By Jason Harris
August 28 2005

A conversion with the last kick of the match by Saracens stand-off Glen Jackson of his own, somewhat controversial injury-time try gave the Men in Black a 25-24 win over NEC Harlequins at Harpenden on Saturday in an exciting game in which the lead change hand no fewer than five times. Referee Ashley Rowden waved play on in the build-up to the try as he deemed a pass from Alex Sanderson to the supporting Nick Lloyd that was propelled to the ground and towards the Quins line, was handled by a defending Quin and not by Lloyd. Jackson was on hand to scoop up the ball and cross the line.

The preceding 40 minutes was nearly all Quins as they overturned a one point half time defecit to dominate the second period and go into added time ahead 24-18 before Jackson killed them off.

Jackson opened the scoring with an early penalty before Ugo Monye bagged the first try of the game after 10 minutes, the Quins wing making the extra man after he moved to the right flank from the left to cross in the corner. New Zealand legend Andrew Mehrtens missed the conversion but his side were now ahead 5-3.

Sarries' first try, like the winner, had a touch of fortune about it. Alan Dickens, who had a solid game at half back, charged down a Harlequins clearance and the ball was pounced upon by the grateful David Seymor for the five points. Jackson added the conversion and Sarries were ahead once more, 10-5.

A further Jackson penalty put a little more daylight between the Men in Black and the visitors, but back Quins came in first half injury time to narrow the gap to a point when prop Lorne Ward emerged from the bottom of the pile following a Quins catch-and-drive move on the right. Mehrtens this time made no mistake with the goal and the sides changed ends with the score 13-12 to Saracens.

Sarries were quick off the mark in the second half and just three minutes into it Alex Sanderson crashed over for Sarries' second try of the afternoon, but the conversion from wide out on the right proved too much for Jackson.

Thereafter it was all Quins as they scored two more tries through Monye - in a carbon copy of his first before the break - and scrum half Steve So'oialo who saw the Red Sea part in front of him to stroll in under the sticks. Mehrtens added the conversion only to the So'oialo try but Quins were now six points clear with time running out.

Jackson's try in the second and final minute of injury time brought Sarries to within one point but he still needed to get the conversion, some 15 metres to the right of the posts to win the match. The former Bay of Plenty man kept his nerve to bisect the uprights, take his personal points tally to 15 and in doing so give Saracens the win.

Sarries Director of Rugby Steve Diamond was allegedly unhappy with his side's performance; outscored on tries as they were, by four to three. And it will take a big step up at Twickenham next Saturday if Sarries are to make it three wins out of three at HQ against the old enemy, London Wasps.

It would take a very brave man indeed, meanwhile, to bet against Quins not making an immediate return to the top flight as their squad is of Premiership quality and, under new coach Dean Richards, they are also a well-drilled and technically sound outfit.

Scorers:

Saracens
Tries: Seymour, Sanderson Jackson
Conversions: Jackson (2)
Penalties: Jackson (2)

NEC Harlequins

Tries: Monye (2), Ward, So'oialo
Conversions: Mehrtens (2)

Saracens

Dan Scarbrough; Nnamdi Obi, Ben Johnston, Kevin Sorrell, Richard Haughton; Glen Jackson, Alan Dickens; Nick Lloyd, Matt Cairns, Cobus Visagie; Kris Chesney, Hugh Vyvyan(c); Taine Randell, David Seymour, Ben Skirving.

Replacements: Shane Byrne, Kevin Yates, Ben Broster, Iain Fullarton, Tom Ryder, Alex Sanderson, Ben T Russell. Mosese Rauluni, Dan Harris, Ben J Russell, Nicky Little.

NEC Harlequins:

Tom Williams; Simon Keogh, Gavin Duffy, Mel Deane, Ugo Monye; Andrew Mehrtens, Steve So'oialo; Ceri Jones, Jimmy Richards, Lorne Ward; Jim Evans, Smion Miall; Chris Robshaw, Andre Vos (c), Nick Easter.

Replacements: Tani Fuga, Ricky Nebbett, Aston Croall, Pablo Bouza, Luke Sherriff, Tony Diprose, Adrian Jarvis, Charlie Amesbury, Jordan Turner-Hall, George Harder, Mike Brown.

Referee: Ashley Rowden.