By Mr Bow Jangles
May 1 2003

PASSION! An often used and but rarely deserved word. It evokes images of love, of , loyalty, of focus and hearts on sleeves. On a rain-filled evening in Watford last night it was a cruel, unforgiving word. With passion, victory is so much sweeter to the victorious, but defeat even harder to bare. You can see and hear passion, you can sometimes taste it….but you can never fake it. The 50 supporters armed to the teeth with big hearts, big banners and big voices all had it. Gus Pichot most definitely had it….its all in the eyes you see!!

This game had been turned into a Cup final for both teams. The winners could consider themselves more safe than unsafe and could challenge for a place on Europes high table. The loser would condemn themselves to 2 games of immense pressure to finish this ultra-competitive season.

Saracens went into the game shell-shocked after a cruel exit from the Parker Pen Shield on the weekend. Bristol approached the game certain only of uncertainty both on the field and off it. On the field however, they at least held their destiny in their own hands.

The game kicked off in relatively dry conditions. Bristol once again unable to control the restart (a worrying trend in recent games) and Saracens were onto the attack from the off.

Bristol were caught on the back foot. Their organisation faltered and suddenly Matt Salter was lining up Sarries pacey England 7s star, Houghton. Good tackler that Salts is, there was just too much space outside him and the winger raced down the touchline to score. Flag Up!! His foot had been in touch, though in fact it had not, and Bris had escaped in tact! A wake up call for the team!

It certainly was! The Bris backs received slowish ball from the (already solid-looking) Bristol lineout, and Gibson decided to chip the static possession through. Houghton picked up and brushed off the first tackler, but was suddenly confronted by Brown, Oakley and Gibbo himself. Being isolated, he could only hold on to avoid a 5 pointer. Penalty Bristol.

Bris decided gallantly to kick to touch. Brown took clean ball from the ensuing lineout and Bristols forwards began to ramp up a rolling mall, only for the colossal, powerhouse forward Sheridan to squirt through unchallenged and go over for the first try of the night. The Bristol fans were ecstatic! What a start!!

Bristols forwards were beginning to dominate and from the restart they drove a mall from inside their own half deep into Sarries territory. Again the ball was chipped through, and although Horan made a meal of it, he eventually touched down for a 22 drop-out.

Bristol turned their backs to trudge back for a split second and the lively Sarries backs capitalised. A quick tap from Sorrell and O’Mahony (one of the quickest backs in the Premiership) was suddenly racing into the Bristol half. The ball was recycled and Sarrries had a 3 man overlap. Gibson busted a gut to get back, but Houghtons pace was too much and within minutes Sarries had equalised. Goode converted, game on 7-7!

The home fans began to make some noise and it spurred the fez-heads on. Bristol, desperate to get some possession, began offending around the fringes. The stocky Goode however, found the kicking conditions difficult as he misjudged the breeze and then lost his footing.

3 penalties went begging, before the ‘big-boned’ Goode finally made amends. Taking the ball just outside the Bristol 22 he judged the situation perfectly and kicked a high, cross-field ball in the direction of the out-of-position Daniel.

Ben Johnston took a relatively easy catch and off-loaded in the tackle to O’Mahony who cantered over for another Sarries score. Goode again converted and Bris were suddenly 14-7 down.

The Bris supporters looked worried. Would the players heads go down as in recent weeks and Sarries begin to dominate?

The game became a bit scrapy as Bristol were determined to bounce back and Sarries went for the kill. Drahm missed a touch on the right, only for Horan to do the same.

Daniel collected and weaved his way across the pitch. Saracens were penalised at the ruck and Drahm cooly slotted over the penalty. 14-10.

This time it was Saracens turn to bounce back and the unpredictable Goode again produced the goods as he (incredibly) dropped a goal from the half-way. 17 –10.

The half ended with Bristol on the attack, recycling the ball well, but Brown knocked on in a promising move under pressure from the Sarries defence.

Half Time: 17 - 10

The West Country men ran out for the second half looking determined. The luckless Williams was replaced by the plucky Rees and Skuse came on to replace the impressive Bergamasci.

Bristol again used their forwards to make the hard yards and worked their way into Sarries territory. Saracens unable to cope, penalised at the breakdown again and Drahm kicked the penalty to reduce the deficit with 2 minutes of the restart 17 – 13.

Again a scrappy period of play followed as both sides struggled to take the initiative and gain the upper hand. Bristol were beginning to do just that with another multi-phased move when play was suddenly halted for a player injury.

It was Matt Salter who, committed as ever, threw himself into a ruck situation and landed badly. In visible pain he was replaced by Craig Short.

Both sides struggled to pick themselves up after the delay in play. Bristol were dominating the lineout on both sides throws (winning 7 Sarries throws in a row!), but too often this possession was kicked away or lost at the breakdown. Support for the runners was slow in coming and the rucks were turning into lotteries.

Finally 15 minutes from time, Bristol made excellent ground, supporting and recycling well. Sheridan made a trademark barracking run through 3 tackles. Archer was in support and Bristol were suddenly pounding the Saracens line.

Johnston unfortunately had his head down when an overlap on the left should have been taken, and the excellent Drahm wriggled free close to the line before frantically looking for support.

Gibson appeared at his shoulder, but Drahm was wrapped up man and ball. Again the ball was recycled. This time the backs hands were not good, but Bristol had a penalty. The nerveless Drahm converted and the game had a point in it. 17 – 16.

Bristol again tried desperately to capitalise on the lineout possession they were winning, but they just could not force their way through the solid Saracens defence into the 22.

From one of these lineouts on Sarries 10 metre line, the fezheads frustration at the lack of lineout possession boiled over and they were penalised for bringing the mall down…penalty to Bris and a chance of victory!!! Unfortunately Spreadbury had spotted a stamp by Nelson and it was reversed. Chance gone.

Saracens then used their heads for the remaining few minutes and pinned Bristol into their half. Bris were forced to run from deep, but never looked like breaking through.

At the final whistle the Saracens players were ecstatic and the Bristol boys inconsolable.

17 – 16 to Saracens.

A brave and courageous display by Bristol, dominant in the forwards, but unable to capitalise in the wet conditions in the backs. Same forward display against b*th and more cutting edge in the backs and we stand a great chance.

Positives:

Scrum was solid almost throughout
The lineout was almost impregnable on both sides throws
Defence was excellent in the second half with a total shut out.
Bergamasci was solid as a rock in the first half
Drahm was excellent throughout
Arch was Arch

Negatives:

Support for the runners needs to be far sharper
Backs were far too static and never seemed to be running from deep
Control around the breakdowns was erratic

My man of the Match:

Gareth Archer
(Just pipped Shane Drahm)

Bristol
Drahm, Daniel (Carrington), Christopers, Gibson, Williams (Rees), Contepomi, Pichot, Oakley, Lipman, Salter (Short), Brown, Archer, Bergamasci (Skuse), Johnston (Nelson), Sheridan
Subs not used:
Morgan, Hodgson

Scorers:
Tries: Sheridan
Con: Drahm
Pens: Drahm (3)

Saracens
Horan, Houghton, Johnson (Shanklin), Sorrell, O’Mahony, Goode, Bracken, Chesney (Skirving), Hill, Rocques, Hooper, Yandell (Benazzi), Storey, Cairnes (Russell), Ross (Masters)
Subs not used:
Williams, Winnan,

Scorers:
Tries: Houghton, O’Mahony
Con: Goode (2)
DG: Goode