Flying high

By saracensfan62
February 2 2025

Unlike the sarries women team this weekend, the men could not recreate any success at the StoneX. Sarries were comphrehensively outclassed in front of a near empty StoneX. I expect the clash with the England v Ireland game put many off. I’ll keep this report brief with the aim being people can read and get the general gist in 1-2 minutes.

First Half

It was clear from the off that our team, whilst stronger than expected, was going to struggle against a much more cohesive and well-drilled Ealing team with players like Jordy Reid, Scarlets fly half Dan Jones, RBT and ex-Sarrie (now traitor… only joking!) Ben Harris all featuring. Ealing started the game much better than sarries as they raced into a 0-17 lead with 2 tries from Willemse and RBT. Saracens did manage a response from new signing Carwyn Tuipolotu off the back of a driving maul. Brandon Jackson was once again up to his old tricks and scored bringing sarries back within scoring distance of Ealing. However, Craig Hampson capitalised on a loose sarries breakdown and set FB Tobi Wilson in for Ealing’s next score. Wilson was set up for his second after Ealing stole the ball from a sarries scrum and could canter in for Ealing’s BP try. There was time for Brandon Jackson to score for sarries as he raced down the left wing to make the score 27-17. Half time arrived, a welcome relief from the Ealing onslaught.

Second Half

We often struggle in the second half, and this particular H2 was a very one-sided affair. Dan Jones (Ealing’s FH) added 3 successive penalties and to make matters worse for the hosts, RBT managed to intercept a loose sarries pass and trotted in under the posts. 43-17 and the game seemingly done. Tiff Eden did manage to dot down after some superb work from Charlie Bracken making a line break. To compound the misery for the home side, Jordy Reid charged down a kick and scored again. 50-17. Brandon Jackson got his deserved hattrick just before full time. 29-50 to Ealing and a bit of a thrashing at home for the boys in black.

Disappointing would be an understatement. Well done Ealing on a deserved victory. I hope to see them in the premiership very soon. They could give numerous 'Premiership quality' sides a good run for their money.
There really is no excuse for the recent performances we’ve seen from the team and some of the individual performances have frankly been laughably poor. Having been a stout supporter of McCall and his team, I  never thought I’d actually say this, but questions need to be asked about the coaches, setup and management and what they are trying to achieve. I certainly am struggling to see where we go from here. I do hope none of the younger players' confidence have been knocked by this game but it's clear the squad depth we used to possess does not exist anymore.

A positive would be the scrum. It generally held up very nicely and that seems to (finally) be an area we have managed to correct from previous seasons where it has caused concern. Lack of attacking fluidity is now the main problem. This is directed at 9 and 10 especially, but please STOP KICKING THE BALL UNNECESSARILY! 

Let’s hope we can regain some credibility with the next PRC game away to London Scottish.

(Reuben Bird-Tulloch shortened to RBT, I couldn't be bothered to write it out time after time).