TC Steals The Show As Sarries March On

Mercurial. Nuff said
By Henry Harman
April 17 2006

Saracens good run of form continued this afternoon as they squeezed past London Wasps in a pulsating game in front of 10,000 at Vicarage Road. It was only the second win in 13 outings against Wasps and the first at Vicarage Road since 1999.

Thomas Castaignede will get the headlines (see above!) as his solo effort; the only try of the game, on 48 minutes was the outstanding piece of open-field running in the game. Castaignede’s strength in the tackle, dancing feet and wicked burst of pace saw him cut through 6 defenders before crossing the line in front of a delirious South Stand.

Wasps took an early lead, Mark Van Gisbergen slotted over two penalties as Wasps looked very controlled in all aspects, their scrum was steady, Dawson was snipping and scrapping around the base and the outside backs were looking quick. That’s about where the game ended for Wasps as far as control of the game is concerned, on the back of a couple of crunching hits from Kevin Sorrell and MOTM Taine Randell Sarries lifted themselves and began to push the former European Champions backwards.

Matt Dawson was forced to leave the fray with ten minutes remaining in the first half. Carried from the pitch after what the BBC is reporting as a late tackle by Randell. With my one eye fully open, I would be surprised if Randell were punished for the ‘offence.’

By the time referee Martin Fox blew up for half-time amidst a flurry of arms, fists and elbows, Sarries were solidly in the game on the back of two Glen Jackson penalties to Van Gisbergen’s three. Jackson had controlled the game well, outside him Ben Johnston and Tevita Vaikona were starting to open the Wasps defence up and Wasps pack were beginning to suffer at the set-piece. Their line-out was inconsistent, and their scrum began to wobble under the Visagie-led Saracens 8.

Wasps quickly came out of the blocks in the second half, earning a kickable penalty which they turned down in favour of the kick to the corner. Sarries however were in their most belligerent of moods, akin to that of the defensive performance against Leicester at home last season and accordingly Wasps left their visit to the Sarries 5 metre line with nothing.

Enter Castaignede’s marvellous solo effort which was converted from in-front of the posts by Jackson.

Van Gisbergen kicked Wasps back within a point at 13-12, still very much game-on with 20 minutes to play.

Sarries continued to press and if it hadn’t been for knock-ons by Visagie and Bartholomeusz and Kevin Yates ignoring an open Kris Chesney 10 yards out the home team would have been home and hosed with 10 remaining.

Sarries, however, held tight for what was the sweetest victory of the season for the resurgent Men in Black. They were clearly the better team on the day and their Wycombe-based opponents will have to dig deep to earn the home Championship semi-final that they crave so badly.

The fact that Sarries threw away so many scoring opportunities will serve as notice to Leicester Tigers that they will have a real fight on their hands come April 28th – I’m sure that they will come fully prepared! From a Sarries point of view let’s hope that they display the same lack of basic control as the Wasps both on and off the ball.

SCORERS: Saracens: Try: Castaignède (50min). Conversion: Jackson.

Penalty goals: Jackson 2 (17, 36).

London Wasps: Penalty goals: Van Gisbergen 4 (5, 12, 24, 61).

SCORING SEQUENCE: (Saracens first): 0-3, 0-6, 3-6, 3-9, 6-9 (half-time), 13-9, 13-12.

SARACENS: M Bartholomeusz; T Castaignède, B Johnston (rep: D Harris 56), K Sorrell, T Vaikona; G Jackson, K Bracken (rep: M Rauluni 56); K Yates, S Byrne (rep: M Cairns 72), C Visagie, S Raiwalui, T Ryder, K Chesney, T Randell, H Vyvyan.

LONDON WASPS: M van Gisbergen; P Sackey, J Lewsey (rep: A Erinle 70), S Abbott, T Voyce; A King (rep: J Staunton 71), M Dawson (rep: E Reddan 30); T Payne, J Ward (rep: R Ibanez 74), P Bracken (rep: A McKenzie 68), D Leo, R Birkett, J Haskell, J Worsley, L Dallaglio.

Referee: M Fox.

Attendance: 10,491.