Exeter Saracens Rugby Club, Exeter, Devon

Match Reports

17th February 2008

 

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

Game1 - 25 v 20

Freddie Herring (2) opened the game scoring the first try for Exeter with Exmouth showing strong defence.   Rhys Mullin & Aiden Vaughan Ryall both scoring tries in the second half to finish the game.

Game2 - 20 v 30

Exeter Saracens newcomer Luke Herbert (2) started the game with some excellent tagging from Lewis Warren (3) who scored a hat-trick with great support from Jake Poulton (1)

Game3 - 10 v 30

Third and final match of the day with a great start from Exeter Aiden Vaughan Ryall & Jack Verge.  Second half support was outstanding with tries from Luke Herbert (2) & Rhys Mullin (2)

 

Exmouth U8's ( -v- ) Exeter Saracens U8's

Game1 - 45 v 15

Sarries travelled to Exmouth to face a well disciplined side. Tries by Luke Hawkes and Jonny Farnsworth kept Sarries in the game up to the interval. After the restart, Exmouth proved too much for Sarries defence and despite a late try by Bradley White Exmouth romped away to win convincingly.

Game2 - 15 v 15

A good move by Zachary Kiss, offloading to Luke Boots-Hutchings and a long run by Jonny Farnsworth helped Josh Trickett to his first try and Sarries were off to a good start. Tom Ellis also went over and Sarries were well ahead at the interval. Both sides played well defensively but two good Exmouth tries levelled the game.

Game3 - 35 v 5

Some superb solo runs from Exmouth's stars showed pace and skill. The score line belies Sarries efforts and both Zachary Kiss and Jonny Farnsworth were unlucky not to score. However, Exmouth were stronger in attack and ran in several tries with Tom Ellis picking up Sarries only consolation.

 

Exmouth U9's (55 -v- 25) Exeter Saracens U9's
This was a fine game of rugby again Exeter Saracens gelling in their team play. Both teams were strong in defence but Exmouth took advantage of some mis passes in the line out and from the start to take the lead. Tries for Exeter were scored by Lewis Geran, Brad Down (3) and George Holwill. Man of the match awarded to Paddy Randall.

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

Game1 - 20 v 5

The first half was extremely close with both sides making headway into the oppositions territory but failing to break down the final line of defence. Callum Ditchburn, Jack Clark and Shay McNiffe were making good driving runs for the Sarries and both teams were working hard to keep the ball moving. Ed Smale also put in some big defensive tackles for the Sarries when the pressure was on. Late on in the half Exmouth finally managed to break the deadlock with a well worked try.

The game slowed right down in the second half with a lot of time being wasted in mauls with neither side really making much headway. The home side seemed to benefit the most from this type of play and managed to score 2 more tries. Sarries did get some reward for their hard work when Jack Searle did well to cross the line. Exmouth still had time to break the Sarries defence one more time to finish off a good win, although the Sarries will be a bit disappointed at the final score in such a close game.

Game2 - 20 v 0

Sarries put out a developmental side out for the second game and Exmouth took immediate advantage with a try in the first few seconds. Sarries were under the cosh for long periods but they did re-group well after that horrific start. They battled hard and made Exmouth work for their scores. Sarries were having to work really hard to get going forward with Jake Hann and George Bishop trying to break through. Sarries missed a few tackles but still managed to scrap really well and restrict the home side to just 2 more scores, until the last few seconds when Exmouth managed to crash over for a fourth and final try. On the whole a really battling performance from a Sarries side that are still learning the ropes.

 

Exeter Saracens U11's (57 -v- 15) Exmouth U11's

This was a game played over three 20 minute periods which saw every member of the saracens squad for the day play their part in this good win over a spirited Exmouth team. It was not until the second third the the home team broke down the Exmouth defence and still had to work hard through out the game to obtain the final score line.

