Saracens v London Welsh Preview

The ‘Men in Black' have recently announced a new deal whereby they will base the training facilities for their professional squad at the OA ground for at least the next 10 years.  They already play ‘A' team fixtures at the site, and it was the venue for the last meeting between the sides on 24^th August 2007.  On that occasion the hosts won 31-7, although Welsh did have the satisfaction of ‘winning' the second half 7-5, courtesy of Paul Sampson's try and Mitch Burton's conversion.

Like last week's opponents, we have also met Saracens twice in both league and cup, although we hold the upper hand in these games. Sarries were only the second team Welsh faced in cup rugby, a second round tie at Southgate in 1971-72 which we won 33-7 in front of a crowd of over 5,000.  The second meeting was in 1977-78, a 14-3 first round win at ODP featuring two debutants in the pack who went on to captain the Exiles throughout the next four years - Bill Davey (capt 1978-79) at prop, and in the back row, Kevin Bowring (1979-82).

Saracens were also our very first opponents in league rugby, a handsome 23-7 win at Bramley Road in 1987-88.  The following season, however, they gained their revenge with a 37-4 victory at ODP on their way to promotion with a 100% record while Welsh, of course, departed in the opposite direction.  The following season Sarries surprised many by finishing a creditable 4^th in the top flight, but success was short-lived, and they spent the next few years bouncing between the top two tiers.  And then came professionalism...

To many followers of the game below Premiership level, Saracens are the embodiment of all that is wrong with the professional game in this country. The soulless football stadium; the expensive ‘big-name' signings from the southern hemisphere, France, and erm... Wigan; gimmicks such as cheerleaders, piped music and the infamous motorised kicking tee; and the turnover of coaching staff.  And earlier this year it seemed to get even worse, with even the club's own supporters reacting angrily to the prospect of Saracens becoming SAracens (sic)- a Springbok outpost in London.

But back in 1995 it seemed that Saracens was the club best-placed to profit from Vernon Pugh's shock announcement.  Unlike many of the rival clubs who quickly acquired wealthy backers, Sarries were already in the top flight.  The old ground at Southgate is fondly (?) remembered as a dog-toilet, but they announced plans to relocate to Enfield FC and then Watford, where they remain today.  Nigel Wray invested millions, bringing the likes of Sella, Pienaar and Lynagh on-board, and in 1997-98 they finished runners-up to Newcastle in the Premiership and thrashed Wasps 48-18 in the final of the Tetley BitterCup.

Click on the link at the bottom of this page to read the second part of this preview.