By TonyTaff
May 16 2005

As the fez hordes assembled in Southwest London, with little better than a pale facsimile of a Yorkshire bitter to fuel them, your correspondent was ensconced in his Yorks. abode with Fuller’s ESB – arguably the finest beer to be brewed Thames-side. (That’s enough beer, get on with the rugby, Ed). A Sarries side who had enjoyed a successful second-half of the season arrived at their happy hunting ground that is Twickenham relatively unencumbered by injuries - Dan Scarborough being the only absentee who would have a credible claim on a place in a first choice 22. Contrast this with a Gloucester squad facing a list of absentees that would have some of the Shed faithful bringing their boots, in case they were needed to complete the line-up.

Sarries had finished the league campaign 10 points clear of Glos. The Cherry and Whites had suffered an ignominious end to the Premiership, only partly alleviated by an unconvincing win over Newcastle at the once-impregnable Kingsholm fortress to secure their passage to HQ. Surely, there could only be one winner? Not judging by the opening exchanges.

Adam Balding enjoyed a storming opening, exposing individuals' defensive frailties, whilst Duncan McRae, formerly of this parish, gave little indication of the kicking demons that have blighted him in the past and were to return before the game was over. 6-0 to Glos in the blink of an eye.

Sarries' first meaningful attack saw skipper Vyvyan lurking with intent in the outside-centre channel where power and height were enough to reach the whitewash. 7-6 and, although it was barely 10 past 1, a well lubricated chant of 'allez les noirs' echoed around the sparsely populated stadium.

A number of recurring themes became apparent: Sarries' defensive organisation was superb; Glos were prone to spilling large amounts of their ample possession; Sarries' lineout was as abject as it had been recently at Castle Grim; Sarries' scrum was dominant, as we have come to expect; and McRae's place-kicking radar lost it's bearing.

Following a Jackson penalty, awarded for a scrum offence, James Bailey, (perhaps repaying a kindness to his erstwhile colleague?), coughed up the ball to the waiting Ben Johnston. The Saracen left the West Country cover standing, some in disbelief, as he raced to the posts. Jackson converting to establish a 17-6 lead which was to be the half-time score.

The second half started much as the first, only for Gloucester's dominance to last longer. First, McRae chip kicks for full-back Brad Davies to field the ball on the right wing and score despite protests of being in front of the kicker from, amongst others, Cobus Visagie. McRae missed the conversion, and when the opportunity to convert an Adam Eustace try arose shortly thereafter, the responsibilty was handed to Davies, who fared no better than the Australian.

After an agonising period on the back foot, Sarries' flying wingers, Haughton (on for Johnston) and Vaikona, shredded the Glos' defence, for the latter to score near the posts. A score of such beauty that it brought a smile briefly to the face of coach Steve Diamond - a rare occurrence during a match. Crucially, Jackson's conversion opened a 2-score cushion that was never to be relinquished. Final score 24-16.

Gloucester: B Davies; S Kiole (T Fanolua 40), J Simpson-Daniel, J Forrester, J Bailey (M Foster 48); D McRae, A Gomarsall; N Wood (T Sigley 72), M Davies (O Azam 75), G Powell, A Eustace, A Brown, P Buxton, L Narraway, A Balding (capt).

Saracens: T Castaignede; B Johnston (R Haugton 58), K Sorrell, D Harris (M Bartholomeusz 61), T Vaikona; G Jackson, M Rauluni (K Bracken 56); N Lloyd (C Visagie 68), R Ibanez (M Cairns 55), C Visagie (K Yates 55), S Raiwalui (K Chesney 49-60), I Fullarton (Chesney 71), B Skirving, R Hill (T Randell 56), H Vyvyan (capt).

Referee: T Spreadbury (RFU).