London Irish future stars continue undefeated start in RFU AASE League

London Irish's representative in the RFU's AASE League, St Paul's College made it three wins from three on Wednesday (20th) with an impressive 32-22 victory over Beechen Cliff. A dominant first half performance was backed up by a spirited defensive effort to stop a resurgent Beechen in the second half. With victories over Truro & Penwith on the opening day, and away to Filton, St Paul's find themselves joint top of the table with rugby powerhouse Hartpury.

St Paul's (blue) attacking the Beechen Cliff line on the 4G at Hazelwood

St Paul's, buoyed by their first two wins, came firing out the blocks at Hazelwood. With pressure applied at the breakdown from the first kick-off & winning the early collisions St Paul's were quickly into the lead in the first few minutes. They raced to extend their advantage with a 15-0 lead with tries from the wing, lock & prop. Beechen had only scraps to feed off for most of the first half but scored two opportunistic tries, and St Paul's fly-half also crossed the line before half time to give themselves a 20-14 lead at the break.

Beechen Cliff began to find their feet in the opening exchanges of the second half, scoring the opening points with a penalty. The St Paul's forwards soon reasserted their with a powerful driving maul finished by the number 8. Neat handling from Beechen narrowed the scores again with a try in the corner. With just 3 points between the sides St Paul's continued to defend superbly to repel the determined Beechen attack, much to the delight of the jubilant squad on the sideline. St Paul's sealed the win shortly after with a 90m breakaway try from the winger, who scored in the corner to seal the 32-22 win.

The win leaves St Paul's unbeaten in the AASE league and with a very impressive performance in both attack and defence, they'll be hoping to progress to the semi-finals later in the season. While the whole squad should be proud of their performances so far there have been standout players in the form of both locks in leading the side at the breakdown and in the tackle and from the no.8 who has scored twice at home already. Also the scrum half has shown great skill & vision, as well as pace and nimble feet across the back three.

There is an excellent comradery evident within the squad with every thumping tackle, dominant scrum & mazy run greeted with cheers and support from their fellow squad members. Several of the group's strong performances are likely to put them in contention for game time representing London Irish U18 later in the season. It's clear Richard Pryor and his team have created a really strong bond within the squad which will serve them well in the difficult games to come.

Next week will see by far the biggest test for St Paul's as they travel to last year's Champions and so far undefeated Exeter. With Exeter coming off a bye-week St Paul's will hope their passionate fast start against Beechen can be repeated to put them in the driving seat next week. With a bye the following week, St Paul's will play their final home game at Hazelwood against the always impressive Hartpury on Wednesday 11th October, before finishing away at Henley. St Paul's have put themselves in prime position for a place in the latter stages of the AASE league, but with difficult tests to come, they will have to continue with the positive and supportive atmosphere they have so far created.

Ones-to-watch – Singha 7’s Preview

With pre-season training well underway for the 2017-18 Aviva Premiership, this weekend sees the traditional 7s curtain-raiser at Franklin’s Gardens. This seasons new format has all 12 teams compete over two evenings of high pace action, similar to the HSBC International 7’s circuit, with a bowl, plate & cup final taking place on Saturday evening. This tournament has become a real platform for some of the teams to display their future stars alongside some 7’s specialists to create a highly skilled & exciting competition.

The action begins live on BT Sport 1, Friday 28th at 5:45pm

Pool A

Newcastle Falcons
The Falcons send a youthful squad with a number of academy contracted players, hoping to reach the heights of their 2011 outing when they defeated Saracens in the final at the Stoop.
Cameron Cowell – Having been with the England senior 7s squad over the summer, Cam Cowell will create excitement with his electric pace, he will bring real quality 7’s experience to the Falcons side.
George Wacokecoke – The powerful young Fijian, who has had experience with a number of premiership academies, is looking to ground himself with Newcastle. Expect to see him carrying hard and leaving defenders trailing in his wake.

Leciester Tigers
Tigers have a mixture of youth and experience with a number of internationally recognised 7’s players alongside players from their new link with Loughborough University.
Andrew Boyce – Captain of the Loughborough University side that were narrowly beaten in the BUCS Super Rugby Final. The explosive back-row will be hoping to catch the eye of Leciester coaching staff
Tom Ffitch – The England academy 7’s player will be part of the experienced core of the Leicester squad that will challenge defences and create space out wide for players to utilise.

