SHOW'S A FLOP
By The Saracens
March 23 2025
I had a bad feeling about this one. I’m not a great fan of the Showdown, I’d far rather the game was held at StoneX – but it is what it is and nearly 55,000 people battled Railtrack and turned up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a warm spring afternoon to watch this year’s derby day. We made the wise decision to drive to Cheshunt rather than Broxbourne which paid dividends in many ways! You’d think various organisations could get together and discuss these things wouldn’t you – our big day out at Spurs but no trains north of Broxbourne and the chaos that then ensued.
After that fabulous performance in 2024, together with Quins resting St Marcus and a couple of other big names, many supporters seemed to think this was going to be a walk in the park. Afterall, most of Sarries big guns were back, rested and recovered from injury along with returning internationals who were apparently really up for the game. 2 significant omissions: Ben Earl and Rhys Carre. I really think we missed them.
It all started well when after just 4 minutes a kick ahead from Van Zyl following a loose pass from Dombrandt took Sarries to within 5 metres then a quick tap penalty from Jamie George allowed McFarland to score try #1 which Loz converted. Maybe it was going to be OK afterall?
It’s good to give, generosity is a virtue but Sarries made hash after hash of attacking forays. Every time they got themselves into a decent position in the Quins 22, it was Quins who seemed to come up with the ball. Referee homework this week was obviously the forward pass because 2 promising attacks were halted for being forward (one more obvious than the other). Things started going wrong when the unlucky Roti Segun left the field after 20 minutes with what looked like a shoulder injury to be replaced by Alex Goode. Daly shifted to the wing and Alex to fullback.
Quins won the aerial battle – I can’t remember a 50:50 high ball that Sarries won all game – so why did we keep kicking it? (Maybe because we couldn’t catch either?) We were playing like a group of guys who hadn’t seen each other for 2 months!!! Fortunately we seemed to be defending OK even if the attacking machine wasn’t firing (and to be honest, Quins weren’t looking that great either). More wastefulness when Fergus overcooked a penalty and missed touch turning a potential scoring opportunity into a defensive scrum. As half time approached, Sarries had a kickable penalty but went for touch. It proved to be the right move as they executed probably the best move of the game when a lovely pass from Goode and a wrap around from Fergus put Elliott over in the corner for try #2. Loz couldn’t add the extras but 12-0 felt reasonably OK at half time and we hoped McCall could work his magic in the 2nd half. How wrong can you be?
I’m not sure whether it was enforced or tactical but Quins changed their 10 at half time with Jamie Benson replacing Jarrod Evans. Whatever the reason it turned out to be an inspired move with Quins looking more purposeful and gradually gaining the upper hand (with quite a bit of help from Sarries). Another wasted opportunity when Gonzalez and Van Zyl got the ball to within inches of the try line only for yet another Quins turnover.
Sarries brought on Theo Dan for Jamie, Phil Brantingham for Mawi and a big hand for Nick Isiekwe replacing Tizard. For me the change in hooker was another broken link in a pretty rusty chain. Dan’s first touch of the ball was a lineout (why do we so often change our hooker at a lineout, it rarely ends well?) and Quins gratefully received his offering. In fact I don’t think we won any of our own lineouts in the 2nd half. For all his Brits-like ability around the park, if the guy can’t throw he’s a liability!
A clash of heads saw Tompkins leave the field for an HIA (although why the TMO took so long to draw the incident to Mr Leal’s attention I have no idea. Everyone waited for the medics to sort Tompkins out but he was almost off the pitch before the officials decided to get involved). It was just a penalty (right decision in my opinion) however the kick to touch and another line out disaster from Dan led to Quin’s first try when a break from Beard (apparently untouchable by our defence) found Waghorn who scored. Benson converted (apparently his first premiership points) and it was 12-7. Tompkins was replaced by Andy Onyeama-Christie: great to see him back but he’s not a centre! Why did we go with a fashionable 6:2 split? When you lose a wing early in a match (and that can happen any time) it simply doesn’t work.
Sarries won a penalty on half way which was marched forward 10m for dissent and became a pretty straightforward 3 pointer but Loz hooked the kick and the momentum was back with Quins. The error was compounded when Quins won a scrum penalty just in the Sarries half. Benson never looked like missing and now it was 12-10.
The longer the game went on, the more hapless Sarries became. They looked clueless – out of ideas, out of energy, out of sorts. Quins started running rings around them and really there was only ever going to be one result from now on. McFarland was replaced by Gareth Simpson who headed for the wing allowing Daly to make yet another positional change to centre and Onyeama-Christie to return to the back row. But this didn’t help an attack that looked pretty toothless from the start. It now had raging gum disease.
