THAT'S ALL FOLKS

So in the end it didn’t matter. Sarries did what they had to do (well just) and got the try bonus and the win however so did everyone else so it’s as you were, we finish 6th and head for the sea and the sun.

I wish I could say something a bit more positive about today’s game but it had a real end-of-term feel about it. I don’t think anyone realistically expected miracles and the players seemed to treat it more like a friendly than something that mattered. As expected, Bath sent their Reserve team (was it even that?) while the Sarries side was pretty much full strength. At least the weather played ball – a lovely summer’s day (so why on earth were the floodlights on for goodness sake?) a full house and a free drink for members. (Talking of which, although a nice gesture, Sarries have clearly forgotten that some of their members might have preferred a glass of wine instead of beer?)

The rugby Gods had sent us Karl Dickson with the whistle and Matt Carley in the truck – a dastardly duo if ever there was one! Ivan Van Zyl and Andy Onyeama-Christie led the side out, each making their 100^th appearance but the biggest cheer was reserved for Alex Goode making his final appearance for Saracens. What a guy.

Things didn’t start too well, Bath scoring through Green from their first visit to the Sarries 22. Orlando Bailey converted. At least that seemed to focus Saracens’ minds. The intent was obvious when Burke put a kickable penalty in the corner, the lineout was secured and a lovely move saw Burke find Segun who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed but the scoreboard looked better 5-7. Riccioni got clattered and departed for an HIA (which thankfully he passed). It looked like a dream score when Segun broke and found Tobias Elliott in space. Christie tried to chip and chase and Alex Goode seemed to have scored but Mr Dickson was already waving for a Christie knock-on. Shame, would have been a fitting end for Alex.

A foul on Tompkins led to a 5m line out, the maul got set, the backs poured in (Tompkins really does seem to make a difference) and over they went with inevitably Jamie George coming up with the ball. Burke slotted the extras for a 12-7 lead. Sarries seemed to have the upper hand although I was a bit uncomfortable with the way they were chucking the ball about. A charge down from Maro led to another maul illegally felled and resulting in a yellow card for Griffin. Sarries took the scrum from the penalty and after a couple of goes, Van Zyl fired the ball out to Daly who scored. Burke kicked the extras for 19-7.

The Bath lineout was looking shaky but as half time approached, Sarries didn’t seem able to capitalize on their dominance – over ambitious passes, knock ons and a rather daft cross-field kick from Daly all contributed to not very much.

Mawi replaced Carre at half time. The rather wild passing continued and ex-England wing Ruaridh McConnochie showed what was to come when he intercepted Theo McFarland’s attempt to keep the ball in play and set off for the other end of the pitch. Tobias Elliott showed his pace by catching him up and Tompkins pulled off a super turnover to win Sarries a penalty. I have to say everything seemed rather over-complicated. Goodey’s team-mates seemed more concerned with trying to give him a try than winning the match! Eventually the forwards stopped the rot with Jamie George scoring the bonus point try from yet another lineout maul. Burke missed the kick but at 24-7 things looked a bit more comfortable. Sarries looked good for the next 5 minutes or so with some lovely breaks and passes but somehow nothing came of any of it.

McCall showed his hand (presumably aware of scores elsewhere) – he pulled off Jamie, Maro and Theo to be replaced by Theo#2, Tizard and Gonzalez. Within a couple of minutes, Dan had completed a “hooker’s hat-trick” touching down from the maul. Again Burke missed the kick but it was now 29-7. As the hour approached, so did the game’s true moment of magic when Fergus chipped over the Bath defence, kept running despite being checked by a Bath player, gathered and kicked the ball again and scored a lovely try (which he converted) 36-7.

60 minutes gone and time for Alex Goode to make an emotional departure from the stage. The whole ground stood and clapped him, he hugged all his team-mates; the Bath players and even Karl Dickson applauded him into retirement. Meanwhile the welcome return of Lucio Cinti went almost un-noticed. Willis and Riccioni also departed for Beaton and Earl. Bath put the restart straight out then messed up another line-out. Surely time for Sarries to kick on and rack up the points (OK points difference wasn’t going to be a factor but it feels good). But this is Saracens! Whether they had tears in their eyes or what I don’t know but the wheels came off. First the useful looking Tyler Offiah intercepted a lazy pass, ran the length of the pitch and scored. 36-12. Both sides changed their scrum halves then Bath should have scored again but somehow they failed. However it was only a brief stay of execution because the Bath maul rolled over for replacement hooker Kepu Tuipulotu to score their 3^rd. The conversion was good for 36-19. Minutes later another casual pass was intercepted, this time by Louie Hennessey who scored Bath’s bonus point try. 36-26.

So only 4 minutes left but this was turning into Northampton all over again. 3 tries conceded in 11 minutes and now the scrum was going backwards as well. You might have thought Sarries would have battened down the hatches, just tried to keep the ball in the Bath half and run down the clock but no, they were still chucking the ball around as if they were a load of kids in the playground. Thank goodness for a knock-on, a scrum that wasted a  couple of minutes and the final whistle.

Good luck to Bath in the semi’s – you’ve been the best team by far this season and deserve the title. Well done to your hoards of supporters who made their way to StoneX in the sunshine – your youngsters nearly pulled it off! Meanwhile  we end the season in 6^th. It is for another time and another place to review our “season of transition” in more detail (any volunteers?) but a few things stood out for me.

Why can’t we play for 80 minutes?

Why do we seem to make a lot of wrong choices?

When the subs come on (and let’s face it today’s bench were no mugs) the wheels come off.

We have all summer to think about these and many other things. Meanwhile I think Tompkins got Man of the Match (was it ever announced?) He deserved it anyway. Goodbye and good wishes to Goodey. A proper appreciation to follow in the coming weeks but at least he won’t get called “Andy” any more.

Have a great summer everyone and see you in September. Let’s hope next season is a better one.

SARACENS

Goode (Cinti) Elliott, Daly, Tompkins, Segun, Burke, Van Zyl (Bracken); Carre (Mawi), George (Dan), Riccioni (Beaton), Itoje (Tizard), Isiekwe, McFarland (Gonzalez), Christie, Willis (Earl)

BATH

Woods, Emens, Hennessey, Parry (Offiah), McConnochie, Bailey, Schreuder (Le Roux); Kirk (Cordwell), Spandler (Tuipulotu), Griffin (Verdan), Jeans (Stewart), Richards, Staddon, Cowan (Timmins), Green (Graham)

SCORERS:

Saracens 36: Tries: Segun, George (2), Daly, Dan, Burke. Conv: Burke (3)

Bath 26: Tries: Green, Offiah, Tuipolutu, Hennessey; Conv: Bailey (3)

Att: 10,500

Referee: Karl Dickson