Bayonne edge Saracens in pre-season
Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:17
Saracens' opening pre-season friendly of the 2008/09 season ended in defeat, as the North London Club were beaten 29-27 by Bayonne in South West France.
In a close fought game, the lead swapped hands regularly throughout the match and despite tries from Ben Skirving, Andy Farrell and Brent Russell along with 12 points from the boot of Glen Jackson, the home side secured the win with a try two minutes from time.
The only change to the starting line-up saw Cencus Johnston start at tighthead prop ahead of Cobus Visagie and it was a slow and steady start for both teams with the score level at 3-3 after the opening quarter of an hour with Manny Edmunds giving the home side the lead on three minutes and Glen Jackson replying four minutes later.
The visitors were guilty of far too many turnovers in the opening half but it was from a penalty try which gave Bayonne the lead on 20 minutes with the referee going under the posts following a series of five-metre attacking scrums. Edmunds added the extras.
But Saracens hit back on 35 minutes when Ben Skirving crashed over from a couple of metres after a catch and drive from a lineout. Jackson added the conversion to make it 10-10 and that was how the score remained until the interval.
Both teams picked up where they left off immediately after the break with a try for each side in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Saracens worked a clever score with Glen Jackson's dummy setting up Andy Farrell to go in under the posts with Jackson then adding the conversion. But Bayonne scored a try of their own when Arnaud Heguy scored after a great run from wing Ben Fall set up the score. Edmunds converted.
Jackson struck a penalty on 55 minutes to give the North London club the lead - an advantage they held for 15 minutes before the home side took the lead once again with wing Xavier Garbajosa crossing the line to make it 22-17 to the French outfit with 10 minutes remaining.
There was plenty of action in the final 10 minutes and with the lead regularly swapping hands. Brent Russell went over for Saracens on 75 minutes and Jackson struck the extra two points to give the visitors a narrow advantage. But they were only able to hold on to it for two minutes as South African Sam Gerber scored and with replacement kicker Daniel Larrachea getting the conversion, the home side held a two point lead going into the final three minutes.
Despite some late pressure on the Bayonne line, the game finished 29-27 with the home side running out victors.
The scorers:
For Bayonne:
Tries: Penalty try, Heguy, Garbajosa, Gerber
Cons: Edmunds 2, Larrachea
Pen: Edmunds
For Saracens:
Tries: Skirving, Farrell, Russell
Cons: Jackson 3
Pens: Jackson
2
Teams:
Bayonne:
Forwards: Lafond, Igiuniz, Avril, Blake, Roumieu, Heguy, Linde, Bergez, Tewhata, Deen, Martin, Bernad, Marmouyet, Puricelli
Backs: Garcia, Howard, Edmonds, Larrechea, Gerber, Lacroix, Gower, Inigo, Bolavucu, Lhande, Fall, Peyras, Maillard
Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Francisco Leonelli, 13 Rodd Penney, 12 Andy Farrell, 11 Brent Russell, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Moses Rauluni, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 David Seymour, 6 Chris Jack, 5 Kris Chesney, 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Tom Mercey.
Replacements: 16 Alex Walker, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Don Barrell, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Mickey Wilson, 21 Adam Powell, 22 Noah Cato.
