By David Parry
November 1 2004

On a mild October evening in Watford, two teams; one French, one English, battled it out for the chance to move into the second round of the European Challenge Cup.. For the loser: the indignity of dropping into the Shield competition, for the winner: the opportunity to maintain the drive towards the glamour and the prestige of the Heineken Cup

Saracens with a mere three point advantage over Bayonne from the first leg would have to take this game seriously if they were to advance in the competition. A Saracens team without the likes of Thomas Castaignede, Richard Hill, Dan Scarborough, Cobus Visagie and others may have suffered at the hands of such opposition in the past, but Saracens recruitment policy for the 2004/2005 Season paid dividends. A team performance, including a hat trick for flyer Richard Haughton and tries from Ben Johnston and debutant Tevita Vaikona indicated that Sarries were more than capable of taking the coveted Challenge Cup in the 2004 season.

The opening ten minutes was all Saracens, barring a near interception by Bayonne after some early nerves by the Men in Black. Saracens signalled their intent to score tries when they rejected two early opportunities to go for goal; instead choosing a quick penalty and a kick to touch that brought them into the Bayonne twenty two.

With Mark Bartholomeusz and Moseses Rauluni confidently pulling the strings, Saracens were stretching the Bayonne defence. Despite dominance of possession in the opening ten, Saracens were unable to break through a commendable Bayonne defensive line. It took until just after the ten minute marker for Saracens to register their first points on the board; Bartholomeusz with the first of many influential kicks, scored a drop goal to make the score 3 – 0 to Saracens.

Bayonne clearly had not come to Watford to lose and began a series of attacks into the Saracens half. Saracens defence held, helped by a series of errors from both sides resulting in a number of scrums breaking up play. Just after half an hour, James McLaren, the former Scotland centre, was binned providing Saracens with the man advantage until just after half time.

Saracens were given a penalty as Bayonne failed to roll away after the tackle; Robbie Kydd stepped up and appeared to send the ball comfortably through the sticks. The touch judges did not agree, however, and denied Kydd the three points prompting booing from the Vicarage Road crowd. Another kick from Bartholomeusz on thirty three minutes was sent cross field, landing in the grateful arms of Richard Haughton as he scored a sensational try in the south west corner of the ground. Kydd missed the conversion but Saracens were already in a commanding position in the tie.

Saracens were soon to score again, with Ben Johnston scoring in an almost identical position to Haughton on half time. Bartholomeusz duly converted, taking over from the off key Robbie Kydd. Saracens 15 Bayonne 0

Saracens were still concluding their half time kicking competition when Bayonne ran back out onto the Vicarage Road turf for the start of the second half of what was, so-far, a very entertaining game for the Sarries supporters; Bayonnes eagerness belying the half time score.

The first score of the half went to Bayonne; a 42nd minute penalty bringing them onto the score sheet for the first time. Any hopes of a comeback for Bayonne were soon to be dashed as just ten minutes later, Bartholomeusz and Haughton combined, Bartholomeusz with a cross field kick, once more, to send Haughton into the corner. Bartholomeusz took the conversion. Saracens 22 Bayonne 3.

Richard Haughton scored a sensational hat trick on 70 minutes – not before Saracens had Dan Harris sent to the Sin Bin for diving, Haughton further bolstering his case for honours at at Senior international level. The game had been physical throughout and as was inevitable, moments after Haughton’s try, Rauluni reacted to a punch, sparking a ten man brawl down by the south stant.

As tempers finally settled and the game returned to normal, Bayonne were given a dubious penalty and Matt Cairns was sent to the Sin Bin. The resulting kick to touch and lineout allowed Bayonne to drive over the line for a consolation score to much booing from the crowd. Bayonne converted bringing some respectability to the score line; but Saracens were not done yet. Tthere just enough time for new-boy Tevita Vaikona, on for Robbie Kydd at half time, to make an interception from a nervous Bayonne chip and score under the posts marking a fine debut for the ex-rugby league star. Nicky Little, on for Bartholomeusz added the conversion and the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game.

Bayonne, were certainly value for money. Their No. 14 was cheered for his Fijian step as he threatened the Saracens defence with his pace. This was an entertaining game in which Saracens proved their mettle against one of the stronger teams in the cup.The final score: Saracens 36 Bayonne 10 (60 - 31 on aggregate.) Saracens now face Rugby Parma in the second round.


1. Nick Lloyd
2. Raphael Ibanez
3. Ben Broster
4. Kris Chesney
5. Simon Raiwalui
6. Taine Randell
7. David Semour
8. Hugh Vyvyan

9. Moseses Rauluni
10. Mark Bartholomeusz
11. Paul Bailey
12. Dan Harris
13. Ben Johnston
14. Richard Haughton
15. Robbie Kydd

Subsitutes

16. Matt Cairns (on 56 mins)
17. Kevin Yates (on 72 mins)
18. Ben J Russell (on 72 mins)
19. Ben Skirving (on 64 mins)
20. Nicki Little (on 72 mins)
21. Kevin Sorrell
22. Tevita Vaikona (on 40 mins)