U21s end season in style in beating Saracens
Skuse and trophy
By Duncan Wood
May 11 2002
The Bristol Shoguns U21s finished the regular season in style as they saw off their Saracens counterparts at the Memorial Stadium today. Missing several regulars, they were still just too powerful.
Despite lacking several first team regulars, the Bristol Shoguns U21s overcame an uncertain start to grind down their spirited Saracens counterparts and run out 29-13 winners.
Bristol lacked some cohesion at the beginning and turned the ball over too frequently for their own liking. They also infringed too much for the liking of the referee and the Sarries fullback, Andrew Frost, kicked two early penalties to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
However, the Bristol pack then started to take a stranglehold on possession and territory although the breakthrough took some time to arrive with outside half Tom Fielding missing one relatively simple penalty attempt.
A series of 5 metre scrums had the Saracens defence on the ropes and scrum half Matt Britton went perilously close. From the next scrum, on 28 minutes, the pack shoved the Saracens eight backwards and Rich Martin-Redman powered his way over from close range. Tom Fielding's conversion made it 7-6 to Bristol.
Three minutes later, the Bristol forwards mounted a tremendous catch and drive from the Saracens 22. The visitors were unable to halt the charge and captain Richard Skuse was at the bottom of the pile to touch down. Fielding again converted to make the score 14-6.
Having worked so hard to get their noses in front, Bristol will then have been furious to have allowed Saracens back into the match on the stroke of half time. The visitors rolled several phases of possession before moving the ball wider. Blindside flanker, Daniel Legge, took the ball in the outside centre slot and broke the gainline before sidestepping Jon Clarke for a fine score. The conversion brought it back to 14-13 at half time.
Bristol made an early change in the second half with regular scrum half, Paul Hodgson taking the field and he was soon having an influence.
The Shoguns extended their lead on 44 minutes with a confidently struck Fielding penalty shortly before he was replaced by Owen Evans.
The next score would be crucial and it went to Bristol. Moving the ball wide, fullback Jon Clarke hit the line at pace and scythed through the Sarries defence before touching down. Evans converted and Bristol were stretching clear at 24-13.
They made it safe 10 minutes from time and Clarke was again prominent. He arced left towards the touchline and fed Nathan Bressington who came back in on the scissors. The wing couldn't be stopped. 29-13 and the scoring was over.
Bristol really stepped up a gear after the first 20 minutes and a lot of credit has to go to the pack. They tackled superbly around the fringes and snaffled turnover ball on numerous occasions.
Paul Hull rang the changes well and introduced Hodgson and Evans at a crucial time to steady the ship and ease Bristol to victory.
The presentation of the U21 Championship trophy and medals followed to cap another great season. Paul Hull's Academy players have now won the league for 3 consecutive seasons - a great achievement.
They can now enter the U21 playoffs in great spirits.