Wasps
It appears Wasps have misread the invitation to the 7s tournament and have named a very strong senior side who are the stand out favourites to win the competition.
Marcus Watson – The Olympic silver medallist is set to make his debut for Wasps having signed from Newcastle. He will provide important 7s knowledge to an explosive backline, as well as his own fancy footwork.
Christian Wade – The easiest selection as ‘one-to-watch’. Last season’s Aviva Premiership top try scorer and plenty of 7’s experience too. Expect his name to be on the scoresheet again and again.

Pool B

Gloucester
Gloucester have taken the opportunity to demonstrate their highly talented and exciting academy prospects, with plenty of age-grade international experience, expect quality performances.
Harry Randall – The starting scrum-half at England U20’s, in a position where competition is rife. He is a real bright spark for Gloucester & England in the future. Expect him to excel in this format of the game.
Mason Tonks – Having played a big part in Gloucester’s U18 season last year, and having since picked up experience with England 7’s, the powerful runner will be a real weapon for Gloucester.

Harlequins
Much like Gloucester, Quins also have given many of their academy prospects the chance to show off their talent. Quins are always highly professional when it comes to 7s competitions.
Gabriel Ibitoye – A familiar name to those who follow England U20’s. The try scoring winger frequently uses his pace & power to trouble defences. He wont miss opportunities if they come his way.
Jonas Mikalcius – A powerhouse of Lithuanian winger. As a more senior member of the squad, and with some crucial 7s experience already, expect to see him causing havoc for tacklers.

London Irish
Irish will be delighted to be back facing Premiership opposition having been promoted from the Championship. They complete the pool of clubs with exciting academy talent on show at Franklins Gardens.
Ben Loader – One of Irish’s new academy players will be hoping to show his power and skill in front of the coaches. Having been one of the standout players in Irish U18 group, the 7’s game should give him the opportunity to excel.
Ollie Hassell-Collins – Like Ben Loader, another young exciting academy prospect on the Irish production line. The winger is likely to make the most of his nimble footwork and pace to make an impact.

Pool C

Sale Sharks
Sale have recently highlighted their commitment to their academy players with a number of long term contracts. Several of these players make up their squad for 7s tournament.
Paolo Odogwu – One of the stars of last season’s tournament with 8 tries from just three games. Expect more of the same as he has embedded himself in Sale’s senior squad and is ready to shine.
Nic Dolly – Having played an important part in Sale’s successful U18 side last season, he was selected to join England U18 too. He is one of the academy players who have committed to a 5 year contract.

Bath Rugby
Bath have a mixture of youth players from Bath University and guest players from various sections of the armed forces, hoping to combine dynamism and power to a youthful squad.
Levi Davis – The winger has represented Bath in the A-league on a number of occasions, as well as playing for Bath University. His powerful running will combine well with those from the armed forces.
Sikeli Rokovunicagi – Likely to be a forced to be reckoned with. The Army are known for creating some of the most dangerous and explosive 7’s players on the circuit, and this could be the next one.

Worcester Warriors
Worcester also combine some powerful academy back-row players with some vital 7s experience to create an entertaining squad.
Max Stelling – Adding 7s experience to the Worcester squad from his time with England on the HSBC 7’s circuit, his flair and ability is likely to create space out wide.
Will Butler – Another of the England U20 stars on show at the Singha 7’s. The electric centre has both the physical ability and rugby brain that can prove vital in the 7s competition, there are high hopes for this young player.

Pool D

Northampton Saints
Home advantage could prove useful to a Saints side full of academy graduates and current academy prospects. A mixture of youth and experience might prove key.
Jamie Elliot – One of the more senior members in the side with over 100 appereances for Northampton at just 24 years of age. The centre will be keen to prove himself as injuries in the last two seasons have hampered progress.
Ollie Sleightholme – Following in his father, Jon’s, footsteps into high quality rugby. With 7’s experience, including a silver medal for England at the recent Commonwealth Youth Games, he has the makings of a talented player.

