Exeter Saracens Rugby Club, Exeter, Devon

Match Reports

27th April 2008

 

Crediton U11's (42 -v- 42) Exeter Saracens u11's

This game was a keenly fought contest with either side being able to win the game but in the end a draw was a fair result. The first try was by wing Toby Hannam who sprinted down the right wing to dot down in the corner. This try was converted by Joe Winsor who in fact added the extra points for all of the sarries trys making his final points haul to 12. Crediton scored the next try which was converted. The visitors pulled ahead once more with a solo effort by the sarries number nine Harvey Ridgeway. Crediton then drew level and then went two trys ahead making the score at half time 28 14. Saracens dug deep and were rewarded by a try by centre Joe Winsor who smashed through the defence. The Saracens fly half Ollie May then had a terrific period of play and scored three trys all after making some strong direct runs this earned May the Saracens man of the match award. The score at this time with a few minutes to play was 36 42 but Crediton had the last say to score just before the final whistle. Although this was a great game for the Saracens players there was a tinge of sadness as this was the last game for the club for Wing Rohan Knowles who will be missed.

__________________________________________________________

 

Saturday 26/04/08

Exeter Saracens U12's (28 -v- 7) Nailsea & Backwell U12's (Touring Side)

Starting Line Up

1) Tom Griffiths 2) Jake Hurford 3) Laurence Parker 4) Adam Tregedeon 5) Joe Embery 8) Jack Hamlyn

9) Joe Street 10) Fionn Wright 12) Owen Mugford 13) Dominic Ditchburn 11) Joe Parker 14) Aled Rosser 15) Matt Bound

Replacements – David Kittow, Elliot Samuels, Josh Woodward, Max Street-Mellor, Sam Garner

 

All Sarries players were rolled on and off so that all got a fair game. Touring side Nailsea and Backwell from just outside Bristol were chomping at the bit after the first night away at Ladram Bay on a tour aptly name ‘The Jurassic Coast Tour 2008'.

The visitors started brightly with good control in the rucks and mauls, something which they were going to take on through the match. Sarries were unable to compete on that front but more than made up for this deficiency in other areas. Tackling was good as well as the now trademark support play when on the break. Nailsea were the first to score with a converted try but Sarries bounced right back from the restart with a well taken try from Tom Griffiths. The first of Matt Bounds successful conversions of the morning tied the scores.

Sarries now applied pressure which showed the determination of Nailsea with their physical tackling coming to the fore. Sarries managed to break through once more before half time with a try from Jack Hamlyn who almost whipped the ball out of Jake Hurfords hands such was his support play as they crossed the line together. Bounds conversion added.

(Half Time 14-7)

Sarries spent the majority of the second half on the back foot with Nailsea camped on the Sarries try line. Good defence and organisation within the Sarries ranks kept the visitors out. When possession was secured then Sarries were quick to break out and spin the ball down the line. Good awareness from Dominic Ditchburn playing at outside centre saw him chip the ball in behind the Nailsea defence for the fast Sarries wingers to run onto. David Kittow was the first to touch down from such a play after the ball was secured from a couple further phases of play. This was quickly followed by another kick which was run onto by Fionn Wright who also touched down. Both scores successfully converted by Bound. This took the game completely out of the reach of the visitors who kept up their spirits with fierce play until the final whistle went.

(Full Time 28-7)

Sarries Man of the Match was Fionn Wright for his good tackling and awareness in both attack and defence.

 

Exeter Saracens U12's (10 -v- 7) Nailsea & Backwell U12's

This was a brief, 10 minutes each way, training match in readiness for next season playing to full U13's rules. On a full pitch and the addition of flankers then this would give the players a taster of what to expect next season. Sarries exploited the wide open spaces to score two trys in the first half. Joe Parker used his speed to round the defence to go in for the first and Aled Rosser was there with excellent support play to mop up again from a tackled Parker to go over for a well taken try. With the conversions taken from out on the wings then both were unsuccessful.

(Half Time 10-0)

Nailsea and Backwell came back at Sarries in the second half still winning good possession from the ruck and maul situation. Good probing runs from the visitors meant that Sarries had to step up their tackling. Eventually Nailsea broke through to score a well taken team try which was converted to take the visitors within 3 points of Sarries. The home side reasserted the pressure that they knew they could and played out the rest of the game up in the visitors half and foiled any attempted breakouts with determined tackling.

