SARACENS FIREWORK FAILS TO EXPLODE!

Sparks scores
By KooGa
September 12 2004

Round 2 of the Premiership saw new boys Worcester Warriors visit Vicarage Road in what was widely regarded by most as a must have 5 point game for Sarries. What in fact occurred was an expected victory for the Men in Black but the 16-10 result was much closer than most Sarries fans expected.

Saracens were given a boost by the late inclusion of Thomas Castaignède at outside centre but unfortunately someone had failed to light the blue touch paper! And a spirited Worcester side challenged Saracens in every area of the pitch apart from the scrum.

Saracens took the lead through a Castaignède penalty only for Riawalui to spill the re-start which was pounced on by Worcester who proceeded to take it through the phases driving towards the Saracens goal line with former Man in Black Steven Sparks dived over for Worcester’s first premiership try. Tommy Hayes duly converted to put Wuss into a 3 - 7 lead.

Saracens fought hard against a Worcester side that was growing in self belief as the first half wore on. The Men in Black had the upper hand in the tight with Visagie giving Sparks a master class in front row scrimmaging culminating in referee Chris White awarding Saracens a penalty after Worcester collapsed the scrum five times. This led to Worcester replacing try scorer Sparks.

Sarries got back into the game when a long pass from Castaignède to Randell led to flanker putting winger Bailey, who beat three Worcester defenders to scorer in the corner. Castaignède hit a solid conversion attempt which appeared to bi-sect the posts only for the touch judges to adjudicate a miss. The Frenchman then protested to the referee, the bench and then the touch judge only to fall on deaf ears. Saracens ahead 8 points to 7.

Bailey was replaced by Del-boy Haughton shortly afterwards to provide a bit more gas and an anticipated show of clean heels to his opposite number and flair.

However, it was Worcester who went into a well deserved half time orange segment 8 - 10 when referee White awarded them a penalty two metres in their own half which Tommy Hayes duly slotted between the post with length to spare.

Both sides returned to pitch for the second half with no further changes having been made. Though Saracens had again found their matches too wet to light the fuse and Worcester continued to defend with gusto they rarely threatened the Sarries goal line.

The Men in Black regained the lead when Dan Scarbrough crossed the line for his first try of the season in the corner. This was preceded by strange affair that saw Del-boy firstly kick on a rare spilled ball by Worcester, then gather and touch down the ball over the goal line with a Worcester defender riding on his back. The try wasn’t given as would appear that neither the referee could confirm that the try was legitimate and a 5 metre scrum was awarded to Sarries. Though Worcester nearly pushed the Saracens off the ball the Men in Black recovered the situation to see Scarbrough score. Thomas Castaignède failed to add the extras 13 – 10 Saracens in front.

Worcester’s Tommy Hayes missed two penalty attempts one from the halfway line wide out at the touchline, before Castaignède extended Saracens lead to 6 points from a penalty just outside Worcester's twenty two. Saracens lack of a consistent kicker led them to spurn attempts at goal in favour of kicks to touch.

Late in the game Worcester still had belief that they were better value than a single lose bonus point and pressed on for the win. Saracens much improved defence held firm and went back up the park with Worcester conceding a penalty which could deny them the valuable bonus point. Up stepped the erratic Nicki Little who had just replaced Barclay’s Man of the Match Castaignède to take the penalty in front of the post and just outside Worcester’s twenty two. Fortunately for the brave Worcester Warriors their well deserved lose bonus was secure.

To coin an expression from an ex-England captain at Twickenham recently we played badly but we nearly won – in our case we played badly and we DID win! We’re going to have to remember our matches this coming Friday against an inform Sale if we want to get anything from the Sharks.