By Chris Randall
December 24 2002

Over the next five weekends - starting with Sunday's home game against Leeds Tykes - Sarries will have a good chance to lay some old (and some fairly new) ghosts to rest. Certainly the fixture list hasn't been as kind to us as it could have been, but with the gradual improvement that team has been making on the field it is certainly going to be an interesting start to the new year.

First up is a home fixture against the high flying Leeds Tykes. Since the Tykes were promoted to the Premiership, it is fair to say they have a good record against us. The Tykes did the double over Sarries last
season to pick up their only away win of the campaign.

This season started a little brighter for the Men in Black at Headingley. They were
leading comfortably at half time 18-10 but the Tykes fought back in the second half to win the game 27-18 and leave Sarries without even
a bonus point to show for their trouble.

This time, however, at Vicarage Road, I expect a different outcome, if Sarries can continue their improvement of late, and keep their discipline I think the Men in Black will make it four straight wins in a row.

The next weekend sees us visit what used to be called Fortress Welford Road. Sarries have certainly not had a good time here (ever), the
closest to victory was a 10-10 draw, with Gavin Johnson getting the conversion to tie the match, but narrowly missing the penalty to win it, in the 97/98 season.

The Kittens haven't been their usual indominatable selves this season, but don't let that fool you. The five year unbeaten Premiership record has gone (thank goodness, how tired was I of hearing that!) by a classy Northampton victory. Welford Road is still a hard place to go and win becuase of the psychological barrier that exists. That may have been dented a little by the Saints victory and if we are ever going to pull off a victory here, this would be the year. I'll plump for a
tight victory or a losing bonus point.

Then in our well structured season we head back to Europe and a double header against Newcastle. The Falcons are struggling at the moment at the foot of the Premiership table but will have Wilkinson back by the
time Europe comes around, so once again discipline will be key.

Sarries have got the home tie first so it will be crucial to play for the full 80 minutes and build a big lead for the away trip up north, certainly more than the 17-13 victory earlier this season.

We have a horrendous record at Kingston Park but it is high time that we put that behind us
and got a result up there. We have the capability to win up there this season with the Falcons not at their best, but either way I think over the two legs Sarries should have enough to set up a semi final clash with either Bath or Montauban.

Our final venture in January is an unfair reward for what was a spirited game of rugby against Sale Sharks, away to Permiership leaders Gloucester for a quarter final clash in the Powergen Cup.

Kingsholm is another ground where Saracens have not won and earlier this season we took
a hiding 44-14. Gloucester however seem to be cooling off a little after a great start to the season and although they are still winning, the
margins are not as great.

Sarries have the capabilities to beat them
(if we can keep 15 men on the park), but this is by far the toughest assignment of the lot and I personally believe it may be a step too far
for the still developing side.

So come the 1st February, the Men in Black might be out of the Powergen Cup (might be!) but should be somewhere between 5 and 9 points better off in the Premiership and in the semi-final of the Parker Pen Challenge
Cup. That's 3 out of 4 ghosts hopefully laid to rest.