By J O'G & MK-Fez
February 2 2015

This report ended up as a bag of liquorice allsorts. The body of the report was written (from memory) by Jeremy with some added detail from Kevin (in italics) and a couple of bits added by the Eds. Hope you enjoy it. 

Kassam stadium was very cold with the wind blowing in from the end with no stand; why did they not build a stand at the end the wind comes from. Arctic temperatures lowered the attendance to 3,272 and prompted many supporters that did go to sup cups of hot Bovril rather than the usual bottles of Brains SA.

Bumped into Alex Sanderson outside – he wasn’t that confident with the lack of second-rows meaning the pack was pretty lightweight. Especially since Welsh were pretty well full strength – well 80% perhaps. He made all the “we will be trying noises”, but I felt he was expecting a loss. (As a total aside I asked him if the dream back row of himself, Hilly and Taine Randell ever played together and he said no. He was yet to play for the club when Hilly was injured and retired before his comeback).

The first half was a period full of errors, with numerous knock-ons and forward passes, possibly due to the Arctic temperatures that lowered the attendance to 3,272. Sarries came out facing the wind and I suddenly realised that I was probably going to miss most of the match – it was likely to be in the other 22. However, as it turned out that wasn’t so true. The game started off even enough , but it quickly became apparent that Welsh were going to be completely dominant in the lineout. They had a couple of tall second rows, who our players could not get near on their ball; I don’t remember them losing a lineout all day apart from not-straights. On the Sarries ball however they threw these tall lads up as obstacles and Jared Saunders wasn’t able for the most part to deal with them. The moments I remember from the game were our poor line-outs, due to having No. 8s (Kennett O’Neil – Cambridge, Jack Tredrea - Esher) playing in the second row, often a timing issue over their jumping leading to hooker Jared Saunders’ throwing into the arms of Welsh’s jumpers.  Later, this was remedied by reliable line-outs to the No. 8, Nick de Jager. 

Sarries were able to control the early stages with a great kicking game into the wind; the Welsh backs really struggled to judge the box-kicks and stayed on the ground for the most part. This meant the chase was able to pin the catchers and although little turnover ball came Welsh were constantly running from deep. They were struggling with the wind in the passing too as the ball from 9 and 10 was often taken over the receiving players head and sometimes even not being caught. There were a few runs in the Welsh 22 from Sarries but the few times were spoilt with a forward pass or a knock-on

Welsh were starting to put together some plays, especially their driving maul which made 10 yards at least every time. Their forwards were working well with a good series of pick and drives, but dogged Sarries defence kept them out. Welsh looked to have scored when they had a four on two out wide, but managed to get tackled by Perkins and to make the misery complete were pinged for holding on. To be honest I thought that it was a try from my seat when the ref’s arm went up, but could not understand why they were playing on.

Shortly afterwards Welsh drove again from a lineout and after a couple of further drives, they had a penalty advantage. The fly half Tristan Roberts took a drop-goal instead which went over. Welsh came back and from another forward surge seemed to be in under the posts. Welsh however, decided that throwing the ball to the backs after the forwards had driven 40 yards was the plan, but as the ball went from side to side, they went back to where they started before passing into touch. Sarries pressed ahead with an attack, only for prop Jack Culverhouse to fumble, just meters from the try line.  Winger George Perkins made a try-saving tackle to deny Welsh on the 22^nd minute, before scrum half Ben Spencer did the same to Welsh’s full back Elliott Kear in the 34^th minute.

Then probably the turning point of the match with almost the last play of the half. Welsh tried running the ball out of their own 22 as time was almost up. Instead May threw a terrible pass, landing on the ground; Wilkins hacked on for Sarries and Ben Spencer won the foot race under the posts. He was completely worn out and took quite a time to get up and take the kick for a 3-7 half-time lead. The stuffing went out of Welsh and the crowd as they were facing the wind in the second half.

