with Hammond, who you’ll remember scored after slaloming through our entire defence in the Trailfinders Cup, breaks at pace but is pulled back for a Sarries scrum.  Again, I wouldn’t have begrudged them a score.

Sarries make a brisk exit from the scrum, and Billy shows his kicking skills to find touch. I do wonder where Mako and Billy couldn’t play, such wonderful rugby skills, both of them.  Sarries’ change of front row is complete as Woolstencroft and the cut hero that is Clarey are now on for George and Koch.

The line out to Ealing is worked well and it’s now a penalty to the men in green and white.  Another good line out, but the maul is scrappy and Ealing clear, only for Goode to return the ball with interest.

 Ealing execute a clean line out and maul – but Swinson, in swashbuckling mood today, disrupts the maul and Sarries turn the ball over and then we have a scrum.

Tompkins makes good ground from the exit but Ealing steal it,  still trying to create some momentum but Reffell wins a penalty  which is kicked  towards the corner on the right,  crossing the line 8 metres out from Ealing’s. Itoje gathers athletically takes and the maul rumbles forward but is collapsed and Ealing are also penalised for side entry – the punishments are a penalty try for Sarries and a yellow card for Thompson – so it’s 0-48 at 62 mins.

E game carries on and it’s a line out to Sarries, followed by the grinding maul routine and a long kick clearing from Davies – back come Ealing but it’s a scrum to Sarries.  Taylor is now on.  

A great shove from Clarey, maintaining the dominance started by Koch, wins Sarries another penalty. By now, it’s apparent that the Ealing pack has not got much left in the tank.

Ealing this time steal the ball from the line out on their 22, kick long and suddenly the home side are pressuring the Sarries line, winning a penalty in one of their best period of pressure, with 10 minutes left.

Sarries are defending hard even now, with the clock running down and a huge lead.

The ball is poked though and Goode reaches it but it’s a penalty to Ealing 7 metres out.  Sarries clear, then Ealing return the ball, and then back come Sarries who work it to Tompkins in space on the right to swerve inside and cross the line on 74 minutes. Farrell’s last act of the game is to add the extras for 0-55 and then saunter off to rehydrate.

In the closing stages of the game now, Ealing chase their own restart but Davies clears and there’s a short kicking match which ends with Maitland inelegantly kicking to touch.  

Ealing win their line out but Itoje charges down the clearance.  Whiteley’s on now.  Another line out to Ealing which Itoje steals and Sarries patiently work forward.

Saving the best to last, Sarries treat us to a burst of what I can only describe as Barnet Globetrotters rugby as after a stunning exhibition of ball play, climaxing with a superbly agile offload from Taylor, Maitland is set free  to glide over just to the right of the posts. The conversion’s missed and the game end at 0-60.

Well, dependent on the result next week- we can’t lose by 61 points at home…can we?? – and everything being well in terms of avoiding any Covid-19 outbreaks at either club (although would we go up in those circumstances if the second leg were declared a 0-0 draw?) this could prove to be the biggest game in our history.

Sarries performance is our team at its ruthless best – Owen is imperious, Billy’s getting back to something approaching his best, Vincent has surely been a nightmare to face in the scrum, and Tim Swinson has had an absolute stormer and is deservedly awarded Man of the Match.

Ealing have by no means been completely outplayed, it has to be said, and my sincere hope is that we’ll see Ben Ward and the Trailfinders in the Premiership before too long. Good club, well run, hugely impressive coach and well worthy of a place in the top tier.

TEAMS

Ealing Trailfinders: Johnston; Hammond, Bodilly, Gordon, Cordy-Redden; Willis, Hampson; Davis, Malton, Whyte, De Wee, Cannon, Murphy, Uzokwe, Smid (capt).

Replacements: Van Vuuren, Gibbons, Thiede, Linsell, Thompson, Burns, Daniels, Al-Jiboori.

Sin-bin: Thompson (65)

Saracens: Goode; Lewington, Daly, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell (capt), Davies; M Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Swinson, Rhodes, Wray, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Adams-Hale, Clarey, Hunter-Hill, Reffell, Whiteley, Taylor, Segun.

Referee: Wayne Barnes