The try scorers for Saracens were by man of the match Charlie Clewlow, Harry Skinner, Kieran Whyte, Levi Shepherd, Joe Winsor and Toby Papp who all converted their trys and two trys by Harrison Elliot who converted one of his efforts and finally a try by Oliie May

 

Torquay U12's (14 -v- 7) Exeter Saracens U12's

Team: 1) Tom Griffiths 2) Jake Hurford 3) Jack Price 4) Joe Embury 5) Guy Dennys 8) James Tancock 9) Aled Rosser 10) Tom Pugsley 12) Owen Mugford 13) Fionn Wright

11) Joe Street 14) Max Street-Mellor 15) Dominic Ditchburn

Replacements Adam Tregedeon, Chris Bayliss (DNP), Elliot Samuels, Kai Little, Oliver Griss (DNP)

Sarries dominated play initially keeping the play in the Torquay half. Good support play meant that phases were completed and taken on. Lost balls from bad and dropped passes in the three quarters ensured that play was disrupted enough for Sarries to lose their momentum and eventually the territory that they had enjoyed. Despite good piercing runs from Tom Pugsley, Fionn Wright and Owen Mugford, Sarries had to defend several times as Torquay took their chances from well disciplined rucks and broke free of the initial contact that was waiting for them. Excellent tackles from James Tancock, Aled Rosser and Joe Street halted the Torquay break aways.

Guy Dennys and Joe Embury were needed to shore up the front row of Jack Price, Jake Hurford and Tom Griffiths in order to keep the scrums an evenly matched affair. Line outs where coming down on the side of Torquay again and again with the lack of vision from Sarries. Sarries used the short front ball to good effect but struggled to make use of any middle or long ball in both attack and defence.

The pressure came upon Sarries in huge amounts as the half progressed. With Torquay camped just off of Sarries try line the first try came just after Torquay had crossed and were held up but then reasserted the pressure to make sure of the points. Try converted.

Again Sarries made initial inroads from the kick off but as soon as they were on the back foot, they struggled to get back in numbers. Excellent tackles from Mugford and Dominic Ditchburn temporally slowed the Torquay advances. The same sequence of events as with the first score soon followed with a player crossing the Sarries line and being held up and then from the resulting scrum, the pressure being reapplied for the ball to be passed out to the backs and Torquay scoring in the corner. Again the conversion was successful.

(Half Time – 14-0)

Sarries rearranged themselves in the second half, Adam Tregedeon on for Dennys, Elliot Samuels coming on into the No8 position which released Tancock to replace Street, Kai Little on for Max Street-Mellor plus Rosser and Ditchburn switching positions.

Sarries exploded into the second half and placed Torquay firmly onto their back foot. Incisive, blistering runs from Kai Little on his wing plus good linking runs from Wright popping the ball out to the opposite wing, the aggressively running Tancock ensured that Torquay had plenty to think about. All of the backs running was shored up by the rejuvenated forwards play with Price, Hurford and Griffiths doing the hard work to secure ball and trundle it onwards. Inspired mauling from Joe Embury, Adam Tregedeon and Mugford often bore fruit for Sarries. The decision making from Ditchburn made good use of the possession which eventually released the flying Little who after breaking a couple tackles went over for the teams first score. The conversion by Tancock saw Sarries move within seven.

Sarries continued to apply pressure where they could in a superb effort to bring the score level. Any possession that Torquay found themselves with they also found that they were closed down quickly and made to pay with crunching tackles. All Sarries players endeavoured to stop the advances. With huge simultaneous gasps from the home supporters one Torquay player was lifted and shunted backwards in the air and then dumped on the ground in an excellently executed tackle by Ditchburn. This lifted the whole team as it was Sarries who needed their defensive skills in the last passages of play as it was Torquay who were pressing for the clinching try. All players gave their all and ran the ball out where possible but had to result in a kick to touch to relieve the pressure. Sarries ended strongly as they started in the Torquay half but the game was out of reach territorially as the final whistle went.

