Bonus point too little, too late for Sarries

By Jason Harris
September 27 2004

Outside half Nicky Little restored a little respectability to the Sarries scoreline as he converted his own injury-time try to salvage a losing bonus point as the Men in Black suffered their first home defeat of the season going down 29-23 to the Leeds Tykes at Vicarage Road.

Little's contribution of 18 points was overshadowed by his opposite number Gordon Ross who scored 19 points in an outstanding performance that saw him control the game form no10 while Sarries lacked midfield punch and direction, often playing into the hands of a solid Tykes defence.

Though the result netted Sarries a Zurich Premiership point, it was never in doubt as the Tykes led 19-7 at the break. A Ross penalty opened the scoring on 2 minutes and Leeds made it 10-0 on 12 minutes after a move from first phase was rounded off superbly by young wing Tom Biggs who rounded Saracens fullback and ex-Tyke Dan Scarbrough to touch down in the left hand corner with Ross adding an excellent conversion.

The Men in Black were finally stirrred into action and got their reward when Paul Bailey scored in the corner after Leeds hooker Mark Regan overthrew a ball to the tail of the lineout. Saracens scrum half Morgan Williams gathered the loose ball and it was spun left for Bailey to finsih off a flowing move. Little added the tricky touchline conversion and Sarries were back in it at 10-7.

The rest of the first half was controlled by Ross who kept his pack going forward with some good kicking from hand while Sarries struggled to make headway and the closet they came to scoring again before half time was a missed Little penalty attempt on 25 minutes. Ross, meanwhile, was perfect with the boot and landed three more goals to make it 19-7 Leeds at the half.

There was more purpose and direction to Saracens' play early in the second half as they strung several phases together and enticed the Leeds defence to infringe twice in the opening tem minutes to give Little the chance to add two more penalties and reduce the arrears to six points.

A further goal apiece from the two outside halves set up a tense final 10 minutes as Sarries were finally in the ascendancy and one converted try away from stealing the win at 16-22.

However, Leeds had other ideas and put the game beyond the home side's reach eight minutes from time when their South African centre Andre Snyman spun out of a tackle inside the Sarries 22 and he crashed over under the posts. The Ross conversion was a formality and, at 29-16, Leeds were heading back up the M1 with four points in the bag courtesy of their first win of the season.

Sarries pushed everything into attack in injury time and Leeds were penalised several times as the Men in Black lay siege to the Tykes line, desperately trying to finish within seven points to take something away from another disappointing performance.

Little duly obliged after being fed by Moses Rauluni, who proved more effective at half back than the departed Williams, and the Fijian coolly slotted the conversion with the last kick of the match to get the bonus point.

Saracens will know that they are lacking a cutting edge in the backs without the presence of Thomas Castaignede and Leeds will be very pleased with an excellent all-round performance. London Irish await next weekend and with Northampton and Newcastle to follow, Sarries really need to get back into the winning habit if they are not to lose touch with the teams at the top before the European season begins at the end of October.