Sarries Can't Blow The Bristol House Down

By T.O.K.S.
February 27 2006

Having pursued the now-customary game plan of allowing the opposition to build up a sizeable lead before starting to play, Saracens fell just short of the comeback required against a resolute and well-organised Bristol team.

On small margins do these type of games often swing. First example - before the game we were all disappointed to find that Haughton would not be featuring, flu later being diagnosed as the problem. While Vaikona acquitted himself well, Haughton's absence meant that searing pace was off the menu. Second example - right up until the very last moment before the teams went off the pitch prior to the game Jason Strange was practising his kicking and testing the wind. Glenda wasn't. From our seats in the South Stand we could see that Strange was allowing quite some margin for the wind (8-10 feet) for a strong wind blowing across the pitch from the East Stand. Ten seconds into the game Saracens are awarded a penalty dead in front 22 metres out - the perfect scenario in a crucial game. Glenda sends the ball towards the LEFT upright and it dives further left. We (unfortunately) had a perfect view of it. The countdown clock was so distressed it went haywire for several minutes. Don't believe the Fish when it says that kick was down to nerves.

From about 20 minutes in, having judged the wind, Glenda kicked well. Strange kicked well both from hand and off the ground from minute one. As I say, small margins.

Various things are always going to happen in basement matches like these. Nerves will always play a large part, the game would probably be tight and won or lost through the forwards, and there would be plenty of mistakes on both sides. Sarries' forwards started well. A rolling maul took them almost to the Bristol line and an attacking scrum ensued. It soon became evident that Cobus had the measure of Hilton and a penalty was duly awarded. However, rather than forcing the point home with another scrum, leading to all sorts of possibilities, Sarries took the points. One wondered just how often opportunities like that would present themselves during the game.

Strange cancelled this out with a penalty in the 10th minute and followed this with further successful kicks in the 21st and 27th minutes as Referee Davey started to assert his authority on the breakdown area. Bristol were starting to build a lead in a game bound to be meagre in points. Their game plan was basic, built around relatively mistake-free rugby and solid defence. However, all Premiership teams have the ability to show flair when the right match situation presents itself and in the 29th minute calamity struck. After a good chip and chase in midfield by Going the ball was worked wide to Stanojevic, he broke a tackle and scored in the corner. The try was well converted by Strange from wide out. The omens were not good, the score was 16-3 and Salter was starting to referee the game well. This score went into half-time but only after a rare Strange miss after a penalty had been overturned for Saracens' indiscipline.

Once the second half started the atmosphere was relatively subdued. Supporters of other teams will doubtless criticise us for not getting behind our team more in their hour of need, but I'm not sure they appreciate quite what mediocrity we've had to endure these past few months. The efforts of a few players are not being reciprocated by certain of their colleagues - we and they know who we're talking about. And, to be fair, Saracens did come out with purpose at the start of the second-half. Jackson reduced the arrears to 10 points in the 50th minute as Davey's patience at the breakdown area finally snapped and Bristol centre Sam Cox was told to go and have a rest for 10 minutes. Regrettably then the indsicipline reared its head again and Simon Raiwalui was also despatched for 10 minutes for dangerous play. Stange slotted the resultant penalty and the 13-point lead was restored.

So, 20 minutes to go, 13 points down, it was the customary time for Sarries to wake up. Ben Russell (of flanker stardom, rather than fly-half) and Adam Powell replaced Seymour and Harris and within 2 minutes Russell had gone over in the corner, Jackson converting well. Could we escape?

Unfortunately the answer was no. Despite great endeavour and good ball retention (why do these things always happen so late?) Bristol held on, with Saracens' lack of angles and creativity in the backs making the defence's job all the easier. The return of the mercurial Gallic one cannot come soon enough.

So where now, for both teams? Saracens are in freefall and it is hard to see any of the final six games being realistically targetted as a "guaranteed" win. We need to add at least 10 points to our current total of 28 to stand any chance of avoiding the drop. At least we won't have to listen to Cakeboy and Nodding Dog trotting out the "too good to go down" line on The Rugby Club, because we most certainly aren't. Bristol are now up to 31 and their victory today will give them heart. Their game plan was not overly adventurous, but it was not unduly negative either, and at this stage of the season, it's about winning.

Where there's life, there's hope. However, a crowd of only 5,216, of which well into four figures were travelling Bristolians, shows that a lot of people have already drawn their own conclusions and voted with their feet.

Teams:
Saracens: Bartholomeusz, Scarborough (Johnston 52), Sorrell, Harris (Powell 62), Vaikona, Jackson, Bracken (Rauluni 52), Lloyd, Byrne (Kyriacou 70), Visagie, Raiwalui, Chesney, Randell, Seymour (Russell 62), Vyvyan.

Bristol: Going, Robinson, Higgitt, Cox, Stanojevic, Strange, Perry, Crompton, Regan, Hilton, Budgett, Llewelyn, Salter, Short, Ward-Smith.

Referee: Sean Davey.
Crowd: 5,216.