By Rupert Thacker
February 28 2005

Saracens won a dour encounter 14-5 at Headingley on Friday evening, the 4 points elevating them to 6th place in the ZP table after this weekend's round of fixtures. Having experienced the joys of the roadworks on the A1 (which eejit suggested going that way?), it was a somewhat late arrival at Headingley for some - 5 hours in a car is not to be recommended, it leaves time for only a very quick beer before having to take your place on the terrace. But take our place on the terrace we did, having avoided the OAP ticket tout who promised us tickets for £10 (as opposed to £14 on the gate) only to produce 4 dodgy season tickets out of his pockets with the immortal phrase "don't worry, you'll be fine with these". Er, no we won't.

On entering the ground, some of the travelling support then discovered the next shock of the evening. You know the drinks holders that you carry beers in? The ones which can take 4 beers at a time? The cardboard ones, normally given away for free? 60p in Headingley. I know 60p isn't a fortune, I know, but it's just the principle!

Oh, and there was a game of rugby as well. The first half revolved around both sides trying their best NOT to score a try; Sarries managed to knock on once 5 yards of the line, then only 2 yards from the line - improvement in terms of distance at least. Leeds, with their makeshift side, managed to string several phases together but just kept either dropping the ball or taking the wrong option. To be honest, the first half hour was very forgettable. The only points of note were the apparent lack of offside (both sides, all the time; fair play to Mr Davey, he was consistent!) and the ability of our (estimated) 32 fans to outsing and outdrum the Leeds contingent!

And then we scored - Raph Ibanez emerged with the ball from the pile of bodies created from the rolling maul, although the try was credited to Simon Rawiley by the Leeds PA. Glenda missed the conversion, Leeds missed a ridiculous long range penalty (from their own 10 metre line) and half time was blown so that all could traipse back to the bar to spend money on beer, hot dogs (2 hot dogs in some cases - you know who you are!) and drinks containers.

The second half saw a slightly different pattern to the first. First half, it was the Tykes who had the majority of the possession, but did nothing with it. Second half, Sarries worked out that they had the beating of the Leeds scrum and started to put the pressure on. Penalties kept coming, some kicked to touch and some through the posts, but there was never a danger that any flowing rugby would break out for a try to be scored. After 70-ish minutes, there were 4 penalties directly from scrums 5m off the Leeds line. The "Watford 32" were all imploring Hugh to ask for another scrum or to kick to touch, he rightly ignored us, took the safe 3 points option and at 14-0, Leeds needed 2 scores to gain a draw.

Nothing doing - our defence held solid, until injury time. Thomas was rightly binned for laying down, lighting a cigar and generally refusing to move at the back of a Leeds ruck; from the resulting penalty, Leeds spun the ball wide for David Rees to dive into the corner. They missed the conversion (which would have given them a vital losing bonus point) and Mr Davey blew the final whistle.

Overall, a poor game, with little invention from either side. Sarries did a job though, playing 10 man rugby to grind the opposition down and provide a case study of "winning ugly". Nothing wrong with that. With the results from the weekend, 4 points were vital and job done - only 2 points behind 4th spot now!

Thanks to Leeds for their hospitality after the game, they have a great facility in "The Long Room" and were most welcoming - congratulations as well to their lone drummer (Timofe?), who manfully tried to compete with our positive corps but must have known he was on to a loser when the song "One Drum, you've only got one drum" emerged from the amassed Fez. Top night out, top result, all eyes focussed on Sale in a fortnight's time now