Kiss the Powergen Goodbye

By Jason Harris
October 2 2005

Although the Powergen Cup isn't that important in the grand scheme of things, shipping another four tries, daft turnovers and dismal defence will certainly have the coaches and supporters of Saracens worried. Cardiff rarely looked as if they were not in control as they eased past Sarries 37-20.

The Blues started the brighter and in the first quarter had the better of the territory and possession, but as Saracens reached some sort of parity they gifted the home side two quick tries to make their evening in the Welsh Capital a difficult one.

The first try for Craig Morgan came about as Kevin Sorrell tried to force a pass to Hugh Vyvyan that really wasn't on and the Cardiff wing snapped up the interception to go in untouched and outside half Nick Robinson added the first of his four conversions.

Cardiff's second five pointer came from another Sarries mistake; slow to the breakdown, Saracens failed to scoop up the ball at a ruck they had won. Craig Quinnell pounced after referee Phil Fear, whose pernickety application of the law frustrated Saracens players and supporters alike, declared the ball had cleared the ruck. Ten seconds later, centre Jamie Robinson had touched down to give the scoreline a more appropriate look, such was the early dominance of the Blues.

While Sarries carelessness can be cited for setting up their opponents' first two tries, sheer Bules brilliance was in plentiful supply for their third. Rhys Williams split open the Saracens defence with a lightning-quick break and with only Dan Scarbrough - in at fullback for late withdrawal Thomas Castatignede - to beat, the fullback had a choice of supporting players to supply the scoring pass. Flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor was the beneficiary and he touched down under the posts.

Prior to this third try Glen Jackson had taken Sarries off the mark, but at 21-3 and half time rapidly approaching, a monumental comeback was needed if the visitors were going to salvage the game.

There were some glimmers of hope for a short while. Kevin Sorrell made up for his previous error by scoring under the posts from a mazy run that left several home defenders flat-footed and Glen Jackson converted and added a further penalty to make it 21-13. The Blues had the final word in a frantic first half when Robinson added another penalty - ludicrously awarded for a Taine Randell obstruction when a Cardiff player ran right into him - making the score at the break 24-13.

The home side's lead was extended a further three points courtesy of another Nick Robinson penalty before Sarries clawed their way back into contention through a Matt Cairns try from a five-metre catch-and-drive. Jackson goaled to make it 27-20 and with still quite a bit of time remanining, the impossible looked very possible indeed.

Alas, it wasn't to be. Sarries indiscipline cost them as the game became more and more fragmented as both sides tired. The sin-binnings of Sorrell and Iain Fullarton didn't help matters and the Welsh side capitalised on their numerical advantage with the final try of the evening going to Nick Robinson following some excellent work from Man-of-the-Match Andy Powell. The Blues outside half took his personal tally to 22 points with another penalty and despite a late rally from Sarries, the home defence held firm and as the final whistle sounded, the 37-20 score line was about right based on the run of play.

Sarries were pedestrian in defence, devoid of ideas in attack; particularly in the dying minutes when the home supporters' boos and slow handclap spoke volumes of Saracens' lack of nous behind the scrum meant they kept driving off the side of the ruck without success.

So, with bogey side London Irish coming to Vicarage Road next Sunday and a trip to London Wasps - a team that hasn't been beaten away from home by Sarries in nine years - in December, the focus must be on shoring up that leaky defence in time for two games that could have a huge impact on Sarries' season.

Bristol away in the Premiership on 16 October is already - with Saracnes' current 1-3 record - a must-win. Biarritz at home the following Sunday is going to be daunting and winning that nigh-on impossible unless the defence is sorted in time.



Cardiff Blues R Williams (capt); Czekaj, J Robinson (R Powell 75), L Thomas (Nuthall ht), Morgan; N Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, Goodfield (Johnson 77), Evans (M Jones 56), Quinnell (D Jones 74), Sidoli, Molitika (Rush 53), Sowden-Taylor (M Williams 74), A Powell.

Tries: Morgan, J Robinson, Sowden-Taylor, N Robinson. Cons: N Robinson 4. Pens: N Robinson 3.

Saracens Obi (BJ Russell 75); Scarbrough, Sorrell, Harris (Powell 76), Bailey; Jackson, Raulini (Dickens 46); Lloyd (Yates 50), Cairns (Byrne 61), Broster, Raiwalui (Chesney 50), Fullarton, Randell, Seymour, Vyvyan.

Tries: Sorrell, Cairns. Cons: Jackson 2. Pens: Jackson 2.

Referee: P Fear.

Attendance: 8,212