By saracensfan62
November 11 2024

A demolition job at the StoneX, it was fair to say that this is the most resounding victory of the premiership and premiership rugby cup season thus far. 

Following on from a rather disappointing loss to Ealing last week, we needed to bounce back versus London Scottish this week and that is exactly what we did. A cricket-eque score was notched up this Saturday and those who did go along were treated to a superb game, with James Hadfield nearly breaking the record for the number of tries scored by an individual Saracens player in a match. He only needed one more to get the elusive 7 in a single game. We were facing an ex-saracen in Alex Wardell, a talented lock who many will remember from the Bath away game In 2023. It’s fair to say we saw more than we needed to see of him then but thankfully his short bands were done up tightly for this match so no similar incidents occurred.

Our first try came from Max Eke after some superb carrying work from the relatively new kid-on-the-block Izaiha Moore-Aiono and Olly Hartley having recently returned from long-term injury. London Scottish hit back with a penalty to gain a foothold in the match but soon enough James Hadfield was up to his usual tricks and scored his first of the night from a quickly taken penalty. Nathan Michelow then scored sarries 3^rd try after a well-executed drill from sarries at the lineout. Tim Swiel was kicking well and added 9 conversions throughout the game. In the absence of Louis Johnson and Fergus Burke, Swiel has proved that he is a great option in the 10 shirt in the 23. The BP was secured when Brandon Jackson intercepted a pass and after a clever grubber through, managed to regain possession and dotted down. Hadfield then secured his hattrick (Hattrick Hadfield, I like it!) after 2 successive lineout drives. There was even time for Callum Braley to get his first try in Saracens colours after Harry Wilson broke the Scottish defensive line and offloaded for him to scamper under the posts. London Scottish did a try thanks to good work from Will Talbot-Davies allowing Dan Nutton to get a full 7 pointer but by the half time whistle, the score was a hugely impressive 49-10 to Saracens. Pretty conclusive to say the least.

London Scottish started the second half the stronger of the two sides after Callum Braley was yellow-carded for a breakdown infringement and Josh Bellamy crossed to make the score more respectable. Even down to 14, Saracens still managed to score when James Hadfield crossed for his 4^th and minutes later scored his 5^th. Tom Parton broke the Scottish defensive line and offloaded to Hadfield who showed impressive speed to run in and dived emphatically over the line. James Hadfield got his 6^th and final try of the match from, guess what, another lineout maul after Scottish lock Mathew Wilkinson was sin-binned for collapsing the maul. The aforementioned Izaiha Moore-Aiono scored after good work from Sam Spink, another exciting young centre who I’m sure we are all keen to see more of. Winger Angus Hall picked up the first of his tries following a flowing move from the 10m line. The next try was certainly the most exciting though, after Tiff Eden produced a magical display of skill and pace to dance through the Scottish defence (almost like a young Alex Goode!) and on the 22m, he popped it up to Angus Hall who didn’t need a 2^nd invitation to race into the corner.  

Jack Bracken and Reggie Hammick both then crossed for their maiden tries in Saracens colours however it was London Scottish who finished the stronger with Tom Wilstead crossing. That and a previous Will Talbot-davies score allowed them to pick up 1 TBP from this match. 99-27 the final score and just 1 point off a century for the wolfpack. A hugely emphatic win and no doubt the squad can take confidence from this going into the Harlequins home game on the 23^rd.

Commiserations to London Scottish and a big well done Saracens, 5 match points to Saracens means we sit in 3rd with Scottish languishing in last place of our pool in the PRC.