By The Saracens
September 18 2021

Robert Louis Stevenson once said “it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive”. Today it seems his words may come true. We booked this game a couple of months ago as the last of the regular Premiership venues to visit (well until Irish this season). We were longing for the chance to get back to the Premiership, as no doubt were Sarries. As the weeks went by, though it became clear that the Saracens’ team would be missing a lot of experience (injuries meant even more than we thought) and our initial optimism that Sarries would bounce straight back to their old pre-eminence, was misjudged. This was going to be a tough night out.

Unlike me, Little DG still has to work for a living – she is a teacher at a large  Comp – so we can’t leave until 3.30. Never mind the ETA on the Sat Nav is 18.45 so all will be well. Or so we thought. The Gods of the M25 are not smiling on us and we crawl round as the ETA goes to 19.00, 19.05.19.10 when we hit the M4. We endure a long drive through the average speed section until we are finally released at Junction 12. We gain a few minutes only to lose more around Swindon. By the M32 our ETA is 19.15 and it’s getting tight. Supper will have to wait. Finally we find the pre-booked car park. Whoever planned this assumed they would be Minis not SUV’s! Thank goodness Little DG can park a minibus on a drain cover and we just squeeze in. We do the 15 minute walk in 10, eschewing the rent-a-scooters on the grounds it would take longer to download the app than push on. At 19.35 we make it. We can not believe the number of people still milling about outside – most of these won’t see kick-off. We end up doing a lap of the Stadium before we eventually find the Dolman Stand, climb Bristol’s version of Everest and take our seats with our 2 friends (who had the sense to leave an hour earlier).

We are just in time to pay tribute to those who died from COVID and cheer both teams onto the pitch. Boy it’s good to be back. Ashton Gate is an impressive Stadium: under the roof it almost feels like being indoors, but the seat pitch is tight and the continual movement along the rows is a tad irritating. First impressions of the away kit – I like the Red but the white stripe looks a bit like a zip, giving them a kind of Telly-tubby impression.

Wayne Barnes blows his whistle and we are off. We all feel that a point will be a good result. Bears, although without Radrada and Sinkler, have a very strong team and are cheered on by 20,000 odd fans. The Sarries team, in contrast, contains a lot of unfamiliar names – at least to the Bears supporters around us although one name is very well known to them, that of Ben Earl who along with Max Malins, spent last season at Ashton Gate. They, like us, rate him.

The early skirmishes aren’t promising – a lot of kicks back and forth with Brizz getting the better of it. Piutau attempts a 50:22 but gets it wrong. Eventually Brizz pile on to Obatoyinbo and force the penalty which Sheedy slots and the home side take a 3-0 lead. It’s all Bristol! After the false reassurance of a secured lineout, Sarries mess up the 2^nd one. Somewhat against the run of play Sarries win a penalty on the 10m line following good work by the forwards. Loz looks confident. It’s touch and go. The touch Judges look at each other and as much to their surprise as ours, raise their flags and we are level. Almost immediately Sheedy gets an opportunity from half way and duly obliges to put Brizz ahead again. We all laugh as the PA asks for the owner of a white Polo to return to it as he has left the engine running. Another opportunity for Sheedy after Billy is penalized for an off the ball tackle on Nathan Hughes, and its over for 9-3. We look at each other as Sarries engage in another bout of unproductive kicking. It’s going as we feared. Brizz look like a Premiership team while Sarries are staring at the headlights. This could be a very long night. But wait – we have a penalty wide on the ½ way line and Loz looks interested. He goes for it but the kick is just short.

Brizz take advantage of a lineout and Adeolokun (a late replacement for Morahan) thinks he’s scored but Barnes saves Sarries by calling him back after Lewington received the lineout off the field. Bristol then put together the best move of the match when from their own 22, Piutau shapes to kick, breaks, brushing off defenders like cobwebs. He offloads to Thacker who is equally unstoppable. Thacker finds Lloyd who finds Uren but just as a try looks inevitable, Obatoyinbo and Billy put in a huge  tackle to force him into touch on the 5m line. For once we secure the lineout but then Earl concedes a penalty. The metronomic Sheedy misses though much to Sarries’ relief.

The tide seems to be turning a tad with Bristol’s generosity. Segun forces a knock on and a good Sarries’ scrum on the Bears’ 22 results in another penalty. Loz, from out wide, lands it to make it 9-6. A careless kick from Loz sees the ball go dead and a Bristol scrum back on half way but Sarries profit through Riccioni and win another penalty. This one goes to touch, Sarries set up a maul from the lineout which is pulled down on the 22 and Loz gratefully lands his easiest kick of the night to level the scores. Half time is all but here. Sarries faff about with the ball and in the end it is Brizz who kick it out to end proceedings.

