Exeter Saracens Rugby Club, Exeter, Devon

Match Reports

27th January 2008

 

Exeter Saracens U7's ( -v- ) Okehampton U7's

Game1 - 40 - 40

A quick start from Freddie Herring of Exeter Sarries scoring a try in the first 2mins followed by Lewis Warren (2) Ethan Maltby & Ollie Burrough (2) with a good result of 30-15 at half time.  Okehampton came back strong in the second half scoring 5 tries to Sarries 2 by Rhys Mullin.

Game2 - 15 - 15

Some good passing by Freddie Herring (1) & Ollie Burrough (1) with a 10-5 to Sarries at Half Time.  Newcomer Luke Herbert (1) showed some serious tagging and scored a try in the second half for the Sarries. On behalf of the U7's team I would like to welcome Luke Herbert and am sure he will be a valuable asset to the already unstoppable team.  Well Done Boys!

 

Exeter Saracens U8's (20 -v- 55) Okehampton U8's

A good Okehampton performance was dominated by a massive haul of 7 tries to Leon . Sarries stayed in touch until the final third of the game, but they never managed the fluid pace of Okehampton's attack, always with a man to pass to in support. Sarries showed some good running moves with tries by Finlay Walker, Bradley White, Tom Ellis and Luke Boots-Hutchings. A case of look and learn for Sarries.

 

Exeter Saracens U9's (30 -v- 40) Okehampton U9's

This game was played over four quarters to allow both Saries teams to play against the Okehampton team.The game started with Sarries showing strength in their runs forward. There was a degree of rucking with Sarries driving Oke off the ball every time as the ball moved towards the Sarries try line, finally a break was made and Sarries scored the first try of the game. On the restart Oke came out strong but Sarries showed determination in their tackles and kept their line well. Oke could find no way forward. An unlucky missed tackle though allowed Oke's biggest guy to slip a try and draw the game even. Sarries showed determination as they moved into their second quarter but unfortunately Oke's big guy put three determined tries against Sarries. Sarries came back strong and in the rucks Jack Cooke showed his superior driving power as he single handedly moved 5 Oke players out of the way for Zaac Tullett to take the ball practically the full length of pitch only to be grounded. Support was good though and Sarries picked up the ball to score the next try of the game. Sarries determination was paying off and they were gaining impetus as they took down several of the Oke's players in spectacular fashion time and time again. Oke couldn't find their way past the Sarries line. Sarries were rewarded in the third quarter of the game with two further tries. The last quarter showed Alex Mayes hanging on to the Oke's largest player as he charged towards the line and with success then brought down. Saries turned the ball over only to lose it again in the next ruck for Okehampton to score. Oke scored again but Sarries returned and scored back thanks to the fantastic driving effort of Cameron Souter-~Frost (Sarries man of the match) who scored Sarries last try of the game. Try scorers were Cameron Souter-Frost and Billy Curran

 

Exeter Saracens U10's ( -v- ) Okehampton U10's

Game1 - 0 - 30

Sarries were missing some influential players for the visit of Okehampton and as a consequence they had a tough time against a well organised Okey team. The away team dominated the tight areas despite a big defensive effort by the home side. Inevitably, under pressure, some gaps appeared in the Sarries defence and Okey took advantage scoring 3 first half tries. Sarries made some substitutions at half time but they were unable to really alter the pattern of the game. Despite 3 more tries for the away team you couldn't fault the determined way the Sarries kept battling till the end, almost breaking through, but unable to find a way across the Okey try line.

Game2 - 10 - 15

The second game began in a similar vein with Okey playing the lions share of the rugby, however, the Sarries were beginning to put some better phases of play together. The away side still managed to score 3 first half tries to lead 15-0 at the break. All credit to the spirit of the Saracens youngsters as they somehow found the energy to claw themselves back into the game. Okey lost the ball close to the Sarries line and Jack Searle picked it up for a fine break away try. Then within minutes Charlie Pike got the ball from the base of a scrum, released Searle and he was in again. Well deserved success for Searle who had a massive game for the home side. Both sides had chances in the closing minutes but the Sarries couldn't find a way to sneak a draw. A big effort by both sides – well done.