Saracens
Saracens strength in depth is undeniable, and it extends right through their academy. Their squad contains a mixture of promising youth and experienced 7s players.
Tom Whiteley – The young flyer has already proven himself on the 7s stage at Rosslyn Park, where he has also turned out for their senior side. Expect his skills to be on show as he fights for places in  the Saracens squad.
Matt Gallagher – The England U20’s full-back is yet another from the talented pool of young England backs. The Academy Player of the Year at Saracens is a very high accolade indeed, and the 2015 winner will be sure to show off his pace and skill this weekend.

Exeter Chiefs
Current Aviva Premiership champions and runners up in last year’s 7s competition, Exeter will hope to go one better with a mix of university, academy and first team talent.
Max Bodily – A nimble winger who played a part in Exeter’s run to the Anglo-Welsh final last season. With an eye for the tryline, he’ll be hoping to impress and break in to the first team squad this season.
Tom O’Flaherty – Exeter’s new signing from the Ospreys. The winger, described by Rob Baxter as having ‘bags of potential’, will be hoping to impress the boss and get off on the right foot for his new club.

Imperious All Blacks boss opening test against Lions

New Zealand ran out 30-15 winners in the first test at Eden Park, with some thrilling rugby on display from both sides. The Lions put in their best performance of the tour so far but still came up well short of a superior All Black side. New Zealand started the strongest and showed their class early, and while the Lions fought bravely, the All Blacks always had enough to see out the win.

Kieran Read: Optimising All Blacks work-rate and skill level

                The number one ranked side in the world showed that they are still a class above any other side in the world from the kick-off. They played the early part of the game at pace and continued to show silky handling skills with offload after offload stretching and challenging the Lions’ defence. Throughout the squad players were all capable of playing at this high tempo, including players like Kieran Read who was returning from injury. The All Blacks also dominated the contact area, which was vital for them to do to create quick ball. Despite Lions putting their bodies on the line, New Zealand continually broke tackles or made ground in the tackle. It wasn’t till Itoje came on in the second half that they began to get knocked backwards in the tackle. That is an area that the Lions will need to deal with before the second test if they want to hold onto any hope of winning the series.

However, the build-up play is only any good if you can finish your chances. Here is where the two sides looked poles apart. When offered opportunity, the All Blacks continued to apply pressure and came away with points. They kept the scoreboard ticking over and from early on it was clear they would amass a big score no matter how well the Lions defended. On the flip side, the Lions had opportunities created from their dangerous backline but were unable to finish them. Often snuffed out by superb New Zealand cover defence, but too often stopped by handling errors or a lack of speed in the supporting players. This lack of finishing has been haunting the Lions throughout the tour and, most worryingly, carried on into the test matches.

It wasn’t all bad for the Lions. You could argue this was their best performance of the tour so far, maybe with the exception of the Maori game the week before. The shock of the team announcement earlier in the week perhaps hinted at a more expansive and attacking game plan for the Lions and it seemed to show. They stretched and worried the All Blacks, and fought back bravely early on to keep themselves in the game. However, there were still too many individual errors in attack and defence. Slightly switching off cost the Lions 14 points, with a mistake under the high ball and a quick tap penalty, and removing those mistakes would have created a much tighter game. The Lions will also be disappointed with the high penalty count, with a number of those coming around the breakdown, with offside at the fringes allowing New Zealand an attacking platform they don’t need to be gifted.

                It was a fairly comprehensive victory for New Zealand all being told. They were commanding, they were clinical and they were classy. Yet, at times, they were stretched and when the game tightened up after half-time, there were opportunities for the Lions to take the lead. There are clearly things to work on for the Lions, finishing chances, cutting out errors, winning the contact, but they are all fixable. Slight alterations to the starting fifteen, with Itoje & Lawes likely to bring that power in the tackle, could see the game tilt in the Lions’ favour. New Zealand were substantially the best side without a doubt. But the Lions are still improving, and don’t need to improve a lot more to be in with a shout in the second test next Saturday. It’s all to play for.

