Sarries Steam In, Josh And Theo Sizzle.....

It was a cold and damp-feeling Friday night as we made our way into StoneX, a little later than usual after enjoying a warming early tea at a packed Metro Italia. The game had already kicked off when we reached our places in the East Stand, and Sarries had made such a positive start that, by the time the Brownes’ bums were on seats, they were already 5-0 up after a reportedly huge kick from Manu had set up a maul from which Tizard had powered his way over the line  - happily we saw Manu’s assured conversion take matters to 7-0 with barely 2 minutes on the clock.

Sarries continued to look lively and fresh, and within 6 minutes their lead was doubled when Hallett picked up a clever grubber from Parton and set up the extraordinary McFarland midway in the Leinster to sprint to the line and balletically place the pill, with Manu adding the extras for 14-0 with barely 10 minutes on the clock.

The Leinster squad, with the exception of their captain Rhys Ruddock, was largely unfamiliar, comprised as it was of second and third-string players, many of whom looked about 14, but nonetheless, and given the Dublin sides’ renowned strength in depth, it was a surprise how easy this was so far.  

On 15 minutes Sarrie put more daylight still between the sides when Tizard drove forward and released McFarland to again finish in flamboyant style – forget the Ash Splash, this was the McFarland Mambo. Manu’s conversion hit the post to leave Sarries19-0.

Leinster, perhaps sensing that the game was in danger of slipping away from them even at this early stage, injected more urgency in their game to press Sarries’ line and won a series of penalties but, as we so often see, a huge defensive shift was rewarded with a turnover and the danger passed.

Approaching the half-hour mark, after the game had settled into a more even contest and with a plume of steam coming off every set-piece – which looked a little eerie - Maitland shook off several defenders but was hauled down before reaching the Leinster tryline, the ball being worked across to find the always predatory Lewington to go over in the corner. Manu was again unable to convert, but the 24-0 scoreline was pleasing to the eye.

Completely irrationally given that this was a friendly, I noted with satisfaction that the bonus point had been secured….I know….one too many glasses of Montepulciano in the Metro…  

Sarries had an opportunity to increase their lead when Cinti chased his own kick but a Leinster defender was alert to the danger – and pacy enough to snuff it out.

Tom Parton, who impresses me every time I see him play,  then did the same to deny Leinster a chance to register on the scoreboard before half-time, and off we went for a Bovril at 24-0.

An enjoyable game so far, with Hallett and McFarland showing particularly well.

Leinster, their considerable pride dented by the one-sided score, began the second half with some purpose in their play, and with 45 minutes gone gained a foothold in proceedings when  Jenkins drove over from a very well-worked maul. The conversion was missed and the score remained at 24-5.

Sarries were starting to empty their bench, and lost a bit of momentum.

Lewington, working hard all game, created a half-chance from his own kick but again an alert Leinster defender snuffed out the danger.

As we reached the hour, Leinster made a further inroad into the acoreline when a lovely piece of rugby cut through Sarries’ defence and set Penny free to score between the posts, Prendergast converting for 24-12.  

Davies was now on and set Elliott up with a lovely chip but the youngster was tackled and lost the ball forward before he could ground it. Shame, it’s always good to see the kids get off the mark.

Hallett, impressive throughout the game, put the game pretty much beyond Leinster  with 10 minutes to go by selling an outrageous dummy to the Leinster defence and hurtling to the line unopposed. Manu’s comversion was successful this time and at 31-12 it was starting to look like “job done”.  

Leinster weren’t quite down an out, though, as just 2 minutes later Deeny scored from a maul  and Prendergast took the score to, from the visitors’ perspective, a respectable-looking 31-19.

Leinster piled on the pressure now, and after Hunter-Hill was yellow-carded it looked like the last few minutes might be a little more nervy than we expected, but Sarries again held out and the pressure was eased by the award of a penalty.

Following the lifting of the siege, Sarries were able to manage the game through to a conclusion and then head off for another few weeks’ breather before the big game at Tottenham.

An entertaining game which rather warmed a bitterly cold night – Sarries maybe had that little bit more power and experience with the number of internationals on show.

Theo McFarland shone, obviously, and the rising star that is Josh Hallett did himself no harm at all and was man of the match; the other player I was looking to see, Tim Swiel, the ex-Quins fly-half - lately of Edinburgh - who is currently on three weeks’ trial at Sarries with, presumably, a view to providing some squad cover, didn’t really have much opportunity to impress after he came on.

With thanks to Louisa Brown for the use of a very spooky photo....

Sarries Squad:

1 Eroni Mawi; 2 James Hadfield; 3 Ollie Hoskins; 4 Theo McFarland; 5 Hugh Tizard;

6 Ollie Stonham; 7 Toby Knight; 8 Billy Vunipola (c); 9 Gareth Simpson; 10 Manu Vunipola;

11 Alex Lewington; 12 Josh Hallett; 13 Lucio Cinti; 14 Sean Maitland; 15 Tom Parton

16 Sam Crean; 17 Tom West; 18 Harvey Beaton ;19 Callum Hunter-Hill; 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez

21 Barnaby Merrett; 22 Aled Davies; 23 Tobias Elliott; 24 Brandon Jackson; 25 Tim Swiel