By darraghgirl
May 1 2016

  May Day. An ancient Spring Festival associated with flowers, and dancing round poles to crown Queens. Its ancient name means “Month of 3 milkings!” Abolished by Oliver Cromwell it was reinstated by Charles II in 1660. In other parts of the world it has become International Workers Day. Where I live strange men with bells on their legs dance about and wave hankies in the air as the sun breaks the horizon.  

May Day was the occasion of Sarries’ last home game of the regular season, and one last appearance by Saracens’ very own warrior supreme, Jacques Burger. As Allianz Park basked in warm spring sunshine, Jacques came onto the field accompanied only by his 2 children to be greeted by a well-deserved ovation and his name being chanted from the stands. Quite a send-off. How nice it is to have the opportunity to say goodbye like this to one of our favourites.

Mark McCall had suggested that everyone would get a rest before the big day in Lyon. The team was a bit of a mish-mash with Goodey, Taylor, Billy, Kruis & Du Plessis getting the week off (not to mention Farrell) and Mako, Brits and Figallo (a welcome return) on the bench just in case. A late change saw Wiggy come in for Neil de Kock with Spencer replacing him in the dugout. The Newcastle team contained 2 former Saracens: Adam Powell & Mouritz Botha.

Burger’s first contribution was somewhat inauspicious, giving away a penalty on half way. Early danger from Newcastle got the ball over the line but it was held up and Saracens won a free kick on Newcastle’s scrum. There was some good work from Ransom dealing with the high ball. Newcastle turned the ball over but the clearance kick was charged down. Wyles almost got there from the rebound but Young just beat him to safety. As Newcastle looked to break out of their own 22, Ashton intercepted a pass from Adam Powell almost on the try line only for Powell, once of this parish, to return the compliment and get the ball back and away.

Saracens won a penalty at the scrum and Hodgson’s kick was sublime, just crossing the touchline the right side of the corner flag. Sarries set up the maul from the line out but although Burger wrapped his arms tightly round the ball, he couldn’t get the ball down and Mr Tempest awarded the 5m scrum to Newcastle. It was all a bit messy and Mr Tempest then gave a penalty to Newcastle for offside (although from where we were sitting, we clearly heard Big Jim check if he was onside with touch judge Roy Maybank).

Itoje stole the resulting lineout and from the attack Sarries won a penalty which Hodgson kicked to open the scoring in what had so far been a rather flat game. Far from revitalising Saracens, the score seemed to have the opposite effect. Sarries didn’t look after the ball from their own scrum, Willis managed to turn the ball over and Harris found Marcus Watson who set off for the corner. Ashton just got his tackle in and the TMO looked long and hard before deciding Watson had stayed a couple of millimetres on the right side of the line and the try was given. Willis kicked a lovely conversion and The Falcons were deservedly ahead.

Almost immediately Saracens had the chance to reduce the deficit with a longish penalty kick in front of the posts. Sadly Charlie’s goal kicking wasn’t in the same league as his kicking from hand and the ball bounced off the upright. Saracens made a mess of the follow up with Barritt and Wyles running into each other and once again Newcastle cleared the danger and launched another attack of their own. This time Wiggy cleared the ball. There was a bit of light relief when a chap with sharp hair and a rucksack was asked to return the match ball he had quietly stolen (which having been publicly shamed he duly did). `

Play seemed to be all in Saracens’ half of the pitch and only Newcastle’s wastefulness with the ball saved Sarries. Ransom dropped a high clearance from Young. Newcastle won a penalty from the scrum. This seemed to galvanise them even more. A couple of penalties went in the corner and Newcastle seemed to have scored with a catch and drive but Vea collided with Burger’s knee forcing a knock on, the TMO ruled no try and we went back for a Saracens scrum. Yet another try-saving intervention from the good-looking guy! Excellent work by Wray allowed Wiggy to clear to touch but from the lineout, Newcastle broke again and despite desperate defence, Willis grubber kicked the ball ahead, Watson collected the ball, rode Wiggy’s tackle and scored his second try. Willis again converted from the touchline and as the half-time whistle blew, one felt things were not going to plan. Newcastle led 14-3 and fully deserved their lead. What was going on? Didn’t we lose the equivalent match last season to Exeter in similar circumstances? This was most definitely not in the script for Burger’s farewell party! I suspect McCall had more than a few words to say at half-time!

Meanwhile we enjoyed an enterprising win by the little ones of Tabard in the mini rugby with one particularly speedy lad scoring a couple of tries and looking very promising. I hope Charlie was watching in his new capacity as talent spotter!