Work to do for a lacklustre Lions side in New Zealand

The British & Irish Lions eked out a 13-7 victory over the Provincial Barbarians in the first game of their tour of New Zealand. Having only arrived in Auckland three days ago there was scarce time to prepare for the fixture, and it seemed to show. A disappointing performance with a number of individual errors and failure to finish chances let down the side, yet there were a number of bright lights in the form of the Lions debutants with Sinckler, Te’o & Moriarty.

Lions begin to purr but lack any real bite

The Lions were taken all the way by the Provincial Barbarians side who kept them honest in defence and put pressure on throughout the game. Their expansive and quick paced game epitomised what New Zealand rugby is all about. For a representative side, they also played well together as a team, something which was lacking in the Lions. However, they were let down by a few individual errors, but several of the Barbarians will be hoping that their performances will have been noticed by Super Rugby franchises. Indeed maybe the best fly-half of those on the pitch came in the form of Warren Gatland’s son, Bryn, as he bossed the invitation side.

The Lions, albeit with a bar set very high, fell well short of what was expected. There was a lack of organisation going forward, with players seeming to attack on their own and support arriving much too slowly. Much like the Barbarians, there were far too many individual errors. Most worryingly for the Lions, those errors came from key players in crucial positions as Hogg & Sexton struggled. The defence was strong in part but too many missed tackles meant that try saving tackles were needed, and, in credit, they were made when necessary. It was a side that have clearly travelled half way around the world, and are at the end of an intense club season. Indeed for some of these international players they will have only had one month off from competitive rugby last July, in the previous two years.

There was also a certain level of insight into the style of play we can expect from the Lions & Warren Gatland. As expected, it was direct. It was no surprise that big ball carriers like Moriarty, Sinckler & Te’o stood out as they suit a more direct style of play. Whereas a frustrated Watson and an absent Seymour had very limited opportunity with ball in hand. While the squad is still gelling together and adapting to one another it may be a reasonable style, however they will hope to add some magic to their attack as the tour progresses. And they will need to, as the New Zealand test side will not be at all phased by such a direct style of play.

It was not all doom and gloom for the Lions. First and foremost, they won. No matter the manner of the victory, winning was crucial for this opening game as a loss would have brought down the whole camp. With no less than 13 new Lions in the match day squad, it was vital experience for those new players and the excitement and passion in playing in the Lions jersey was most evident in these players. There were a number of individual performances, as previously mentioned, that also give reason for promise and are a likely to ignite competition for test places in the squad, which will only spur on performances throughout.

Fortunately for the Lions there are still 400 minutes of rugby to be played before the first test at Eden Park. There were both positives and negatives in individual performances for the Lions, but that was the problem, they were individual performances. There was a lack of cohesion. There aren’t any drastic changes to be made. Time is the best way forward for this Lions side. Time to gel together, understand patterns of play and work together as a team. However, as the Barbarians made clear, there won’t be any freebies on this tour, it’s time to get to work.

Match Preview: Exeter Chiefs v Saracens

“Two households, both alike in dignity. In fair Verona, where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” While the Devonshire city may seem far removed from Northern Italy, there is plenty to liken the semi-final clash between Exeter & Saracens to a Shakespearean classic.

A titanic battle between two English powerhouses is set to take place in a repeat of last year’s final, as Exeter host Saracens at Sandy Park on Saturday. The fixture has all the makings of an explosive drama. Saracens, a dynasty of success and pragmatism, seeking a back-to-back Europe & league double face the beauty & romance of plucky underdog come mighty force, Exeter, hoping to avenge their 28-20 loss at Twickenham last year.

Saracens, the visitors, are hot off their Champions Cup victory over Clermont last weekend. They, once again, produced a professional performance, where rock-solid defence and clinical attack combined to overcome a dangerous Clermont side. It’s that style of performance that continues to serve them so well for season on season. While third in the league may not seem as impressive as Saracens lofty standards require, they have always produced on the big stages when it matters, whether it be at Thomond Park, Welford Road or the Stade Mayol. However, this may prove the ultimate test of the Wolfpacks mental strength.

