By saracensfan62
June 30 2026

Wow, what a day out that was.! Having just got home from an extremely busy, fun filled day in southwest London, I feel it's only right to assemble a reports while the details are fairly fresh in my head, albeit this has been written late at night as my insomnia has struck again and without Grammarly, so please bare with me for any grammatical errors. We walked to the stoop filled with a mixture of trepidation and also excitement. Unfortunately my train was delayed so I missed the SSA procession but got to the Stoop early enough to be able to cheer the players from the coach into the stadium. Having seen what Ealing did to Gloucester the previous weekend, they were an opposition not to be taken lightly. Back to the welcome cheering and chanting, I do hope they appreciated the welcome, albeit a little damaging to their eardrums. I knew as soon as renditions of Frankie Valli’s classic ‘I love you baby’  (sarries substituted for baby) started, they started to walk a little quicker. Whether it was sound being an assault on their ears or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. We sat and enjoyed our pints and food while we were watching the players warming up. I spotted Leanne Infante with her infant (see what I did there?) and May Campbell wondering around too. and it didn't take long for 3:00 PM to arrive when the players ran out together. I must admit the deafening music was a little annoying, however the atmosphere generated by both sets of fans more than made-up for this. Of an 8099 official attendance, 5-5.5k plus must’ve been sarries fans. Every which way I looked it was a sea of red and black. Brilliant turnout from our fans on a big day out.

Ealing, to their credit had by far the majority of the opportunities in the first 10 minutes or so. They had much of the territory and possession and looked threatening. Marlie Packer came in with a superb clutch moment, as she so often does and made a splendid turnover to relieve pressure. From Zoe Harrison’s (ZH) lineout kick, we were able to work our way down the field and following numerous pick and go’s, the eventual PoTM Julia Omokhuale dotted down to make the score 5-0. Harrison converted, and we were 7-0 up.
It only took another 11 mins or so to get the 2^nd of the day, courtesy of a marvellous 50 22 from ZH. The lineout set-up a platform for a strong lineout drive. Ealing defended it well, stalling the movement early on, but it mattered not. Through the power game, Marlie Packer got the finishing touch on a team try which came through much hard work and grit on 21 minutes. Harrison’s conversion drifted agonizingly wide (just) of the left upper but we were 12-0 up and things looked good.

Sarries were really beginning to establish a strong foothold on this game and soon enough a certain Packer was in again. Our skipper drove over for their third score of the afternoon and I must admit it looked rather too easy for her. Almost as though ealing couldn’t lay a finger on her whatsoever. The next try we witnessed was less bish bash bosh style, more of a dancing down the wing. Alysha Corrigan made a barnstorming run down the wing, and the ball got recycled through the forwards a for 3-4 ish phases, until after slick handling from the backline, Sydney Gregson found herself in acres of space to dash down the other wing to dot down what was a superb score. 26-0.

Then came what was certainly an unexpected twist to end the first half. On a less than positive note and following numerous infringements for offside, the referee cracked and showed Gabrielle Senft a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Not complaining about that, it was pretty clear.Not sure it could;ve been clearer, although no doubt if Karl Dickson had been refereeing, he would’ve found a way to probably get it wrong. Luckily he was nowhere to be seen today. I digress - a depeleted Saracens did manage to keep Trailfinders from scoring in the final phase to go into the tunnel 26 points up and hold ealing to 0 at half time. First time in the league this season I think?

Second Half

Despite the yellow card to aforementioned Senft, the second half started in a perfect manner for Sarries. After some positive carries off the kick-off, Zoe Harrison played an inside ball to Jess Breach who pinned her ears back and raced over for yet another play-off try. More perfect handling skills from the backline allowed Alysha Corrigan to cross in the corner moments later, before Trailfinders picked up a consolation score through Maya Montiel, an ex Saracen herself I believe.

 Zoe Harrison slipped through a gap in the Trailfinders defence following a great break from Sophie De Goede to dot down and convert her own score 15 minutes into the half. It was quickly turning into an absolute blood bath and the scoreline (for a final) was a bit embarrassing. I applaud theE Ealing fans around us who never stopped cheering irrespective of the score. Ealing started to find a much needed bit of momentum around 60 mins in, picking up multiple penalties and pinning Sarries in their own 22. After Marlie Packer picked up a yellow card for a cynical ball kick (preventing the ealing 9 from going quick), Abi Burton crashed over for another score for Ealing following lots of pick and gos from the forwards. It was very cheeky from Marlie but she was never ever gonna get away with that one.

However, it was not set to be for Ealing and as they grew increasing frantic, Sarries would have the final say after slick hands from the backline put Jess Breach in for her second of the half. 52-14 the final score and Saracens had more than earned the victory. May Campbell appeared to be on Donna Rose’s back piggyback style as they ran onto the field in celebration. Love the energy and enthusiam every single player showed and they fully deserved that blissfully happy moment.

All that  is left to say is huge well done Sarries and commiserations Ealing. Your time will come. For now, the wolfpack prevail and we can celebrate PWR silverware this season. Come on you Sarries!