We all agree that the score flatters Sarries. The guy next to Little DG (dressed as a bear on his stag do) asks for a photo meanwhile the lovely Bristol supporter sitting next to our friends in the row behind buys them both a beer “because you’ve come such a long way”. We look at the positives: the scrum, Segun, Billy and Loz. There are rather more negatives: too much aimless kicking, the line out, the lack of attacking opportunities and the feeling that Bristol will come out strong and takes us apart.

So Part 2 begins. It begins well with the increasingly dominant Sarries’ scrum winning another kickable penalty from which Loz obliges. We are ahead, 9-12. More kicks but this time Sarries come out on top. A tricky penalty on half way after Bristol mess up a Garryowen, but Loz is up for it and suddenly its 9-15! Such riches. Such stress – suddenly it seems like we could just win this one.

Obatoyinbo makes his obligatory error, putting a kick straight out. Bristol have an attacking line out from which Thacker breaks. He is tackled but Barnes is playing advantage. It’s a long advantage as Bristol batter the try line but the dam holds and we go back for a very kickable penalty. Strangely Sheedy puts it in the corner. We feel Bristol have to score here. Wave after wave of attacks, Billy & Nick Isiekwe are huge and finally Bristol knock on. Whew!

Adams Hales departs with a bloody nose to be replaced by Baz. Bristol have the bit between their teeth but Sarries have belief. Stonewall Jackson had nothing on them as once again the defence holds out. It’s almost like the stuffing is coming out of the Bears. Riccioni, who has had one hell of a debut, is replaced by Alec Clarey. Sarries find their feet and start running at the Bristol defence. Bristol push them back but concede another long penalty. Once again Loz has had his spinach and over it goes. 9-18.

We are into the last quarter and incredibly Sarries have a 9 point cushion. There are bodies all over the pitch with cramp. Hang on though, Barnes is watching the TV, his attention having been drawn to a suspicious looking tackle by Woolstencroft. We are a long way off but it doesn’t look great. The Bristol player is falling though so maybe he’ll get away with a yellow? Barnes is marching back – he speaks to the Captains but doesn’t go to his pocket! Apparently it’s an “in game incident” and we play on.

Bristol are fired up though, renewed by perceived injustice and attack again but it’s almost as if they’ve forgotten how. A forward pass ends their attempt. Bristol have the ball in Sarries’ 22 and can’t find a way out. Huge tackles are piling in. It’s got very feisty.  Tim Swinson departs for Callum Hunter-Hill, his work done. Finally Sarries win another penalty on the 10m line. Meat and drink to Loz who stretches the lead to 12 points. 10 minutes left and it really looks like we will do this. Bristol have no answer to the power of Saracens’ pack. Loz is down with a knock, we have our fingers crossed but nothing is removing him from the pitch at Ashton Gate and as if to prove his fitness, he chips inch perfect out to Lewington who goes over for the first try of the night and pretty much makes the game safe even though for once Loz can’t add the extras. Smally thinks so too as we get some replacements although Loz stays put.

A moment’s lost concentration as Bristol restart and the ball hits Wray and Davies who both look at each other. (Reminiscent of Wray’s blip against Ealing last season – hope it doesn’t become a habit!) It results in a Bristol 5m scrum but once again Bristol don’t have any ammo left in their locker and Hughes knocks on allowing Sarries to clear. Down to the last 5 minutes now and Lewington kicks ahead forcing O’Connor to carry the ball into touch by the tryline. Bristol are pinned in their 22. Joe Simpson, on for Aled Davies takes the ball and with the turning circle of an articulated lorry, attempts to offload for what would be a certain try – except he doesn’t find his man. Into the final minute. Bristol have one last chance to score but their hearts are no longer in it and the pass is knocked forward. Sarries win the scrum and kick the ball out.

What a night! Yes we came with hope but we didn’t really have any expectation. How little we believe. Our team, on paper was the weaker but they are Saracens to a man and that counts for everything. Ben Earl was never leaving on the loosing side. Loz was deservedly Man of the Match but they were all heroes. Riccioni had a superb debut, Billy was immense, Isiekwe has got even better than we remembered,  Morris and Tompkins were phenomenal, Segun has learned to tackle - I could go on and on…..

It is a long drive home but a happy one. We stop off at Leigh Delamare only to find the entire service Station taken over by Sarrie’s fans, all delighted but all pinching themselves – did that really happen?

So for one night at least we are top of the table having beaten the team who finished top last season in their own back yard – and with 10 of our first choice players missing. Now that’s something to savour.

Bristol

Piutau (Randall), Adeolokun, O’Conor, Leiua, Lloyd (Bates), Sheedy (Bedlow), Uren (Randall): Woolmore (Thomas), Thacker (Capon) , Lahiff (Armstrong), Holmes (Attwood), Vui, Luatua (Heenan), Thomas, Hughes

Saracens

Obatoyinbo, Lewington, Morris (Vunipola), Tompkins, Segun (Harris), Lozowski, Davies (Simpson); Adams-Hale (Barrington), Woolstencroft (Pifeleti), Riccioni (Cleary), Swinson (Hunter-Hill), Isiekwe, Wray, Earl (Reffell), B Vunipola

SCORES:

Bristol 9  Pen: Sheedy (3)

Saracens 26, Try: Lewington; Pen: Lozowski (7)

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Attendance 19,003

BACK WHERE WE BELONG!

