By Rupert Thacker
October 11 2004

Saracens reminded everyone of their Heineken Cup aspirations on Sunday afternoon with a hard fought 23-12 victory over Northampton Saints. An early penalty for Shane Drahm was cancelled out by the first Sarries try in the 10th minute; fine work from Mark Bartholomeusz and Thomas Castaignede giving Richard Haughton the chance to run over Wylie Human and touch down in the right hand corner.

A try-saving tackle from Dave Seymour after 27 minutes kept the score at 8-9 to Saints, penalties from Drahm, Reihana and Castaignede rolling the scoreboard forward. 8-9 to the visitors was the half time score as well, Saints being correctly denied a try by the TMO just before the break.

The second half started with Ben Broster being driven over the line following a 5m line out, 13-9 and all to play for. The next twenty minutes were a credit to the players and coaching staff who have put so much work into the fitness and defensive patterns in the past couple of months.

Put simply, Saints camped in the Sarries half for the entire twenty minutes. But anything in a grey shirt that moved was tackled, pushed into touch or turned over. In those twenty minutes, only four penalties were conceded – Reihana kicked the fourth of those to make it 13-12 – the disciplined, defensive effort by Sarries cannot be underestimated.

And then, with only 8 minutes left, a poor downfield kick from Drahm gave Thomas a chance to stretch his legs. A 40 metre burst, two phases of quick ball and Richard Haughton had yet another chance to go one on one with opposing winger from short range – a great step off the right foot, try time again and mass celebration by players and supporters alike.

A superb try, the follow-up conversion making it 20-12. The rest of the game was played out with Saints trying to get within 7 of Sarries, but another break away led to a Ben Johnston drop goal – 23-12 and Mr Maybank’s whistle for full time.

Although Haughton won the MOM, it could have gone to any number of Sarries players. That was probably the best performance of the season to date, including the Wasps game, and may be the 80 minutes which finally gives the players the confidence they need. Randell was immense (stepping up to the plate with no Hill?), Seymour continues to play way beyond his 20 years, Yates was impressive and the return of Bartholomeusz to 10 gave the backline pace and direction.

We have had more false dawns than most clubs, but if we continue to defend like that and to clinically finish chances as we did today then just maybe we’ll make that Top 6 spot after all. Here’s hoping.


SCORERS: Saracens: Tries: Haughton 2 (10, 73), Broster. Conversion: Castaignède. Dropped goal: Johnston (80+6). Penalty goal: Castaignède (16). Northampton: Penalty goals: Drahm 2 (2, 14). Reihana 2 (22, 69).


SCORING SEQUENCE: (Saracens first): 0-3, 5-3, 5-6, 8-6, 8-9 (half-time), 13-9, 13-12, 20-12, 23-12.


SARACENS: D Scarbrough (rep: P Bailey, 39); R Haughton, T Castaignède, D Harris (rep: K Sorrell, 48), B Johnston; M Bartholomeusz, K Bracken (rep: M Rauluni, 55); K Yates (rep: N Lloyd, 55), M Cairns (rep: R Ibañez, 60), B Broster, K Chesney (rep: B Skirving, 80), S Raiwalui, T Randell, D Seymour, H Vyvyan.


NORTHAMPTON: B Reihana; W Human (rep: B Cohen, 40+1), M Tucker (rep: J Rudd, 73), M Stcherbina, J Clarke; S Drahm, M Robinson; T Smith, S Thompson, R Kempson, S Boome, M Lord (rep: D Browne, 58), D Fox, C Krige (rep: G Seely. 80), A Blowers.


Referee: R Maybank.