 

Okehampton U11's (26 -v- 12) Exeter Saracens U11's

This was a fantastic game to watch with some wonderful passing and all round good rugby. That being said the sarcens side were asleep for the first 5 minutes and as a result conceeded 2 tries one of which was converted. This was the wake up call the Exeter team needed and they started for the first time this season to ruck the ball with passion and control to put the okehampton side on the back foot. This new found rucking ability was led by the sarries locks Toby Papp and Harry Coombes the later getting better with each game he plays. Okekampton weathered tjis pressure and replied with a further converted try.This galvanised the visting team to run at the opposition and there were some good darting runs by wingers Charlie Clewlow and Rohan Knowles. Eventually as a result of the pressure by all the saracens forwards they were rewarded by a try being scored in the corner by wing Toby Hannam which was not converted. The score at half time was 19 5. Saracens came out for the second half with all guns blazing with the half backs Harvey Ridgeway and Ben Brown linking well and strong running from centre Oliie May and full back Joe Winsor. The best try of the game came from the Exeter sides man of the match centre Harrison Elliot who ran 30 yards with some wnderful side stepping to out fox the defence, this try was converted by Joe Winsor. This brought the score to 19 12 with a few minutes to go but Okehampton had the last say with a well worked converted try.This performance bodes well for the Exeter side and if they keep up this style of rugby the will be side to watch out for.

 

Exmouth U12's ( -v- ) Exeter Saracens U12's

Game1 - 42 - 0

Another great Sunday morning for a game of Rugby . It was agreed that two games of reduced playing time would be played this morning, instead of one longer game.

There was plenty of effort from all in the first half; the lads just didn't get any breaks. Exmouth had a big squad, with some sizable characters, that may just have unsettled the Sarries boys a little. Exmouth got into it straight from the whistle, with pace and good passing skills they where soon three tries to nil up, converting all three. There were some glimpses of hope for Sarries, as the scrum was good, some great tackling from the ever reliable Will Haigh at the back and some good quick hands from Elliot Samuels in the backs. Despite this the half time score was 21 - 0 in favour of the Cockles.

The second half was more of the same. And the score reflected this. Again the scrum was okay, winning two against the put-in, as well as all of their own. But Sarries just couldn't capitalise on them. Some more great Tackling from Will, stopping a certain try one moment, and then getting up and making three or four more in quick succession. Great technique.

The full time score was 42 - 0 to Exmouth

Game2 - 5-14

There were a few changes to the Sarries team for the second game: namely Laurence Parker, Alex Evens and David Kittow on for Guy Denny's, Oliver Griss and Joe Street .

A much better start to this game from Sarries, the boy's were able to keep possession and make a game of it. Due largely to the presence of Alex Evens, who was able get the forwards and backs working together. Exmouth opened the scoring with an un-converted try. Sarries got straight back in it though, with a smashing try from David Kittow, in the corner after a brilliantly timed offload from Joe Parker, who had run twenty yards, into a wall of Exmouth defenders. The try was converted by Sam Garner. Meanwhile Guy Denny's came on for Ben Clapshaw. Sarries went off at half time 7 – 5 ahead.

Joe Street came on for the second half for Max Street-Mellor.

Sarries improved their rucking and mauling and made good yardage culminating in a second try, this time scored by Laurence Parker, which was a deserved reward for the impact he made on the forwards. Sam Garner again converted putting Sarries 14 – 5 in the lead. From there on in Sarries defended their lead with forwards and backs alike, making some great tackles, running the clock down, until the final whistle.

It was very difficult to pick a MOM for the second game, as the main difference between the two games, was the way in which they started to play as a team, not only when going forwards, but also in defence, all accepting their responsibilities on the pitch. Therefore it would be unfair to pick one team member out for his efforts, but to award the accolade on this occasion to the whole team.

 

Okehampton U12's (26 -v- 33) Exeter Saracens U12's

Team:

Props – Josh Woodward, Ross Watts / Hooker – Steven Gill / Second Row Locks – Hallum Curran, Joe Embery / No8 – Jack Hamlyn / Scrum Half – Dominic Ditchburn / Fly Half – Owen Mugford / Centres – James Tancock, Tom Pugsley(c) / Wings – Chris Bayliss, Jon Bardot / Full Back – Matt Bound

Replacements Fionn Wright

Sarries travelled to the edge of the moor to face Okehampton at North Tawton whilst the other half of the squad were facing Exmouth away. At North Tawton a glorious morning made conditions ideal for both Okehampton and Exeter Saracens to display some wonderful, skilful rugby.