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 18/09/2021 21:55

TheSaracens.com
18/09/2021 21:55

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:10:07:22:45:05 by Darraghgirl.

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Barty II
19/09/2021 08:39

Excellent review. For the benefit of those who weren't watching on the box, Wayne Barnes' communication of Woolstencroft's potential high tackle was excellent. He pointed out that Woolstencroft was not moving at any pace, was bent almost 90 degrees at the hip, and with Clarey making the first tackle, by the time the Bristol player collided with Woolstencroft his knees were touching the ground and therefore in a split second his height had dropped a foot and in normal circumstances Woolstencroft's tackle would be perfectly executed. Think last season we saw too many reds on occasions like that where the tackler isn't being 'reckless', and the player being tackled has dropped their height at the last second. Really hope an example for the season has been set here by Mr Barnes!

Also, great to hear the friendly nature of the Bears fans on the day. I'm sure some atmospheres will be more hostile than others but from everything I've seen so far, in person things are no more than good natured banter and its really just a minority of noisy keyboard warriors mostly causing the aggro - we'd do well not to stoop to that level!

Excellent smash and grab performance from the boys, very encouraging debut for Riccioni, and would definitely argue its Loz's best performance in a Sarries shirt.

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GazzaFez
19/09/2021 19:43

Great write up DG.

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OldMarovian
19/09/2021 20:23

Quote:

Barty II
Wayne Barnes' communication of Woolstencroft's potential high tackle was excellent. ... Really hope an example for the season has been set here by Mr Barnes!

I agree 100% Barty but also think given how that's been refereed in previous seasons I can understand some grumping from Bristol. I also think that him talking about the Bristol players knee being to ground (I'm not sure what the relevance of that is in Law other than it makes a tackle complete?) was a distraction to the rest of his point as from my view the knee wasn't to ground before contact. I think some folks though as that was wrong the whole call was wrong.

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Barty II
20/09/2021 07:45

I thought he was referring to the knee-on-ground just as an easy marker of how much the players height had changed from one second to the next, as far as I'm aware there's no actual section of a law about whether or not a knee is on the floor (but I haven't read them all so please correct me!)

Last season is last season and quite often won't be relevant for the next due to whatever is decided in the referee's briefing pre-season regarding how certain laws will be interpreted based off lessons learned from the previous year. All the media get invited to a pre-season briefing on that, its a shame that as far as I'm aware it isn't made public other than news being passed on by the invited journos. Given the commentary team (lets not forget it included a certain Mr Dallaglio who isn't generally a fan of ours!) were also praising Barnes for his decision I can only assume this is something where the interpretation has changed. We'll see if it happens again I guess?

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OldMarovian
20/09/2021 14:40

No big deal but have I had a comment deleted from here? Not aware that I said anything inappropriate??

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Darraghgirl
20/09/2021 15:07

Apologies for any comments that disappeared (and have hopefully reappeared)
It was nothing to do with us, honest!
I think it was a Sportnetwork glitch but it appears the missing comments are now reinstated

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jonnybrowne
20/09/2021 18:23

Wonderful report on a very memorable night, DG. I’d fervently hoped for a “statement” performance and that’s what we got. We have a stern test to come at Welford Road, but there are so many positives to take from Friday - Loz has become an even better player after a year at Montpelier; Billy is getting back to his rampaging best, playing like a man with a point to prove; the youngsters, Dom Morris, Ralph AH, Roti Segun and Elliot Obatoyinbo, proved they can thrive at this level; Marco Riccioni looked like he’d been at Sarries for years; Ben Earl and Nick Isiekwe slotted back in like they’d never been away; our defence relentless and physicality brutal.

A special mention, as also made by you, must go to the staff and fans at Bristol - there can’t be a more welcoming away game can there? We were in the Lansdowne with relatives and I lost count of the number of Bears fan who said “welcome back” and there were a lot of handshakes after the game. A proper club with proper people. We were however, slightly surprised by the Bristol-accented young man sitting next to us who confessed to being conflicted in his support…he turned out to be the younger brother of Richard Skuse…



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:09:21:08:26:37 by jonnybrowne.

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The Bard
20/09/2021 19:06

If was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, thanks for this great write up.
Personally think Billy is some way off his best but he certainly put a shift in.

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OldMarovian
20/09/2021 19:56

Its still not there DG but its no problem. As much as anything it's me checking my sanity that I actually posted something. Probably SportsNetworks way of telling me to post less

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