With eight of our more experienced players missing this friendly against good opposition gave us the opportunity to give all the squad at least a half of pressurised game time.

Form the kick-off Barnet we missed the clean catch to put ourselves under pressure on our own line. After two scrums we managed to scoop the ball out to Ross Forrester who ran the length on the pitch to score under the posts. Charlie Northrop didn't manage to add the extra 2 points. 0-5.

Saracens came back strongly, moving the ball and rucking well and scoring two tries and one conversion to make the score 12 - 5 midway through the first half. Alexander Walker prevented a Saracens try in the right hand corner, holding up the man and ball at the flag.Against the run of play from a scrum on the left side of the Saracens 22 Ted Parker picked up and scored in the left hand corner. Alexander Walker couldn't add the extra 2 points. 12 - 10.

In the last 5 minutes of the first half Barnet started to ruck and play with more dynamism and George Sturley broke through down the right hand side to score under the posts and Alexander Walker added the 2 points. to make the half time score 12 - 17. We rolled all our bench on to make sure everyone go at least a half. A mention for Jack Manaley who came on for the second half and had to come off for a bloodied nose after a fearless tackle on one of the Saracens big runners.

After half time Barnet started with much more energy, with strong breaks from George Fishpool, Ross Forrester, and George Sturley, and pressed hard with Jacob Hoffman held up over the line. In the 5th minute of the second half Ross Forrester went over to make it 12 - 22. Louie Mcardle couldn't add the extra 2 points. Barnet went to sleep a little and let Saracens, who brought on the cavalry, back into it and slowly Saracens ground the forwards down and scored a converted try on the left hand side. 19 - 22

Barnet just had to hold on for the final 2 minutes and disappointingly we lost on the final play - not being able to kick the ball to touch and letting Saracens over in the right hand corner after some heavy pressure

Overall some good play from our less experienced players but still plenty to learn. In particular, we need to maintain our intensity for the full 50 minutes and to improve the accuracy of execution - make the tackle not nearly make the tackle, make the pass not nearly make the pass, win the ruck not nearly, make the catch not nearly...

Player of the Match was George Fishpool for brave tackles and great running. And a special mention to two of our newer players, Yunus Jahangeer and Owen Taylor. Well done!