Sarries shocked by plucky Parma

By Jason Harris
December 7 2004

Two late tries from Matt Cairns and Thomas Castaignede saved some of Saracens' blushes after going behind 19-3 to a Parma side that played and adapted to the awful conditions much better than their more illustrious opponents, with he final 19-18 scoreline flattering a struggling Sarries side.

As heavy rain fell from a leaden Italian sky, Parma's South African born outside half Roland De Maringy kept the score board ticking over by converting three first half penalty goals as Sarries failed to adapt to the rain, the quagmire of a pitch and the unfamiliar interpretation of the laws by French referee Jean-Pierre Matheu.

The Italians, third from bottom in their domestic Super 10 competition, could have been further ahead than 9-3 at the break, but De Marigny narrowly missed a further penalty chance and a huge drop goal from over 40 metres that cannonned off the left hand upright. Sarries' only first half points came from a Thomas Castaignede penalty at the end of the first quarter.

9-3 became 12-3 just eight minutes into the second half and Sarries were also down to 14 men as Paul Bailey was sin-binned for a late tackle. This was a probably case of mistaken identity as the officials tried to identify the culprit as they, like so many in the stadium, were following the flight of the ball as the Parma player hoofed it downfield. As the penalty was awarded where the ball alighted, De Marigny stepped up to make an easy 30m goal.

Things then went from bad to worse for Saracens as their scrum half Mosese Rauluni was also sin-binned for no more heinous a crime than trying to point out to the officials that Parma had two more men in the lineout than they were permitted. Matheu, who had obviously had enough of players seemingly trying to do his job, sent the Fijian to the cooler in what was probably the most risible decision of the match.

Overmach took full advantage of their two man surplus and duly scored the first try of the match five minutes later. English centre James Shanahan was bundled over the line by his pack after a succession of close-range drives from the forwards. De Marigny, who else, slotted the conversion and the Sarries side was in total disarray at 19-3 down.

Castaignede narrowed the gap slightly to 19-6 with a penalty right at the end of the third quarter and Sarries, now back to their full quota, went about trying to salvage something from a performance that was as dismal as the December downpour in which the game was played.

Cairns's try on 74 minutes came from a catch-and-drive move following a five metre lineout, but Castaignede missed the conversion. And with the score at 19-11, it was obvious, as the match went into injury time, that the win was beyond Sarries' reach and reducing the deficit further was all that remained to play for.

The Castaignede try was scored after Mark Barholomueusz's clever chip which caught the Parma defence flat footed. Castaignede was the first to get boot to ball on the soaking playing surface and he raced to touch down, only to injure his knee and render himself doubtful for the second leg next Sunday in Watford. Bartholomeusz deputised as goal kicker and landed the conversion that narrowed the final gap to a single point, but Parma didn't care as they celebrated their historic win with a formation dive into the mud in front of their jubilant supporters.

Saracens coach Rod Kafer said after the match that the pitch was the worse he had ever seen and that he and his players had diffiuclty understanding some of referee Matheu's interpretations. However, the former Wallaby was adamant that the result at Vicarage Road would be quite different and he fully expects Sarries to win the second leg and win well, setting up a quarter final tie, probably against French side Brive who beat Centransa El Salvador 57-6 in France at the weekend.

Scorers

Parma - try: Shanahan, con: De Marigny, Pen: De Marigny(4)
Saracens - tries: Cairns, Castaignede, con: Bartholomuesz, pen Castaignede (2)

OVERMACH PARMA: Dumond; Larini, Preo, Shanahan, Orsi; de Marigny, Pellicena; M. Barbieri (rep Guidetti, 40) Busato (rep Bortolusso 80), Staibano (rep Coletti 80); Giacon, Cortesi; R.Barbieri, Birchall, Vosawai (rep Soncini 77)

Replacements not used: Bayà, Canale, Fiasconaro
Yellow card: Staibano (70 - not releasing at ruck)

SARACENS: Castaignede (rep Little 80); Bailey, Johnston, Harris (rep Sorrell 66), Vaikona; Bartholomeusz, Rauluni (rep Williams 70); Lloyd, Kyriacou (rep Cairns 64), Broster; Fullarton, Chesney (rep Raiwalui, 56); Skirving, Russell (rep Seymour 56), Vyvyan.

Replacement not used: Yates
Yellow cards: Bailey (58 - late tackle), Rauluni (63 - ungentlemanly conduct)

Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu (France)

Attendance: circa 800