Saracens feel the full Force
Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:49
The Western Force scored a resounding 36-17 victory over Saracens Academy in the second match on their tour of the United Kingdom.
Ahead of the first team clash between the two sides on Friday, it was the turn of the youngsters to take centre stage along with a selection of experienced heads from both outfits.
Saracens 'A'/Academy selection included the likes of Springbok Cobus Visagie, Dan Scarbrough and Adam Powell in their line-up - while the Western Force complimented their side with Super 14 regulars including Tai McIsaac, Junior Pelesasa and new signing Caleb Brown.
Despite coming under early pressure from the visitors, Saracens took the lead in the game with a well worked try for James Short. After making the most of a turnover on halfway, scrumhalf Mickey Wilson brushed off two tackles before releasing the Saracens wing to race home from 30 metres. Flyhalf Jake Sharp added the extra points.
However, within minutes the Force has crossed the line for a score of their own. After going through the phases inside the Saracens 22 and working their way from one side of the pitch to the other, it created a gap for centre Haig Sare to crash over the line from five metres. Scott Daruda's touchline conversion drifted wide.
Although the early scores made it a bright start to the game, both teams struggled to keep their own possession in the first half with numerous turnovers and that wasn't helped when a torrential rain storm unleashed itself on St Albans.
However, as the clouds cleared, Caleb Brown marked his debut for the Perth-based side with a try. Brown joined the Force from the Reds and the wing looked sharp throughout the game and he was on hand to collect a pass from Dion Berryman after the visitors' back three had worked an overlap out wide. Darruda added the extra points and when the flyhalf struck a penalty five minutes later, it gave the Australian side a 15-7 advantage at the half time interval.
Bright sunshine greeted the teams as they ran out for the second period and Sharp reduced the arrears with a penalty on 50 minutes after good work from Scarbrough saw the fullback race 40 metres downfield.
But it was the visitors who earned the next score after a series of penalties conceded by Saracens took them into the home side's 22. It was from another one of those penalties that Force captain Matt Hodgson took a quick tap and went over the line. Daruda converted. The visitors scored another try on the hour and this time Brown turned provider as he broke through the defensive line and released Sare to score his second of the match and Daruda extended the lead with the conversion.
Saracens reduced the deficit with the try of the game on 70 minutes. Another turnover saw Powell burst through the midfield and offload to Sharp who kicked ahead. It was then a foot race between Saracens replacement Dan Caprice and Berryman and it was Caprice who got there first to touch down after the ball had bounced over the line. Sharp converted.
But it was the visitors who had the final word when from a five metre scrum, Daruda received possession and his clever kick through allowed Pelesasa to score and the successful conversion signalled the last action of an entertaining match that will whet the appetite ahead of Friday's clash between the sides.
Scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Short, Caprice
Cons: Sharp 2
Pen: Sharp
For the Western Force:
Tries: Sare 2, Brown, Hodgson, Pelesasa
Cons: Daruda 4
Pen: Daruda
Teams:
Saracens A/Academy: 15 Dan Scarbrough, 14 James Short, 13 Adam Powell (captain), 12 Mike Stanley, 11 Edd Thrower, 10 Jake Sharp, 9 Mickey Wilson, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Don Barrell, 5 Rob Anderson,
4 Harry Spencer, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Alex Walker, 1 Tom Mercey.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Jordan Mitchell, 18 David Seymour, 19 Ben Skirving, 20 Luke Baldwin, 21 Owen Farrell, 22 Dan Caprice, 23 Will Fraser.
Western Force: 15 Dion Berryman, 14 Caleb Brown, 13 Haig Sare, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 James Dougall, 10 Scott Daruda, 9 Justin Turner, 8 Filipe Manu, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Tom Murday, 5 Brent Murphy, 4 Valeni Tia Tia, 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Gareth Hardy.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 TBC, 19 David Pocock, 20 Chris OYoung, 21 James OConnor, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty.