After a pie that was rubbish compared to JJ’s the second half started with Sarries in control. They kicked well to the corners and finally got possession in the Welsh 22. After a couple of good runs, Jared Saunders burst through to score the second try. Spencer converted from wide out. It seemed to me and to the crowd that it was all over and Welsh would crumple as often this season. But it was not to be as they kept the ball tight in the forwards keeping up the pressure on the Sarries defence. The big number 8 Fonau was a handful all day, doing a good Billy V impression and he rumbled in under the posts. With an easy kick under the posts, Welsh were only 4 points behind. About 5 minutes later more forward pressure and Fonau again rumbled over but out wide. Roberts missed the kick to keep the game to a single point 15-14. The wind I noticed had completely dropped which meant that Sarries were unable to get a long clearing kick when they had possession

I was a little annoyed with the referee at this point as he was allowing Welsh to push at each scrum before the ball came in; and then had the cheek to award a tap-penalty to Welsh when they were pushing. It was from this that Fanoa scored his second try. Then Stockdale (I think) made a petulant late tackle outside the 22 and was yellow carded. Sarries’ lock Jack Tredrea was then given, what looked like, an innocuous yellow card on the 63^rd minute. (EDS – London Welsh website says it was Buggea, so who knows!) From the resulting line-out Fanoa again drove for the line, but a great cover surge pushed him over the corner flag. I think the TMO would have awarded a 22, but instead Sarries just got a lineout. Fortunately it was a winning one for a change and were able to give a belting kick down-field. Then from another dodgy scrum Welsh were awarded a penalty. Roberts missed by a distance as the wind started to pick up again.

Sarries were holding out well with just 14 men, and the game was a bit of a stalemate with Sarries getting more possession and each time pinning Welsh into their own 22. Then a penalty for offside and Spencer put Sarries into the lead with a great kick- very wind assisted. Welsh suddenly seemed beaten and with the returning yellow card there was another penalty on halfway. Spencer belted over another big kick and suddenly the game seemed won. Unless they scored under the posts, you would not have confidence in a conversion against the wind. Welsh tried to run the ball one more time from deep but it came to nothing       

A game Welsh should have won easily, but their backs passing was rubbish and they should have kept the ball in the forwards. Sarries defended well and took advantage of the chances they had. I thought Fercu played really well and so did Nils Mordt. . Full back Catalin Fercu looks like a good prospect for the future, with his inventive runs and chip kicks in attack and his presence in defence. 

Another plus for Sarries’ young guns was the defence that prevented a mainly first team Welsh side from scoring more tries, beyond their potent No. 8, Opeti Fonua, who was rightly named the Welsh man of the match.

As the final whistle went, a few flakes of snow made an appearance along with EG in just a black shirt and black trousers – I was cold in two sweaters and a thick coat – how does he do it. Certainly one of the best games I’ve been to this season, uncertainty right up to the final whistle and a good win in the end.

EDS: As luck would have it, the final round of the LV Cup sees the top teams in each pool playing each other. We are home to Exeter (leaders of Pool 4 and already through) and Cardiff Blues are home to Leicester (leaders of pools 2 and 3) with the winners of each game earning a home semi final. The Sarries game is the last one to be played (with all the other meaningful games being played on the Saturday) so we will know what we need to do. Gloucester and Bath (who could both overtake us at the top of Pool 1) play Quins & Ospreys (who are both out) so we must assume they will win. Exeter will provide a sterner test.

And if Cardiff beat Tiggers at home, Saints are out whatever they do. That would be amusing given the final is at Franklins Gardens    

LONDON WELSH

Kear, Awcock (J Lewis), May, Barkley, Scott, Roberts, R Lewis (Davies), Trevett (Aholelei), Britton (Morris), Vea, West (Schofield), Down, Pienaar (Thorpe), Kirwin, Fonua.

Subs not used: Cooper, Robinson

SARACENS

Fercu, Ellery, Wilkins, Palamo (Staff), Perkins, Mordt, Spencer, Culverhouse, Saunders, Alo, O’Neill, Tredrea (Buggea), Thompson-Stringer, Hankin (Taylor), de Jager

Subs not used:- Adams-Hale, Featherstone, Hughes, Whiteley, Malins

Scorers:

LONDON WELSH: Tries: Fonua (2), Conv: Roberts, Drop Goal: Roberts

SARACENS: Tries: Spencer, Saunders,   Conv: Spencer (2) Pens Spencer (2)

Attendance: 3272

Referee: David Procter