                With the hangover of their European success, and a significantly shorter turnaround than Exeter, the vital preparation in the Saracens machine may be hard pressed. There are also a number of Saracens players that have been rightly called up to represent the Lions & other international duties this summer. With tour dates looming, it could play of the minds of some of Saracens key star players. Then there is Saracens inconsistent away form in the league this year. While they did win early in the season against a stuttering Exeter side at Sandy Park, there have been unexpected loses against Worcester and Gloucester and a disappointing loss to Wasps, albeit with a weakened side. A trip to Sandy Park could pose a major threat, although, if there is any team in the world capable of overcoming these obstacles, it is, without a doubt, Saracens.

                Exeter’s remarkable rise through to the tier of the Aviva Premiership is well documented. Since winning promotion in 2009 they have continued to improve year on year. Under Rob Baxter, Exeter have built an incredible squad with solid performers throughout and bright talent constantly produced through the Exeter academy. No-one epitomises this better than Jack Maunder, the academy scrum half has forced himself into first team reckoning and has, quite rightly, been shortlisted for young player of the season and called up for England’s tour to Argentina. Since promotion, Exeter have continued to progress up the league, last year falling at the final hurdle against Saracens.

                This season, despite a slow start, Exeter have continued to shine and played some scintillating rugby in the process. With 15 try bonus points, the most in the league, Exeter pose a real attacking threat whoever the opposition is and are peaking at the right moment. Sandy Park has also been a real fortress for the Chiefs, having not lost at home in the league in 7 months. The strength in depth has shone through this season, with plenty of competition for places as well as a very strong showing in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, being pipped in the final by Leicester. Exeter will have gained crucial experience in last season’s final loss, and, if the trend is to continue, will be pushing to make the next step this season to be crowned champions.

                While the winner of Wasps and Leicester will create a worthy opponent in the final at Twickenham, this semi-final has all the makings of a final in itself.  Two households, both ferocious and clinical at the top of their game. An ancient grudge, with a score to settle from last season and a brutal 13-13 draw at Allianz Park in January. Hopefully no blood will be spilt, but expect neither side to take a backwards step. It has all the makings of one the great games of knockout rugby in the Aviva Premiership, and for either side, a loss would be a tragedy. 

The Breakdown: Saracens ruthless efficiency

            Saracens 26-10 victory over a passionate Munster side has put them back into the Champions Cup final for the third time in four years. The performance in Dublin was a ferocious display of efficiency, the likes of which we have come to expect from the Wolfpack. As we breakdown the Saracens machine, we’ll see the vital cogs that make up the reigning European & English champions.

What makes Saracens tick?

            Saracens are a side that have a gameplan, stick to that gameplan and execute it extremely well. While it may not seem overly complex it is the clinical nature with which they complete it that makes them so difficult to overcome. We’ll be breaking down that plan into four key areas.

Play in the right areas

To boil Saracens down to just a good kicking side would be a gross underestimate of their ability, they are smarter than that. However, kicking does play a major part in their style of play. Saracens only play rugby where they need to play rugby. Masterminded by worldclass half-backs in Wigglesworth & Farrell (and occasionally Vunipola), Saracens clear danger again and again.

              

            Taking the game against Munster as an example, Saracens only ran the ball from inside their half 8 times in the entire game, with 3 of those coming in the final minutes as they attempted to run down the clock. 77% of phases from Saracens inside their half resulted in kicks, 90% inside their own 22m excluding running out the clock. And it is the accuracy of these kicks, when facing the likes of Zebo & Earls, that is so impressive. All Saracens kicks were either contestable or found space, limiting the opportunity for counter-attacks.

         

            Yet when Saracens are attacking they change tact. That 77% kicking swings to just 9% inside their opponents half. In fact, they only kicked the ball once inside the Munster 22m, and that resulted in Wyles’ try that sealed the game. The core belief that they must only play in the right area is drilled into the squad and it proves mightily effective when executed as well as Saracens do. As ex-Saracens coaching guru, Brendan Venter, once said ‘100% of tries are scored in your opponents 22m.’ But playing in the right area is only any good if you…

Make your tackles

                As much as Saracens are a kicking side, they are also a tackling side. Here, perhaps most noticeably, is where their ruthless efficiency shines through. The old adage goes ‘A kick is only as good as its chase’, but a chase is only as good as the tackle that follows. The Wolfpack will make tackle after tackle and demonstrate immense fitness game after game to keep the opposition out. In the Aviva Premiership this season Saracens have only conceded 23 tries, vastly fewer than any other side, with Leicester & Bath the closest on 43.

