Sarries nearly blow it

By Jason Harris (filed: 17/1/04)
January 17 2004

Saracens came within a whisker of letting slip a 31 point first leg lead against Glasgow at Hughenden. The Scots won the match 33-5 but narrowly failed to achieve what many thought was impossible and turn the tie around. Sarries went through 42-39 on aggregate and will be very relieved to hang on.

Being so far behind after a 37-6 reverse at Vicarage Road, Glasgow had nothing to lose going into the second leg which was played in freezing conditions.

The home side applied some early pressure and a 30m break centre Andy Henderson set up a ruck in the Sarries half. The Men in Black were penalised for offside at the ruck, but Warriors outside half Dan Parks missed with the goal attempt on four minutes.

But Glasgow made amends eight minutes later and opened the scoring with a try from man-of-the-match Henderson after the ball was won at a five metre lineout; the home side's first visit to the Sarries 22. Parks nailed the conversion and it was Glasgow 7, Saracens 0.

Further pressure from the home team was to follow as Sarries seemed content to clear their lines and let Glasgow run the ball back at them. This tatic backfired, however, when the Glasgow back three of Maclure, Kerr and Lamont combined in a great attack that was stopped just short of the line by further Sarries interference at the ruck. Luckily for the visitors, Parks elected to kick for the corner instead of goal and they wer let off as the home pack lost direction and gave away a scrum for accidental offside.

This minor setback was a short one as Glasgow once again pressed just three minuts later. Sarries were found to be offside again on their own 22 and referee Didier Mene gave Parks a chance to extend the lead from in front of the posts. The kick was good and the score moved to 10-0 Glasgow.

Sarries were warned contiuously by Mene for persistent infringements in the loose and the Frenchman's patience snapped on 28 minutes when he sent Saracens prop Steve Sparks to the sin bin after a further offence at a ruck on the Sarries line. Prior to that, Glasgow had rejected another chance to extend their lead by kicking for the corner instead of the posts and leaving the Sarries 22 fruitless.

The visitors were now under intense pressure, not only in the loose and in open play, but in the scrummage as well and while they were down to 14 men, they kicked the ball deep into Glasgow territory and even won a penalty on 35 minutes. Thomas Castaignede, who made it known that he did not like the Webb Ellis balls used in the tournament after he missed some kicks in Rome in the opening game, put his effort from 40 metres out well wide.

Saracens finally broke their duck only a couple of minutes later after a good lineout take at the front from Codling set up a driving maul. Onwards it rolled for 30 metres and it was brought down a metre from the Glasgow line. As Mene played the advantage, Morgan Williams drove over to score Sarries' only points of the evening as Castaignede hit the upright with the conversion attempt.

It was a case of hero turned villain in first half injury time as Williams was sin-binned for interfering with opposite number Graeme Beveridge's pass from a ruck on the Saracens line. Glasgow again kicked to the corner and failed to accrue further points before Mene blew for the half with the score on the night Glasgow 13, Saracens 5 and 19-42 on aggregate.

Sarries showed more purpose in the opening exchanges of the second period and Thomas Castaignede narrowly failed to score after he kicked ahead from his own 22; Glasgow wing Gareth Maclure carried the ball over his own line just before the Frenchman got his toe to the ball five metres out.

Futher indiscipline was punished after just four minutes by Parks. His penalty goal after yet another offside at the ruck extended the Warriors' lead on the night to 16-5 and narrowed the overall gap to 22-42 and then, another four minutes later, Glasgow scored their second try.

Henderson was once again involved as his break from the Sarries ten metre line put him behind the defence and in support was fullback Rory Kerr who ran in at the right corner. Parks converted and Glasgow, at 23-5 and now just 13 points behind overall, were believing that the impossible was not beyond them.

There was a surprise on 56 minutes when Parks, who had been having a great game at no.10, was replaced by Calving Howarth. But this didn't cause Glasgow any problems as they continued to test Saracens with some more great running from depth, close support and control.

Indeed, the home crowd had to wait only three minutes after Howarth's introduction for the try of the night scored by flanker and captain Cammy Mather.

The chance came from a scrum awarded after a crooked throw into a lineout by Robbie Russell 35 meters out. From the ensuing scrum, Beveridge and Howarth sent their threequarter line on a run out to the right. A ruck was set up 10 metres out, just in from the right touchline. Back came the ball and some slick Glasgow passing moved it left towards Mather who made use of the extra man to dummy and ease over the line. Howarth obliged with the extras and, with just six points in the tie, the momentum was firmly with the home side. With a quarter of the game still to play, Glasgow looked like they could achieve the impossible and go through to the quarter finals.

The final 20 minutes were very nervous as both sides now knew it was do or die stuff. The hitherto anonymous Richard Haughton came close with 13 minutes left on the clock, but his 40 metre run was ended just short of the line by Kerr and Maclure. Ben Johnston also made some headway shortly afterwards, but he was turned over deep inside the Glagsow 22.

Back came the Warriors and with 10 minutes to play in regulation time they were awarded another penalty for another offence at the ruck - this time Sarries were pinged for pulling down - and Howarth booted the three points.

There were now just three points in the tie: Glasgow 33, Saracens 5; 39-42 on aggregate.

Sarries played it very cautiously for the tense sixteen minutes played between Howarth's last penalty goal and the final whistle. Glasgow threw everything at them, but the red defensive line held firm, pinning their hosts back in their own half throughout.

Knowing that a draw would not be enough for Glasgow, Sarries cotinued to make their opponents run from deep and even had a chance to wrap things up as Castaignede had a go at a drop goal in injury time, but that effort went wide.

With the crowd and momentum behind them, Glagsow were stirred into one last effort and they dragged themselves back into the Sarries half. With six and a half minutes of extra time already on the clock, the Glagsow forwards knocked on and Mene blew the final whistle, to the great relief of the Men in Red and coach Kafer.

Montferrand or Newcastle await next weekend and Sarries must sort out their discipline, scrummaging, handling and kicking if they are to challenge those two sides for a place in the semi-finals. It was a very disappointing performance and it was evident, at least on the players' faces after the game, that they were as disappointed as those fans who made the long, cold trip north of the Border.

But through to the last eight they are, and that is the most important thing until 3pm on Sunday 25 January, when the first leg in the quarter final will be played away from home.

Glasgow – Rory Kerr; Gareth Maclure, Graeme Morrison, Andrew Henderson, Sean Lamont; Dan Parks, Graeme Beveridge; Euan Murray, Gordon Bulloch, Lee Harrison, Andrew Hall, Nathan Ross, Cameron Mather (captain), Jon Petrie, Donnie Macfadyen . Substitutes – Rory McKay for Ross (26-36 minutes), Calvin Howarth for Parks (57), Stuart Moffat for Morrison (70), McKay for Hall (72), Andrew Kelly for Harrison (76). Not used: Scott Lawson, Roland Reid, Sam Pinder.

Tries: Henderson, Kerr, Mather
Conversions, Parks (2), Howarth
Penalties, Parks (3), Howarth.

Saracens - Richard Haughton; Denis Cech, Paul Bailey, Ben Johnston, Darragh O’Mahony; Thomas Castaignede, Morgan Williams; Steven Sparks, Robbie Russell, Ben Broster, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Alex Codling, Kris Chesney, Ben Skirving, Ben Russell.

Substitutes - Ryan Peacey for Skirving (half-time), Nicky Little for Bailey (79). Not used: Johnny Marsters, James Parkes, Craig Yandell, Daniel Legge, Kyran Bracken.

Try: Williams.

Referee – Didier Mene (France).

Attendance – 2645.