LV: Saracens vs Harlequins.The one that got away.

Looking at the team sheets my thoughts were very much along the lines of Sarries pack versus the Quins backs, if we could get some decent ball we could really have a successful outing. While thinking about the teams, would have been nice if the Sarries £4 programme made some attempt at getting the Quins team correct, after all, the team was announced on Friday – Williams, Stuart, Sinkler, Clifford??, you couldn`t make it up, could you? 

The match started pretty much as you would expect with the home team pressing and Quins did exceptionally well to come out of the opening exchanges only three points down. Not easy to see what was happening from my position in the south stand ,but every breakdown seemed to end up with a penalty to Saracens, reading some of the comments post match from those with benefit of the TV commentary and reflink, it seems it was no clearer. Thought that Quins worked very hard to get themselves back into the game but yet again, could not seem to look after the ball at crucial times especially in the lineout. A gifted chargedown try and some woeful tackling by OLH on the wing certainly did nothing for the cause. 

Not sure what was said in the Quins dressing room at half time, being 15 – 3 down and close to dead and buried, but whatever it was, it seemed to work as the team came out very much on the front foot. An early substitute of Tim Swiel for Louis Grimoldy really seemed to invigorate the team and we had a completely different game on our hands, he really seemed to manage the backline. After a long period of pressure Mark Lambert went over for a well deserved try, what a great servant to the club he is, always gives at least 110%.

Now we were watching a proper game of rugby and when Charlie Walker went over in the corner followed by the two extra points I thought we were in with a real chance.

Then in steps Mr Hodges again, a yellow card for something as innocuous as OLH`s “tackle”, what makes it even worse is that he apparently took absolutely no notice of the TMO even though he referred the incident to him, diabolical, but hey ho, you lose some and you lose some. The Off, Off, Off cries from a section of the Sarries fans didn`t help. 

Just a few thoughts from the game as a whole; thought the young pack stood up pretty well overall to the Sarries forwards, (just donning my protective clothing and waiting for the onslaught) thought that JTH had a good game and great to see him and George Lowe playing 12 and 13 together again, OLH still showing his frailties, Tim Swiel is going to make a great back up to Nev and yet again Sarries had to do almost nothing to put one over on us. 

This game really was there for the taking but Quins did not have the nous to take it. Thought that Quins would just nick this one (my prediction 23 – 25), final score Saracens 25, Quins 20.