Devon Cup Semi final
Saracens 0 v 15 Sidmouth 

Sidmouth progressed to the final at Sandy Park against Topsham by utilising their big forwards to roll the ball through rucks and mauls before releasing backs. Sarries struggled to stop the Sidmouth forwards but tackled eventually. Playing with their procession Sarries did not always choose the right option, however they had 3 good opportunities from good handling moves where one on ones or even two on ones were created but stopped by the last tackler or by a tap tackle.
So Sarries fine cup run ended at the semi final stage but all coaches were pleased with the progress made.
Good luck to both Sidmouth and Topsham in the final.

Devon 7s Festival

Sarries travelled to Plymstock and played Exmouth on the first pool game. Sarries were not awake and lost the first match 26  - 12 as a consequence. The next pool game was against Services and Sarries played excellent 7s scoring 6 unanswered tries running out 34 – nil winners. In the plate quarters Sarries met Sidmouth who ran out 24 – 5 winners.

Sunday 28th April

Exeter Saracens U14′s  31 v 34  Stonehouse U14′s

Sarries final game of the season saw Stonehouse visit but due to 7 players with injuries and unavailabilities Sarries only had 14 players with Stonehouse loaning a player.
The game turned out to be Sarries using their fast powerful backs against sharks big forwards.
Time and time again Sarries tackled the 8, the prop and the 2nd row who were the main ball carriers, but numbers often were not available to tackle the next man.
Sarries backs consistently showed their pace and handling running in 5 tries through Lewis Geran 3 and 2 from Fly Half ,  Adam Cotgrove. Ben Haigh converted 3. Despite pressing Sarries could not fight back to win the match eventually losing 34 to 31 in a great game.

Exeter Saracens U15 – Sunday 7th April

Saracens travelled up to North Dorset for a first meeting with Dorchester u15s. As no club had full numbers North Dorset split their resources between Sarries and Dorchester and a full 13 a side game was played. Dorchester’s inexperience showed and they couldn’t contain Kelsea who scored four tries so to redress the balance stand in coaches Jeff and Damian switched her on to the Dorchester team and Kelsea went on to score three more! As always there was lots of determined tackling and competition for the ball but the girls must look to pass and support more and get the ball into space as in the coming weeks we will come against teams that we won’t be able to just run through. The biggest cheer of the afternoon came as Nikkita scored her first try of the season and spent the rest of the day with a huge smile on
her face. Unfortunately dad Gary the u15s official photographer missed it! As always a big team effort with bags of enthusiasm from everyone.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

Exeter Saracens U18′s

On Easter saturday the u18s played two very tough, competitve games against touring sides Reading and Esher in a bumper afternoon of rugby. Sarries lost four tries to two against Esher and two tries to one against Reading. Reading won the game against Esher two tries to nil. Sarries did well in both games and learned some valuable lessons and gave their confidence a huge boost.
They took this confidence up to North Dorset on Sunday 7th April and along with the hosts and Chipping Sodbury pooled resources to play a 10 a side game. Sarries were very competitive at the breakdown and turned over a lot of ball. They also looked to move the ball around to exploit space and score plenty of tries. They could have scored a few more if some of the passes had not been so wayward however there always seemed to be a player on hand to to recover the loose ball. Tallulah played a blinder, making some good breaks which kept the opposition on their toes and resulted in her scoring four tries. She also was a bit of a revelation with the boot as she drop kicked 6 conversions after the team kicking tee vanished. The tackling was ferocious at times which resulted in a very attritional game with numbers on the pitch
varying from 10 a side to 6 a side during the course of the game. All in all a very good run out and some very sporting play and a game that was very enjoyable.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

Saracens u13 girls had a great trip to Minehead Barbarians on Sunday 24th March. Continue Reading →

No game last weekend gave the boys a short break to hopefully spoil their mums on mothers day!! Continue Reading →

Once again 2 games were played simultaneously. It was a good test for Sarries U 8′s against a strong, quick Topsham side.

Ollie H pushed himself to always be in range of the goal line, with some fantastic support play from Jack, Tyler and Matt. Finley also made some supportive runs and read the game well but was unlucky to run out of play several times.  Tyler was talking and tagging as well as ever. Liam, Ollie S and Joseph worked very hard in defence and attack, with some weaving runs from Alfie and both Ollies. A big well done to Oakley for some good runs and passes in his first full game. Austin had one of his best performances and kept taking tags and knocks in equal amounts but refused to give in.
It shows the boys are listening to the coaches as we had 2 well fought matches both showing excellent team spirit and great communication between themselves, even when decisions were going against them.

A big well done to all – including the parents !

Proud to be Sarries !

Another frustrating afternoon at the Exhibition Fields. Exeter Saracens gave everything they could muster against a powerful and well drilled Kingsbridge outfit.

The game started with Sarries on the back foot, but defending as if their lives depended on it. Kingsbridge battered the Sarries 22m area for 15 minutes until they finally scored a try (conversion missed). Kingsbridge soon added a penalty after entry from the side of the ruck from Sarries.

Sarries then seem to switch off and conceded two tries in quick succession (both conversions added) to take the score to 22-0. Sarries then played some excellent rugby and scored an excellent try through utility man Ben Cowley.

