Sarries2009 U14's Match Report

U14's - Match Report (07/02/10)
Taunton - Home (Won 34-7)

Sarries players' parents and supporters had endured somewhat of a run around for this match after all travelled to Taunton only to discover that the match was in fact a home fixture.

With several key players missing for the match, then it was a chance for the coaches to swap things around a bit and to run players out in somewhat unpolished positions against a very strong and physical Taunton side who had only lost twice in the season so far.
Exeter Saracens took the fight to Taunton from the off and were unlucky not to unlock the Taunton defence with blistering runs from Kai Little, Fionn Wright and Joe Street . Several punching onslaughts eventually saw Wright break free on the end of a James Tancock pass to cross the line. Ross Watts converted from out wide with a hefty clout.
Taunton replied with a prolonged period of pressure demonstrating some aggressive and effective rucking from their forwards but luckily for Sarries not very inventive play from their back line. Taunton kept the pressure up and even when Sarries found themselves in possession, finding space to make a few yards, Taunton 's excellent tackling techniques bought the moves to a halt and then allowed their rucking machine to crank into action again presenting the ball back to them. The pressure eventually told and with a player coming screaming through the middle collecting the ball on the way, broke through the Saracens lines to touch down. With the kick successful then the game was all level and remained that way into the half time break.
(Half Time - 7-7)

Sarries took a structured dressing down in the half time break which is what they needed as after the break the whole team displayed that they had understood what had been said to them and acted upon it accordingly.
The forward pack did the hard work with Max Augstburger, Tom Griffiths and Man of the Match Joe Embery punishing the Taunton forwards with their ball carrying and offloads out of the tackles, allowing Sarries to take control and secure possession in the tight. Loose ball was eagerly snaffled up by Steven Gill and Dom Ditchburn which further meant that the ball was retained.
With the forwards gaining the upper hand or at least coming on par with the Taunton forwards, then Sarries were able to start to unleash the back line once more. The remainder of the match saw the backs have a field day running through the Taunton ranks and exhibiting the wonderful support play that the Exeter team thrive on. Street scored a well deserved hat trick of tries from his wing position getting just desserts for his hard work and rewarding the hard work of the rest of the team that had supplied him the ball. Wright scored his second of the morning after a dart down the wing at such pace that no Taunton player could lay a hand on him. Little also scored a well deserved try for his commitment at running at the Taunton defence at such pace throughout the match. It was testament to the Taunton defence to keep him out for such a period before he eventually saw himself clear after a weaving run, with a couple of hand offs and breaking of the tiring Taunton defence. Owen Mugford was unlucky not to also cross the line after just not being able to gather a pass that was just out of reach. Watts slotted one further conversion out of the set although the effort that was put into each of his kicks, he deserved a better strike rate.
Taunton were no push over and gave an extremely good account of themselves for the majority of the match which would be expected from their seasons statistics. However, as soon as Sarries had identified the visitors' weaknesses in the back line and got on top of the forward game then the backs ran circles around the Taunton defence.
(Full Time - 34-7)