Sarries2009 U15s Match Report

U15's - Match Report (11/10/09)
Topsham - Away (Lost 45-20)

Once again Saracens found themselves going into a game with absences forcing players to take up unfamiliar positions. Isaac Winyard moved from hooker to No 8 with Tom Raymont (Ferret 2) taking over the front row duties. Topsham too had limited numbers but fortunate not to have to make positional changes. Matches between these two local rivals are always keenly contested affairs and this was to prove no different. The home side went into the game expecting their large pack to be able to monopolise possession but quickly discovered that the Sarries forwards were more than their match in the rucks and mauls. Prop, Ben Warren had a superb game throughout, Gyles Southwell disrupted around the fringes and captain, Greg Willmington was in inspired form. Saracens won more of the ball in the opening fifteen minutes but the difference between the sides was that the Topsham backs were more clinical with the chances they had. They scored two breakaway tries slightly against the run of play, one of which was converted. They then found themselves reduced to fourteen men when one of their second rows was sin-binned for foul play. This reduction seemed to spur on the remaining players who upped their intensity and put together an excellent spell of whole team handling rugby that led to a further try under the posts. Only some great last ditch tackles from Ollie Palmer and coverage by Ed Williams at fullback prevented Topsham adding more points. The Saracens backs had chances of their own with Palmer and Theo Miller combining well in the centres, but the final passes to wings Tom White and Shimi Wilson (deputising from his usual No 8 position) didn't go to hand. With the Topsham sin-binning over, Sarries were themselves reduced to fourteen when flyhalf, Ollie Goodfellow, was also sin-binned just before half time. At the break, Topsham held a 19 - 0 lead.

The start of the second half was evenly contested but play was halted for nearly half an hour when Saracen's Southwell suffered a neck injury that saw him taken to hospital for precautionary checks. Thankfully he was found to have suffered no serious injury. Sarries were forced into a reshuffle with Wilson moving back into the pack and Steve Ashford moving from flanker to replace him on the wing. It is to his great credit that Ashford looked entirely at home and caused Topsham problems for the remainder of the game. Alex Bricknell came on at Prop and held his own in scrums against a much larger opponent. Zach Lee, who worked tirelessly throughout, moved back from prop into the second row. However, when the game re-started, Topsham took advantage of a loss of concentration from Sarries and immediately scored wide on the right. Undaunted, Saracens fought back with their first score. Following a kick ahead, they pressurised the Topsham defenders who lost control of the ball. The loose ball was kicked into the corner where Willmington arrived first to touch down. From then on, it was end to end stuff with Topsham adding another converted try then Sarries scoring twice. The first of these came from a great passage of play that saw their forwards recycling well from contact and off-loading well in open play. Eventually Miller took a pass, beat one man then chipped ahead and outpaced the Topsham fullback to dive onto the bouncing ball. The second Sarries try came from a simple passing move in midfield drew in the home side's defenders before the ball was spun wide to White who streaked clear to score wide on the left. Topsham then stretched their lead when more sharp handling and some classy side-steps saw their impressive No 8 take the ball at pace and power over the line despite the valiant efforts of the Saracens' tacklers. The visitors hit back again with Ashford exploiting a gap opened by an initial break from Ryan Jenner, effective rucking and a quick pass from Scott Burgan. Topsham had the last word, scoring on the final play of the game. The successful conversion made the final score 45 - 20.

Topsham were deserving of their victory, the pace and directness of their backs proving to be the deciding factor. However, Saracens took the honours up front and if they can build on this performance will hopefully return to winning ways in the near future.