Sarries were spending far too much time in their own 22 and all exit strategies seemed to have failed. A silly chip led to another Quins penalty. Not an easy kick but once again a nerveless Benson never looked like missing and Quins were deservedly ahead. With 5 minutes left there were bodies all over the pitch. Another late intervention from the TMO resulted in another Quins penalty and another 3 points. 12-16. A try would still do it for Sarries but nothing looked less likely. One last half hearted attack and yet another Quins turnover. And the sad sight of Phil Brantingham hobbling off.
At this point the “wonderful “news flashed up on the big screens that there were no trains running because of “an incident” at Bethnal Green – a stinking end to a pretty shite day. Maybe the team saw it as well and the prospect of them having to walk home was all too much because they stood and watched while Porter scored a 2nd try (which Benson of course converted) making the final score 12-23 and removing even a losing bonus point (which we didn’t deserve anyway!).
Not a day to remember. We got a train back to Cheshunt just after 6 (silently grateful that we didn’t have to find a way to Broxbourne) and went to the pub to drown our sorrows.
So we drop to 7th with 6 games left. A playoff place looks a big ask but who knows, rugby’s a funny game. We go to Welford Road next weekend to take on the all-conquering Leicester Tigers. Rumour has it the internationals will get a break – well I’m not sure their replacements could do any worse.
SARACENS
Daly, Elliott, Lozowski, Tompkins (Oneyama-Christie), Segun (Goode), Burke, Van Zyl; Mawi (Brantingham), George (Dan), Riccioni (Clarey), Itoje, Tizard (Isikwe), McFarland (Simpson), Gonzalez, Willis (Michelow)
HARLEQUINS
Halfpenny (Green), Isgro, Beard, Waghorn, David, Evans (Benson), Porter; Jones (Els), Walker (Riley), Lamositele (Hobson), Launchbury (Herbst), Lewies (Hammond), Kenningham
Scorers
SARACENS (12): Tries: McFarland, Elliott, Conv: Lozowski
HARLEQUINS (23): Tries: Waghorn, Porter; Conv: Benson (2); Pens: Benson (3)
Referee: Adam Leal
Attendance 54,414
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:14:19:11:46 by Darraghgirl.
Transport in this country (not a rugby issue just part of a failing country’s failing infrastructure) is awful (it sounded like half the tube system was down from the announcements on the St Pancras tannoy), you’d have done better to walk to Seven Sisters and take the train from St Pancras to where ever you parked, I was home by 6.30, or had a night out in central London.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:23:13:01:30 by maynas.
On one of the TMOs ‘delayed interventions’ he did state that he was already looking at a potential incident which led to JMG needing treatment and that he would then look at the other incident.
Also the TMO was looking in the background before indicating to the Ref that incidents needed formal review which then come up on the big screen.
Noticeably less folk travelling this route this year compared to last year.
Quote:nicsue
I may regret posting this. Our current favourite way to travel to Tottenham is to drive to Hatfield (other stations are available), take the train to Alexandra Palace, and from there the free shuttle bus to the Tottenham Stadium (maybe a five minute walk actually.)
Noticeably less folk travelling this route this year compared to last year.
Us too, although we start with a 20 minute walk to Stevenage station, and usually walk back to Ally Pally rather than getting the shuttle. Only 45 mins or so walk and the crowds evaporate as soon as you're past railway station.
We really need to sort ourselves out on the pitch, as ticket sales will continue to nosedive and we will be in serious financial straits.
Quote:Mac L
I believe it is seen as a money earner, or is it just a hope that more people will attend games at the Stonex? Either way this year's game was dire, why play exhausted players?. Why hold it at a ground where there are still a number of issues. The P A system was so poor prior to the game. Could not understand what was being shouted into the mic. No atmosphere, people simply holding conversations amongst themselves
I was one of the ones holding conversations - our group hadn't seen each other for two months. A small point, but one I will make on the questionnaire.
Have to say that Cuppy wasn't enjoyed by our group - and we had ages from 16-83!! 'I personally would have liked to hear Jim Hamilton, but that wasn't happening.
The game itself was a disappointment this year as Sarries significantly underperformed against expectations . We desperately need some new backs to add some pace and power to our back division. Malins will definitely help but oh for a Brad Barritt type player at 12 and a rapier at 13 (could Cinti do that? )
We are not Champions material this year and so I would like to see some experimentation in terms of personnel and playing style in the remaining weeks. As I have said elsewhere I would prioritise the match against Leicester over the one against Toulon.
But the down-grading of season ticket holder seat allocations has got to stop.
Quote:maynas
Can you explain the downgrading please, I dont see that
My gold seat at StoneX is on the 10 m line. At Tottenham the best I can get is on the 22. I presume that's what's meant.
I thought Cuppy was good though, and I'm old.