1st XV match report – Saracens Amateurs RFC - 23 vs. Barnet Elizabethans RFC – 3

From the outset, it looked like the large crowd would be in for a tense game, with both teams appearing evenly matched. Both defences made an impression early on as each side lost a player apiece in the opening exchanges – Barnet lost young prop Sam Strack to a knee injury, and although Saracens lost their fly-half following a heavy Barnet tackle, it did not seem to materially affect the home side’s game plan. Barnet were given an early let off when a kickable penalty opportunity slid wide but the Saracens full-back made up for it two minutes later, giving the home side a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes. The remainder of the first-half was tight with little penetration offered by either side. The only other points came via the boot of Robbie Cameron after Barnet were awarded a penalty for Saracens killing the ball in their own 22 following a break by James Oram. However, the home kicker missed another kickable penalty after around 20 minutes, meaning that Barnet were lucky to go in level at 3-3 at half-time.

The message at half-time was obvious and all too familiar: look after the ball in contact and stop giving away penalties. Although Barnet were gifting Saracens possession and territory by conceding needless penalties (although some credit should go to the home no.8 who was excellent at the break-down), the away side were starting to exert some dominance in the scrum and lineout which could provide a decent platform to attack from in the second-half.

Unfortunately, the second-half started like the first as the Saracens kicker slotted an early penalty to open up a 6-3 lead. For the remainder of the half, Saracens’ kicking game became increasingly potent, putting the Barnet back three under pressure and giving the home side a significant territorial advantage.

Saracens kicked another penalty just after the hour mark to stretch their lead to 9-3 but Barnet’s forward play was starting to improve, with Jono Wilkins and Mikel Boucon attacking hard around the fringes. The home side gave away a string of penalties in and around their own 22 for pulling down Barnet lineout drives or killing the ball at the ruck but the referee refused to take any further action. However, this changed with about 10 minutes remaining when the referee sin binned one forward from each side for “fighting” although the actions of the Saracens player had been more deserving of punishment than any Barnet retaliation.

Shortly after the yellow cards, Saracens stretched their lead further. A well-placed cross field kick was chased by two Saracens backs, who managed to out-jump the Barnet defender, and following a lucky bounce, the ball found an on-rushing Saracen who took the ball into the Barnet 22 and following a couple of quick recycles, the home side scored under the posts. The conversion made the score 16-3 with just under ten minutes to go. For the remainder of the game, Barnet were camped in the Saracens 22, piling pressure onto their line via the lineout maul and attacking around the fringes. To their credit, the Saracens defence held strong and with the final phase of the game, a speculative pass was picked off by a Saracens defender who would have gone the length of the field but for an outstanding cover tackle by Cameron. However, the Barnet defence was in disarray and following two further phases, the ball was spun out wide for an easy try, putting the final score at 23-3 following the conversion.

This was a poor performance from Barnet but it is difficult to win a game at any level if you consistently give away possession through turnovers or penalties. On a positive note, the defence was excellent once again, allowing the home side only one genuine line break throughout the 80 minutes; and with 4 teenagers in the pack, it was impressive to see the Barnet forwards slightly edge a much more experienced home pack in the scrum, lineout and maul. Special mention should also go to new prop, Mikel Boucon, playing his first game for the 1st XV, who provided scrummaging power and physicality around the ruck, having come on as an early replacement.

Team: Gomez, Porter, Strack, Wilkins, Hardy, Pangratiou, Pratt, Oram (c); Harris, Telfer, Cameron R, Gardiner, Ulyet, Cassidy, Dewan. Subs: Boucon, Yeboa, Bishop