Memorable Memorial win for Sarries
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:18
Saracens earned their third successive Guinness Premiership league victory, as Glen Jackson kicked his side to a 23-16 win over Bristol at the Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.
The flyhalf struck 18 points in what was a hard-fought win for the travelling side, who also had a first half Kameli Ratuvou try to thank for the win.
It wasn't all one-way traffic, as the home side missed four kickable penalties in the game - but for Saracens it was a first win on their travels this season, to follow up the wins over Newcastle Falcons and Northampton Saints in the past two weeks.
Jackson struck five penalties and a drop-goal in his haul in a game that showed rare glimpses of attacking rugby and was dominated by the kickers and the referees whistle.
It was Saracens who got the first points on the board on a cold and windy night at the Memorial Stadium, but it took until midway through the first half to do so.
Before that, the strong wind was making life difficult for both hookers and with the referee's whistle seemingly interrupting play every few minutes, there was little chance for flowing rugby.
But the visitors had the best passages of play early in the game and had Kameli Ratuvou not dropped a clever inside pass from Glen Jackson, he would have been over the line.
However, the Sarries forward pack took control at the resulting scrum and turned their opponents to win the ball back. It was then down to the backs once again and Jackson looped with Adam Powell and Ratuvou was put clear in the corner. Jackson's touchline conversion was wide.
But that seemed to spark the home side into life. From the restart, the Bristol forwards rumbled forward and went through the phases from one side of the pitch to the other before David Lemi took possession under the posts and he stepped inside the covering tackle to score. Adrian Jarvis converted.
Jarvis extended the lead minutes later when he pack piled forward once again and with the Sarries defenders forced into conceding a penalty, the home flyhalf added the extra three points.
But straight from the kick off Jackson struck a 35 metre effort into the wind with Bristol this time penalised and he was to retain the lead for his side with another kick minutes later – but it came from what should have been a Saracens try.
Ratuvou made an incisive break from halfway and got all the way to the Bristol 22 before delivering a floated overhead pass for Hugh Vyvyan, but the forward couldn't collect. However, from the scrum as a result of the knock-on, referee Tim Wigglesworth penalised the home side and Jackson took a simple three points.
Having lost Adam Powell in the first half through injury – he was replaced by Chris Wyles – Saracens were forced into another change at half time with Richard Haughton forced from the field after taking a bang to the head late in the half. It meant Moses Rauluni taking the scrumhalf jersey and Neil de Kock switching to the wing.
But, early pressure from the visitors saw them force another penalty and Jackson struck the kick from the 22 to extend the lead.
Saracens were let off the hook twice in the space of three minutes by Jarvis as he missed two kickable penalties, but Jackson showed his opposite number the way as he made it 17-10 to the visitors after 55 minutes with his fourth penalty of the game.
He struck his fifth only five minutes later to give Sarries a 10 point advantage going into the final 20 minutes.
Jarvis missed another before Ed Barnes struck three points from in front of the posts after a penalty that saw Ben Skirving sent to the sin bin. After Jackson saw a kick charged down, the Saracens defence was scrambling back and a try looked out on wide but Skirving prevented a quick release and the referee quickly went to his pocket.
But Saracens still pushed upfield in search of points despite being reduced to 14 men and Jackson struck a lovely drop goal off his left foot to make it a 10 point game once again. However, the home side set up an entertaining finish with Barnes making it a seven point game once again with five minutes remaining.
However, Saracens held on for a hard fought victory.
The scorers:
For Bristol:
Try: Lemi
Con: Jarvis
Pens: Jarvis, Barnes 2
For Saracens:
Try: Ratuvou
Pens: Jackson 5
DG: Jackson
Teams:
Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Ed Barnes, 11 David Lemi, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Graeme Beveridge, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Joe El Abd (captain), 6 Alfie To'oala, 5 Nathan Budgett, 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 3 Jason Hobson, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 Alex Clarke.
Replacements: 16
David Blaney, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Robert Sidoli, 19 Andrew Blowers, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Luke Eves, 22 Greg Barden.
Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Michael Owen, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Ben Skirving, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Nick Lloyd, 19 Kris Chesney, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Chris Wyles.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Touch judges: Paul Dix, Bob Mullis
TMO: Laurie Bryant