Sarries continued to make breaks into the second half but a combination of poor decision making, handling errors and lack of support play meant that none of these opportunities were finished off (story of the season!)

Kingsbridge scored a late push over try and added a last minute drop goal.

The game showed that Sarries can create lots of chances but we need to finish things off.

Next week Sarries have no game and for many it will mean the chance of a much needed rest, a chance to recharge the batteries, come back and enjoy the last four games.

Dorset Festival Sunday 3rd March

Sarries U18s entered into this 10 side 10 minute each way festival with just the 10 players. This meant that they were up against it from the start with no subs and no chance to introduce fresh legs at any stage in proceedings. The very cold conditions and a few delays for injuries meant that stiff muscles and niggly injuries to the players took their toll on Sarries contingent as the festival progressed.

Saracens 28 v 7 Newquay/Leopards 
Sarries fared well against familiar opposition from Cornwall with Chelsea getting 2 tries and Beth and Abbie 1 each. Corinne was on form with her kicking and slotted all 4 conversions.

Saracens 7 v 15 Ellingham & Ringwood
Corinne got all the points in this narrow defeat when she converted her own try.

Saracens 0 v 30 Old Northamptonians 
As injuries bit into Sarries numbers so the ref took time off the game, one minute for each player less than the full 10 the midlanders got their bonus point and Sarries were on their way home.

Pictures can be found on facebook.

Saracens U15 were in the 7 a side festival and were lucky enough to be able to enter two sides, Saracens and Crusaders. This meant that no one had to be left behind and so miss out though given the cold I’m sure that one or two wouldn’t have minded staying at home in the warm. The Crusaders were up first but didnt make the greatest of starts but as the afternoon wore on they did improve greatly and scored a few tries for their efforts Captain Nikkita put in a good shift and Brianna Miller did well and got stuck in on her debut for the club.

Crusdaers 0 v 45 Ellingham & Ringwood 
Crusaders 15 v 20 North Dorset 
The home team just had the edge in this match but tries from Courtney, Charlotte M and Ailise kept Saries in the game.

Crusaders 10 v 25 Old Northamptonians 
For a moment it looked like the team were in for another hammering but they dug deep and saved the best til last with some good tackling and passing and finished strongly with another try from Charlotte and one from Izzy. Things could have been different if the team had played like they did from the outset but it was a good experience for them.

The Saracens team did well and made it through to the semi finals of the festival which was a good effort given the quality of some of the opposition.

Saracens 45 v 0 Wellington 
Sarries just overpowered the Wellington side in the tackle and contact areas and ran in 9 tries. Kelsea 4, Ellie 2, Amanda and Mollie scoring one each.

Saracens 10 v 25 Worcester 
A couple of turnovers at vital times and a fortuitous bounce of the ball took the game away from Saracens against a very good Worcester side. Kelsea got both tries.

Saracens 30 v 0 Basingstoke
Once again it was Sarries power game that saw them home as they outmuscled the Hampshire side. Amanda and Kelsea both scored two and Jennifer and Ellie the other two.

Saracens 10 v 20 Ellingham & Ringwood 
The cold was beginning to take hold of Sarries by now and cold hands saw several crucial knock ons which saw promising moves falter. When Sarries realised they could have beaten the Dorset side they kept taking the wrong option and playing the narrow side up the hill instead of using the big open side that was running down the slope which would have almost guaranteed tries on more than on occasion. However thats what these events are for, to learn from and tries from Kelsea and Mollie made Ellingham sweat right up to the final whistle.
Hopefully our next festival will be in warmer, sunnier weather and everyone will be able to relax and enjoy themselves a bit more.

Lots of pictures on Facebook

This league is so up and down!

A frustrating performance from Sarries! The first 10 minutes Sarries dominated and it looked like it was going to be a good day for the boys, but as so often happens, two lapses led to Ivybridge scoring two tries and two conversions.

Sarries responded with a penalty from Tom Rushton and try through Kieran Bromell and went in at half time in ascendency.

The talk at half time was about being composed, finishing our chances and raising the aggression levels. Unfortunately this did not happen and Ivybridge scored three unanswered tries, three conversions and a penalty.

It took this to make Sarries up their game and they finished strongly for the last 10 minutes in which they were able to score  a try.

This result leaves Sarries in the bottom two of Western Counties. There are five games left to play and Sarries will now realistically need to win at least four of them. The boys are capable and will need all the vocal support they can get.

COME ON SARRIES – WE CAN DO THIS!

Saracens u15 girls had enjoyable afternoon at Devonport Services where they played two games and won two games. There was some good passing and team work with everyone working hard to support each other.
Devonport Services 12 v 22 Exeter Saracens 
Kelsea Purchall scored 2 tries,  Amanda Herring and Tess Brock scored 1 each and Nikkita Endacott kicked a conversion.

Exeter Saracens 29 v 5 Tavistock 
Kelsea scored 2 more tries, Ellie Price got 2 with Tess also scoring again. Nikkita and Amanda both kicked a conversion.

Lots of pictures of the afternoon’s action have been posted on facebook