By Jason Harris
January 26 2003

Gloucester scored eight tries in a 51-20 demolition of Saracens at Kinsgholm in the Powergen Cup quarer-final with some spectacular running rugby and crushing foward supieriority. The Men in Black were not at the races as the home side eased untroubled into the semi-finals. Glouceseter's pack rumbled across the Kingsholm greenery as if it were an African plain such was the space afforded to them by a flimsy, almost disinterested Saracens defence. The home side's backs did likewise, time and again breaking through or running around the Sarries cover.

The pattern for the game was set as early as the second minute when Glaws no8 Jamie Forrester crossed for an easy try after picking up the football from the base of a scrum just inside the Saracens 22. The Sarries back row was conspicuous by its absence as the young forward sprinted to the line.

Not only were Saracens weak in defence, they were inept in attack at times; no better example being the second Glocuester try - scored by fullback Thinus Delport - when they dropped the ball in an attacking position on the home 22, only for it to be ran 75 metres the other way for the points.

Though Sarries came back with a smartly-taken Adryan Winnan try form a chip and chase, it was always going to be a long, painful slog at the office for the Men in Black despite Niki Little bringing them within two points of the home side with a penalty. That was to be the closest Sarries came to a side very keen to prove a point after their shock exit from the Heineken Cup the previous weekend.

Saracens did manage to score a couple more five pointers through Tom Shanklin and Richard Haughton during the second half, they were never going to overhaul the half-century racked up by the home side.

Further tries from Forrester and Delport, who each bagged a brace, Gomarsall, Fanolua, Roncero and Eustace did the damage on the scoreboard, while the awesome Gloucester pack, led by the ebullient Olivier Azam - whose dust-up with Kris Chesney threw up one of the funniest rugby monents this year when the Frenchman ran away from the fracas wearing the Sarries man's headgear - gave the Sarries eight a pummelling that will live long in the memory.

Even with Jake Boer off the field for ten minutes after his most blatant offside sparked a scrap with Sarries lock Stuart Hooper, the Glaws scrum still shoved their opponents backwards with something to spare.

Unfortunately, those painful memories will be vivid enough when the two sides square up again at Vicarage Road on Sunday. Even with the return of Richard Hill, Thomas Castaignede, Abdel Benazzi and Andy Goode in prospect, it's going to be a very brave man indeed that would bet against Gloucester making it three wins from three meetings this season.