The game was always going to be tight and on the day was fought in the tight to a brutal degree but with both teams trying to spin the ball out to create some space. The forward pack made an impression early on with Ross Watts and Hallum Curran into the action immediately. Good support play from Joe Embury, Steven Gill and Jack Hamlyn ensured that forward momentum was maintained when Sarries were in possession. With Josh Woodward carrying an injury from the offset then the play dictated that the substitution by Fionn Wright was soon to take place and Wright slotted in and completed an admiral job throughout the match at prop. Several practiced moves were executed off of the Sarries set pieces which threatened to make ground but in the face of the quick-up Okehampton defence and their immense tackling then the moves didn't quite come off. The first score came with Curran being driven over the line to touch down. Matthew Bound, with his kicking boots on, made sure of the first lot of extras. Sarries came back hungry for more instantaneously with a good link from Scrum Half Dominic Ditchburn, out through Owen Mugford at Fly Half to the battling Tom Pugsley. With a darting run and dragging two Okehampton players over the line with him, the second try was scored. With the conversion missed by a different set of boots, then the duties were switched back to Bound for the remainder of the morning. Okehampton came back quickly and with some shoddy tackling attempts the flying player was through to score Okehamptons' first try which was then well converted. Not to be out done, Sarries retaliated with the sort of aggression that is often shown in the Sarries shirt. The try was well worked with James Tancock breaking through on the burst collecting a wonderfully lofted pass from Mugford. Breaking the initial tackles with his speed, his determination showed as he crossed the line with the covering tacklers on top of him. Conversion safe from the sure boot of Bound.

Sarries tried both wings on the attack with Jon Bardot and Chris Bayliss both exploiting the seemingly wide open spaces with Bound often stepping into the line to force the play. Okehampton proved their worth on more than one occasion by closing down the spaces. The half culminated in an Okehampton try which was again well converted.

(Half Time – 14-19)

The second half was to be more of the same with both teams showing that they could tackle hard. With Gill, Embury and Pugsley all hitting the tackle fiercely, then the ball was quite often spilt. The loose ball on the ground was ideal meat for the scavengers Hamlyn and Ditchburn, both putting their bodies down on the ball to secure the next phase. With the scrumaging, rucking and mauling of both teams on a par then it was generally 50/50 ball. The Sarries mauling specialist Curran set up Mugford for the first try of the second half by ripping the ball and putting Mugford into space out of a further tackle. Brought down by three Okehampton players just short of the line, Mugford professionally reached out for the line to touch down. The sure boot of Bound made the extras count.

Sarries now dominated on every level. Superb runs from Bound and Bayliss saw Sarries come close again but a thundering up field by Watts meant that Okehampton were placed firmly on the back foot. From an ensuing Okehampton lineout just ten metres out from their own try line, the ball was knocked loose and through the Sarries players poured. The clearance was fumbled and Curran was there to pick up and dive over the line for a try that was created by pure pressure. Again the boot of Bound was successful.

Sarries now sensed that the end was close but Okehampton came back with a clever kick off which exploited the lack of Sarries setting their positions correctly for the restart. With space on the wing the ball was gathered by Bayliss but he was enveloped by the advancing Okehampton players. With a smart dink over the top and the ball gathered at pace by the flying Okehampton winger then the game was back on. Crucially the conversion was missed which meant that Okehampton still required two converted scores to equalise.

Sarries picked up their game once again and with good heaving runs from Embury, Watts and Wright then the pressure was once again applied to the Okehampton line. Their strong defence was not going to yield again and instead with another kick over the top, Sarries were put on the back foot. From the resulting ruck Okehampton came up with the ball and were able to convert the break into a further score. The successful conversion meant that Sarries now had some thinking to do. It was Sarries on the ascendancy as the final whistle were ever eager to increase the margin.

(Full Time – 26-33)

Exeter Saracens Man Of The Match – Owen Mugford for his direct running, involvement in the dictation of the phases of play, defensive tackling and superbly taken try.

A wonderful display of good hard competitive rugby played in a fashion that both teams can be extremely proud of. The skill levels and constant determination by all players was there for all to see.

 

Exeter Saracens U14's (43 -v- 5) Okehampton U14's

Sarries entertained the Okes on a dry sunny morning at Exhibition fields. Although the home side has a large squad, because of injuries and unavailabililty they only had 18 players for what promised to be a hard fixture. Saracens started the stronger and from the off took the game to the visitors scoring three converted tries by half time to lead 21 nil at the interval. The tries came from Ben Shires, Ben King and Alec Wheatley. Three conversions were added by Sam Gibbins. Okehampton started the second half well and from a series of rucks the scored their only points of the game. From then on the second half continued in much the same way as the first had been with Sarries winning most of the ball up front and their backs running hard at their oponents. Further scores for the home side came from Ben Boggis, Ben Shire getting his second and third and a second for Alec Wheatley. Sarries rucked well through out the game and were able to give their backs a steady supply of quick ball. It was a good all round performance by the whole team who were only let down occasionally by a few missed tackles.Saracens man-of-the-match was Ryan Elliot who put in a strong display at flanker and the match was refereed By Sarah Cox from Broadclyst Community College who had a good game and dealt with what was a well contested if one sided game.

 

Okehampton U15's (27 -v- 7) Exeter Saracens U15's

Craig Galloway converted Saracens only try scored by Thomas Coombes who powered over the line. Saracens played a very spirited game but could not keep Oakhamton out. This is the first time in three weeks we have put out a full side so things are looking up.