                Saracens made a staggering 167 tackles against Munster, almost double the number of the Irishmen. And in a typically Saracens squad effort, 9 of the starting 15 made it into double figures for tackles completed, compared with just Billy Holland for Munster. What makes those numbers more impressive again is the return of the ‘e’ word, efficiency. Despite making near double the tackles of Munster, they missed one less, 13 to 14. A 92% tackle completion that kept Munster from crossing the whitewash until the game was won in the 79^th minute. Saracens opponents know lining up against them; they are going to get knocked down over and over with very little reward. And it isn’t just the quantity of tackles, but the quality too. Saracens are ferocious in making sure you…

Win your battles

                Saracens are not content with simply knocking you down, but also powerful in winning the contact too. Time after time the men in black drive opponents back towards their own goal line with great force. As shown at the weekend, Saracens scarcely allow sides to break the gainline, especially if you attack them head on.

                While it may be harder to show statistically, the intensity with which Saracens approach the tackle, the breakdown & the set piece creates problems for any opposition. The domination of these areas starve teams of any attacking platform. Losing the collision and failing to make the gainline makes it far too easy for the Saracens defensive line. It could be argued that Munster played into Saracens hands at the weekend in this sense. Failing to stretch the defence and persisting to send one out runners into the ball wall. And with players will Vunipola, Rhodes & Itoje, it’s a power level that others teams simply cannot match. However, the gameplan & power play is nothing if you don’t…

Take your points

                You can have all the ball you like, in all the right positions in the pitch, as Munster did in Dublin, and fail to win if you don’t take the points on offer. Munster had 9 visits into the Saracens 22m but only took 8 points from all that effort. Frighteningly, this was a Saracens performance that didn’t take all of the points on offer, and yet were still run out winners. While statistically they appear as clinical as usual with 14 points from just 5 visits to the Munster 22m, they left two relatively easy tries out on the field. If it weren’t for those uncharacteristic mistakes, we could have been looking at a much heavier scoreline in favour of the champions. As Munster boss Rassie Erasmus said, “We played against a team that were better than us. That’s a reality.”

                Saracens are professionals at keeping the scoreboard ticking over, and keeping the game out of reach from their opponents. With Farrell’s kicking over 80% in the Aviva Premiership this season  it’s easy to see where so many of their points come from. Saracens don’t score a shedload of points every weekend, they simply don’t need to. While Wasps & Exeter may be further ahead in terms of tries scored, Saracens will beat their opponents into submission with three points after three points, and when they get opportunities inside your 22m, chances are they leave with points on the board. While it may take teams several visits into the Saracens half to score anything, most of the time, Saracens only need one.

‘A well-oiled machine’

                Despite how simple the plan may seem it’s how Saracens carry it out that makes it so effective. Any side could adopt these techniques but few would reach the level that Saracens do. Whether it be down to the world-class players, the strength in depth, the ambition & unity amongst the squad, the workrate and fitness or a combination of them all, Saracens are consistently able to get to job done. Schalk Brits summarised it perfectly after the game at the weekend;

                “We have belief in each other, with these big games you can’t look too far ahead. You have to focus on the next play. If you start looking at the clock or the scoreboard you start losing focus on what is happening now. Two or three years ago we changed all the mindset to focus on the next play being the most important. We’re a hard team to play whoever we are play. What makes us difficult to beat is that we don’t just have 15, we have a squad of 30 who we can swap. We have world-class players who we will miss when they don’t play but in essence we are a well-oiled machine.”

I’d liken Saracens to a boxer. A boxer with incredible endurance, who can get hit and hit and hit and not fall down. And a boxer who only deals in haymakers, he doesn’t waste punches, when he strikes it hurts. And it is that combination of ferocious defence and clinical attack that sees Saracens continue to succeed in the highest echelons of club rugby, and, for the moment, there isn’t an end in sight to their reign.

