By Behind the Bench
March 29 2016

Saracens Storm stayed on course for retaining their A League title by earning a semi-final ahead of their final pool trip to Bristol. Against a strong Quins starting XV featuring the likes of first teamers Adam Jones and Karl Dickson, Saracens were strong in defence as the visitors kept the ball in hand. The effective kicking kept Quins pinned back as both sides reflected the style of play of their respective XVs, not least in the home side's alertness to a chance and clinical finishing. Consequently, it was an encouraging display, controlled by Ben Spencer, and the only disappointment was the injury to fly half Baden Kerr, who was stretchered off in the first half.

The Storm line up featured Matt Gallagher at full back, with Ben Ransom and Nathan Earle occupying the wings and a centre partnership of Nick Tompkins and Nils Mordt, with Kerr and Spencer at half back. Forwards-wise, Hayden Thompson-Stringer featured at loosehead, with Dave Porecki at hooker and Biyi Alo at tighthead. The second row featured Hayden Smith and Kieran Low, with a back row comprised of Jack Nay, Anthony Maka and Samu Vunisa. Harlequins; starting XV featured four players (Matt Hopper, Tito Tebaldi, Karl Dickson and Ross Chisholm) who had been on the bench on Sunday's narrow Premiership defeat at Northampton Saints. They lined up with Ollie Lindsay-Hague at full back, with Henry Cheeseman and Ross Chisholm on the wings, outside a centre partnership of Hopper and Harry Sloan. Tebaldi was at fly half with captain Dickson at scrum half. The pack saw a front row of Owen Evans, Charlie Piper and Adam Jones, with Sam Twomey and Matthews making up the second row, and Archie White completing the back row with Beau Robinson and James Chisholm. 

Heavy rain before kick off saw the rain soon stop, and a stiller night ensued, but it was ominous when Quins took a third minute lead through Beau Robinson, which was mauled over from about 30 metres, and was converted by Tebaldi. However, the advantage didn't last long, as a well-worked move gave Saracens some territory. A Spencer box kick was hacked forward by Ransom on the left wing - he couldn't finish but Saracens have forced a five metre scrum but Spencer darted over just as the penalty was awarded. He converted his own try and to make it 7-7 after nine minutes, with an incisive piece of play which would look at home in the first team. Storm then looked to edge ahead six minutes as they kicked for the corner, but Quins managed to keep out the rolling maul. Although looking to keep the ball in hand more than the hosts at this stage, genuine breaks were a rarity for the visitors, but one of real quality emerged through Cheeseman after 23 minutes when his run from deep provided the impetus for some sustained pressure, only for the hosts to force a penalty from the maul to clear the danger. Earle emulated Quins' winger with a surging run which had the visitors scrambling away for a five metre scrum. From the resultant pressure, Storm won a penalty which was converted by Spencer after a lengthy delay for treatment to Kerr, nudging the home side 10-7 ahead on the half-hour mark. Harlequins, though, finished the half more strongly, and in the lead. Patient play in midfield earnt a penalty and then a five metre lineout, as Robinson went over for his second, and Tebaldi converted.