So it’s g’bye Vicarage Road (Sorry Elton)
By Adrian Laws
January 9 2012
Let’s be honest. Back in December, how many of us would have thought the idea of Bath taking a losing bonus point from this fixture was bonkers? It’s never good to report back on a loss, but, in true coach-speak, there were some positives to take from this performance – and, in supporter-speak, a good few questions too.
The first point of the day came Bath’s way as early as the 4th minute. A positive start from Bath saw Matt Carraro causing the Sarries defence problems in the centre of the pitch. Quick ball back found Stephen Donald who showed, went and found the way to the line open to him. With the game still in its infancy, Bath were looking strong and were 7 points up. Vicarage Road was suddenly very quiet.
Shall we do the ‘have a go at Vicarage Road’ bit now? No? Later then.
One of the positives mentioned earlier was the Bath performance up front. And within ten minutes of the first score the pack was parked on the Saracens line asking questions it seemed the men in black had no answer to. Despite repeated infringements and an eventual a yellow card handed out to Sarries prop Gill, the referee refused to award the penalty try and eventually Sarries were able to clear their lines with a penalty. With 3 minutes of the sin bin gone, Saracens used the penalty to advance into Bath territory with the ball travelling through good hands in the backs before being delivered to Bath old boy Steve Borthwick to cross the line.
Still in the first quarter, and this had the makings of a cracking encounter.
Donald took Bath 3 points clear, but there was little else to show for the one man advantage and, with Gill back on the pitch Farrell evened out the scores on the half hour and gave the hosts the lead with a further kick just before half time. At 13-10 down, Bath were still very much in the game.
Half time sounds like an ideal time to have a bit of a go at Vicarage Road, eh? No time right now. Later.
Bath were forced to ring the changes early on after the restart with Stephen Donald going off with what looked like a worrying shoulder injury and making way for Tom Heathcote. Farrell was next to trouble the scoreboard taking the men in black six points clear. On the hour, Bath forward pressure gave Tom an easy shot at goal and he duly reduced the deficit.
Just when it seemed the second half was going to be a test of kickers nerves (and, indeed, had Farrell been completely on song, Sarries would have been sitting on a comfortable lead by this stage), American Eagle Chris Wyles danced through the strangely absent Bath defence to put the game beyond the visitors.
Kicks were exchanged as the game wound down and it was left to Tom Heathcote to secure the losing bonus point with the last kick of the game. Saracens 26, Bath Rugby 19.
Right, those positives.
The pack picked up where they left off last week. We saw power and precision albeit against higher quality opposition. The line out is still shaky but was improved. Nice to see Dixie back too.
Matt Carraro was a huge presence in the centre.
Tom Heathcote is maturing into a very good player and game manager very quickly.
And the questions?
What are we doing about the penalty count against us – Farrell could easily have made the game safe earlier.
How can we get Banners and Biggsy more involved? Is it because of our tendency to kick from 10? These guys can cause immense damage running on to the ball at pace? Why don’t we do that?
If Wyles is an American, why isn’t he playing for us?
Alright. Vicarage Road. OK, it doesn’t have much in the way of soul but you have to ask how a high flying team like Saracens attract a crowd of less than 6,000. As I said to the Sarries fan next to me, ‘Are you looking forward to Barnet?’ No response.
‘I SAID, ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO BARNET?’
In the end, I texted him.
Watford. Lovely to see old friends, frighteningly grown up godsons and to meet Sarries fan extraordinaire, Big George, who is big and is called George.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:16:12:45:10 by Susanne.
Oh and time to condemn those drums too - the guys playing them look thoroughly bored!!!