Newcastle took to the field several minutes before Sarries as the match recommenced. Mako and Figallo had replaced Barrington & Lamositele and almost immediately we saw the effect. Mako in particular upped the tempo and Newcastle were forced back into their own half of the pitch – unfamiliar territory! Ashton kicked ahead, beat Watson to the ball but Willis came across and almost cleared, in the meantime carrying the ball over his own 22. The scrum which followed was a different animal to the first half. A penalty was won and put in the corner. The lineout was clutched by big Jim, the attack petered out but Newcastle had offended and the ball went back in the corner. This time it went to Itoje, the maul was formed, joined by Bosch, Barritt and Ashton, and like some multi-legged creature from outer space, it pushed the Newcastle pack backwards. Wray touched the ball down. Charlie again missed the kick but at least the scoreboard was moving the right way now at 8-14.

Hamilton was taken out in the air from the restart and again Charlie found a lovely touch. A knock on produced a scrum and the inevitable Sarries’ penalty. Charlie put the ball back in the corner once more. Everyone knew what would follow and indeed the maul was set. This time Newcastle managed to stop it semi-legally. Several attacks came to nothing except for another Sarries’ penalty. We went to the TMO because the touch judge saw a swinging arm and on the big screen we can clearly see Rhodes’ arm swinging. The TMO adjudged he was trying to release the ball and we went back for the penalty which went back in the corner again.

At this point, the great man left the pitch for the last time. The crowd applauded loudly as Jacques’ famous ringlets and mis-shapen nose headed for the tunnel. Kelly Brown replaced him and again the maul was set up with the same result. Wray touched down once again for a second try and this time Charlie converted. Finally Sarries were back in the lead 15-14.

Saunders’ tackle on Watson was scrutinised by the TMO. It was deemed to be just horizontal and Mr Tempest didn’t even feel it was worth a penalty. It was Saunders’ last act of the match, he was replaced by Brits after another very creditable performance. Spencer also came on for Wiggy.

The change in personnel had no effect on the effectiveness of the scrum. Yet another penalty was awarded and Charlie decided to take on a difficult kick with success and a bit of breathing space at 18-14. He had less success with a second scrum penalty a few minutes later, again hitting the upright.

Sarries kept the pressure on. An attempted maul didn’t quite make it but a second from yet another gorgeous touch kick penalty and a catch and drive saw Itoje take the ball off Wray and score the 3^rd try. The less said about the conversion attempt the better, but you got the impression all the fight had gone out of Newcastle now. Apparently Itoje’s score was Saracens 1,000^th Premiership try, joining an exclusive club of Leicester & Wasps.

So that was the end of the scoring. Both sides emptied their benches and as is often the case, the shape and momentum was lost. Charlie departed to another huge round of applause, although unlike Jacques, I don’t think he has played his last game at Allianz, and was replaced by Mordt. Neither a fourth try for Sarries or a losing bonus for Newcastle was forth coming and in the end it didn’t matter.

Exeter’s surprisingly easy win over Wasps meant that a simple win was all that was required to confirm not only a home semi-final, but also a top place finish. It also ensured that next week’s game against Worcester doesn’t really matter (although I don’t see Mark McCall looking at it like that).

It’s a cliché but if there was ever a game of 2 halves, this was it – unfortunately the 2 halves were both played at the other end of the pitch from where we sit! Mako, Figallo and a few choice words from Mark McCall made the difference and Saracens are just where they want to be. Not 3 milkings but 3 tries for Sarries! I think the merry month of May will see what we are really made of.

“O yes with ever changing sports,

We whiled the hours away

The skies were bright,

Our hearts were light

In the merry merry month of May”

SARACENS

Ransom, Ashton, Bosch, Barritt (Tompkins), Wyles, Hodgson (Mordt), Wigglesworth (Spencer), Barrington (M Vunipola), Saunders (Brits), Lamositele, (Figallo), Itoje, Hamilton (Smith), Rhodes, Burger (Brown) Wray

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Hammersley, Tait, Harris, Powell (Penny), Watson, Willis (Catterick), Young (Tipuna), Vickers (Rogers), McGuigan (Hawkins), Vea (Foster), Botha (Mayhew), Robinson (Green), Welch, Temm, Wilson.

SCORERS:

Saracens (23)

Tries:- Wray (2), Itoje, Conv: Hodgson, Pen: Hodgson (2)

Newcastle Falcons (14)

Tries: Watson (2), Conv: Willis (2)

Attendance 9,744

Referee: Ian Tempest RFU