(Full Time – 14-7)

An evenly, keenly contested match which saw the well drilled home side take the victory over a Sarries squad that knew that overall, they could have played better and should have pressed home their advantages when they presented themselves.

Sarries Man Of The Match for the day was the captain Owen Mugford who constantly led from the front and always took the game to the opposition both in attack and defence.

 

Paignton U13's (7 -v- 36) Exeter Saracens U13's

Exeter Saracens overcame the effects of a much depleted squad to record an impressive victory away to Paignton on Sunday. A combination of injuries and half term holidays meant that Sarries had fewer backs than positions to fill. As a result, Greg Willmington moved from his usual berth at number 8 to play at inside centre where he performed admirably showing excellent decision making in choosing when to run, pass or kick.

Saracens started brightly with quick rucking and flowing passing moves across the full width of the pitch. Tom White on the right wing made two strong runs, each time being driven into touch near the Paignton try line. Sarries fully deserved to take the lead when, after five minutes, Steve Ashford used his considerable strength and speed to break clear to score between the posts. Paignton then produced a sustained period of attack forcing their way into the Saracen's 22. Despite determined resistance, the home side finally broke through and levelled the scores at 7-all. Saracens went straight onto the attack from the restart and Ashford added his second try, again under the posts. James Slater slotted his second conversion to give Sarries a 14-7 lead at half time.

In the second half Saracens upped the pace and their more accomplished teamwork in the pack saw them create a number of opportunities. Ryan Jenner showed great determination to score two tries and Ashford added a further two to bring his personal tally to four in the match. James Slater converted the last of these to complete the Sarries scoring.

Undeterred, Paignton launched a spirited final attack and were only prevented from scoring a consolation try when, having driven the visitors back over their own try line, the ball was wrestled from their grasp and kicked to the safety of touch.

 

Paignton U14's (17 -v- 29) Exeter Saracens U14's

Sarries travelled to Paignton on a freezing Sunday Morning. The match kicked off with both sides being equally matched. Alec Wheatley scored for Saracens and Sam Gibbins added the conversion. Sarries then appeared to go to sleep for 10 minutes and allowed their host back into the game through a converted try and a penalty. Although Saracens regain their concentration for the end of the first half they went into the break 10-7 down. The visitors remained true to their squad rotation policy and made numerous changes for the second half allowing all the squad to play. During the early stages of the second half Saracens continued to gain thr upper hand and scored further tries through James Westlake, Will tavener, Ben Shires and Wheatley getting his second. Gibbins added the extra points. Paignton scored a converted try close to the end of the match to make the final scores 17-29 to Saracens

 

Tiverton U16's  (55 -v- 0)   Exeter Saracens U16's

Saracens were still not up to strength this week with sickness still impacting upon their number as well as half term school field trips.  However, they once again fielded a good size squad thereby allowing substitutions to be made and all players getting a game.

Tiverton's key advantages were speed with the ball and strong determined tackling.  Without exception all Tivvies tries came from these attributes.  Good passing by the backs provided their sprinters the space to beat Sarries' defence whilst their forwards put pressure on the Sarries' front line.

Saracens played a reasonable game by winning the line out, mauls and most scrums.  Rucking was better than in previous weeks with good defence of the ball, although this needs to be got away much quicker.  The frustration came again this week at about the five to ten metre area of the oppositions half where they failed to capitalise on their positioning. Of course your opponents are not going to let you in until you've crossed the line, but Sarries struggle and play hard to get close but then a lose ball or a player becoming isolated, allows the opposition to clear their defensive line.

Sadly, Sarries lost the heart to play let alone win and the team deteriorated into a side of individuals.  The team need to play straightforward rugby, think faster about which plays to adopt and get around the park much faster in support of their team mates.  Their improved rucking, mauling and line out plays will then provide a better chance of finishing off the set plays by making a few tries.