Sarries hold on. Just.

By Jason Harris
April 30 2003

Saracens gave themselves a little breathing space in the Zurich Premiership relegation scrap after edging out Bristol Shoguns 17-16 at a rainswept Vicarage Road despite scoring no points in a very tense second half.

After shane Drahm's third penalty of the night pulling Bristol back to within a point of the Men in Black with ten minutes of regulation time left on the clock, thoughts of the previous game's last-second hearbreak came flooding back to the Sarries faithful.

But the home side clung on that solitary point and by keeping Bristol at bay during those ten minutes and the seven minutes of injury time added by referee Tony Spreadbury, moved themselves three points futher away from the Shoguns and four from last place in the table, now occupied by London Irish.

Saracens started with a bang and within 90 seconds, right wing Richard Haughton was under the posts for what he thought was the opening try of the night. However, this was to be ruled out as the England 7s regular just dabbed his foot on the touchline at the 22 metre mark on his way to the sticks. Andy Goode then missed a fourth minute penalty and a possible 10-0 lead didn't materialise.

Bristol exercised supremacy in the lineout with Alex Brown outstanding and it was from a lineout five metres from the Sarries try line that Bristol scored their only try of the night on seven minutes.

Yet again Saracens were left clinging onto thin air as the Shoguns pack used the catch and drive to score with ease, Andy Sheridan emerging from the pile of bodies with the ball and five points to his name. Shane Drahm converted superbly from the kick off and Bristol were ahead 7-0.

Sarries responded within five minutes. After a quickly-taken 22 metre drop out from Kevin Sorrell, Darragh O'Mahony sped up the left touchline making 50 metres of ground before being hauled down by the Shoguns cover.

The ball was speedily recycled and moved swiftly to the right to Haughton who this time made no mistake going over in the right-hand corner. Goode also made no mistake with the conversion and it was game on a seven points apiece.

Just before the end of the first quarter, Craig Yandell was replaced by Abdel Benazzi who rolled back the years as he took the ball up time and again for the Men in Black for the rest of the match. But just as the Frenchman ran out onto the turf, the heavens opened and the running rugby promised by Sarries could no longer continue.

Saracens resorted to the crossfield kick for their second try. The ball was taken into the Bristol 22 by the hard-charging Sarries pack before Goode spotted Ben Johnston and O'Mahony unmarked on the left wing. The kick went up, Johnston gathered and he drew the Bristol defenders to hand the try to O'Mahony. Goode once again found his range and Sarries were up 14-7.

Bristol narrowed the gap to 14-10 courtesy of a Drahm penalty before Goode landed a superb snap drop goal from all of 50 metres just before half time taking the score at the break to 17-10.

That lead lasted barely a minute in to the second half and it was reduced to four points by Drahm's second penalty of the night.

The second half became a war of attrition, even though the monsoon of the second quarter had taken its leave, as both packs clattered into each other with intense ferocity.

But the greasy ball meant that Bristol, who were chasing the game, struggled to break down the Saracens rearguard. Good Sarries discipline meant that the only other score was the 70th minute Drahm penalty, but they still struggled in the lineouts and missed in all four chances at goal that would have denied Bristol what could be a precious bonus point.

For Sarries, Tim Horan was once again outstanding and there were impressive contributions from Ben Skirving after he came on to replace Kris Chesney, Kyran Bracken - who completely outplayed his opposite number Augustin Pichot - and a man-of-the-match performance from Haughton.

The game itself wasn't pretty, but the four points gained thanks to Sarries' first league win since the turn of the year will be the most beautiful and precious things the Men in Black have acquired of late.