(Full Time 10-7)

__________________________________________________________

 

Bridport U12's (50 -v- 0) Exeter Saracens U12's

Team

1) Ben Clapshaw 2) Jake Hurford 3) Anton Stephan 4) Adam Tregedeon 5) Josh Woodward 8) Steven Gill

9) Joe Street 10) Owen Mugford 12) Elliot Samuels 13) James Tancock 11) Jon Bardot 14) Sam Garner 15) Matt Bound

Replacements – Max Street-Mellor, Oliver Griss

 

Sarries were out gunned by a massive Bridport squad which saw them pull out a substantial lead before Sarries knew what hit them. Brave defence from the core players saw Sarries do their best to quell the onslaught, but the attacks just came on coming. Unfortunately anything that was put together by Sarries in the way of an attack was unwound by the huge Bridport players and turned against them. Valiant efforts by the players concerned, to the last was a true testament to playing for the badge on the shirt. The spirit, determination and the willingness to keep on trying to play good, skilful rugby was something to be proud of.

(Full Time 50-0)

Man of the Match jointly awarded to Matt Bound, Owen Mugford and Sam Garner.

__________________________________________________________

 

Crediton U12's (14 -v- 40) Exeter Saracens U12's

Team

1) Ross Watts 2) Laurence Parker 3) Theo Thomson 4) Hallum Curran 5) Tom Griffiths 8) Jack Hamlyn

9) Dominic Ditchburn 10) Alex Evens 12) Fionn Wright 13) Kai Little 11) Joe Parker 14) Ash Brindley 15) Will Haigh

Replacements – Aled Rosser, David Kittow

 

Sarries felt that this was a must win game and set about breaking down the Crediton play from the start. A single lapse in the strategy gave the home side the advantage of a converted score which although a shock to the visiting red and blacks was taken in their stride. The Sarries 13 bounced back immediately with a well taken try from Theo Thomson which utilised the well drilled position and handling skills of the entire squad. The conversion was successful by Dominic Ditchburn. Sarries then again struck with the power play that Crediton had no answer to which culminated in Ross Watts dropping over the line. With Watts converting his own try then Sarries had opened up a full score advantage over the hosts. Crediton clawed their way back into the match with a try from their try scoring machine who went over for his second of the morning. With the conversion successful then the scores were all level. Again Sarries struck back with a wonderful wingers try in the corner from Joe Parker which was created by the forwards doing the hard work, drawing the opposition in before the ball being spun out through the hand to the waiting Parker. Crucially for the half time score the conversion was missed which meant that there was only five points in it.

(Half Time 14-19)

Sarries opened up in the second half showing their full repertoire of skills and especially punishing Crediton when turnover ball was won. Good support play by Sarries throughout the half meant that the squad could build on their attacks. When anything did go wrong and possession was lost then Sarries had the composure and power to win the ball back. Sarries scored three unanswered tries in the second half which was a fair reflection of the dominance that was shown in every facet of the game. Tom Griffiths was on hand to sweep up and score a well deserved try, Kai Little broke through several players with blistering pace to score and Aled Rosser finished off a brilliant flowing move which saw him expertly complete the last try of the match. All three second half tries were slotted by Ross Watts. A complete display by Sarries against a dogged and physical Crediton side saw them triumph in convincing style.

(Full Time 14-40)

Sarries Man of the Match for this game for his strength in running, determination, vision and pure channelled aggression was Kai Little who was involved in so many different plays and contributed in a direct way, in some fashion, to almost every try scored.

__________________________________________________________

 

Crediton U15's (27 -v- 24) Exeter Saracens U15's

Sarries were deprived of a draw by a penalty kick in the dying mins of the game. Ending the season in this strongly contested local derby. Marcus Miller, George Greenwood, and Jake Robey scored one try a piece and a fine display of kicking  from Fly Half Rob Wilmington converting all three try's and adding a penalty. Kept sarries in the game. With a performance like this one bring on next season.

 

__________________________________________________________