Green King IPA Championship Preview - 15th-16th April

Mouth-watering fixtures litter the final weekend of league fixtures in the Green King IPA Championship this weekend. The top four are all in action in a possible preview of the play-off semi-finals as Doncaster Knights host London Irish and high-flying Ealing Trailfinders travel to Yorkshire Carnegie.

Doncaster Knights v London Irish

                Doncaster sealed their play-off place last week with a crucial victory over an impressive Jersey side. This week their sights are set on upsetting an Irish side who were run away victors last week in a crushing 82-3 win over bottom side Rotherham. If Doncaster want to avoid Irish in the semi-final they will need to beat Irish and hope Yorkshire beat Ealing at Headingley. Doncaster will be hoping for a better showing than when they visited the Madjeski on the opening day of the season as they failed to score as Irish won 19-0.
Prediction: Doncaster Knights 14-18 London Irish

Yorkshire Carnegie v Ealing Trailfinders

                Ealing’s dominant run of form sets up, what is sure to be an exciting and high scoring affair, against Yorkshire. Ealing have scored over 50 points in their previous three league games in an unbeaten run that stretches back to their one point loss against top side London Irish back in January. They come up against a resurgent Yorkshire side who have hit form at the right time. Having had a wobble in recent months, two convincing wins over Richmond & Bedford has restored belief in Yorkshire that their side can push for promotion. Victory for Ealing would be enough for them to seal 3^rd place in the league and set up a semi-final against Yorkshire in two week’s time.
Prediction: Yorkshire Carnegie 28-32 Ealing Trailfinders

Jersey Reds v Richmond

                Following last week’s disappointing end to their play-off hunt, Jersey will be seeking to sign-off their impressive season with victory over Richmond. With Cornish Pirates close behind, Jersey will want to hold on to 5^th place, however have the distraction of the British & Irish Cup final the following week in Ireland against Munster A. Richmond, however, have proved to be worthy opponents this season and will provide a difficult test for Jersey. Despite relegation being removed half way through the season with the expelling of London Welsh, Richmond, the only semi-professional team in the league, ensured they wouldn’t finish bottom of the pile with victory of Pirates last week. Richmond will seek to end their very successful first campaign in the Championship in style against Jersey.
Prediction: Jersey Reds 25-12 Richmond

London Scottish v Nottingham

                With perhaps more eyes on precedings off the field than on it at the Athletic Ground over the last week, the final fixture of the season gives players and supporters a chance to focus on on-field action as Scottish host Nottingham. With new chairman of Scottish, Malcolm Offord, talking about the possibility of returning to semi-professionalism, Scottish players will want to show a strong performance given the coming uncertainty over the off-season. Having not played since the end of March, Nottingham will have to try to regain focus for their final fixture of the term.
Prediction: London Scottish 31-8 Nottingham

Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues

                  Bedford Blues make the over 600 mile round trip as they travel to Penzance to face Cornish Pirates. With neither side having threatened the top four this season, Bedford will be the more disappointed of the two not to have built on their successful run to the play-offs last year. With both sides on the end of disappointing score lines last weekend, they will both be hoping they can end their season with victory.
Prediction: Cornish Pirates 19-10 Bedford Blues

Irish seal semi-final place in British & Irish Cup with victory over Yorkshire

London Irish beat Yorkshire Carnegie for a second time in a week with plenty of younger squad members on show for both sides. The 34-14 win sees Irish progress into the semi-final of the B&I Cup where they will play Jersey Reds at the Madjeski on Sunday 2^nd April.

London Irish progress to the semi-final where they will
host Jersey Reds in three weeks time.

London Irish were the victors last week at Headingley for the top of the table clash as they eked out a 20-14 win to see them remain unbeaten in the Championship. However, this weekend attention turned to the British & Irish Cup quarter-finals as both sides rung the changes from the previous week, with almost entirely different starting 15s. Both sides continued to use the competition as an opportunity to give much needed game time and experience to young members of their squads and academy.

                The opening half at the Madjeski was a nervy affair with the majority of play being outside the red zone of either side. London Irish established early dominance in the set-piece, causing real problems for the Yorkshire lineout, and ascendancy in the scrummage. With the first points of the game coming from a scrum penalty to Irish with Atkins slotting the kick to give Irish the early lead. Irish set-piece prowess also resulted in the first try of the game, as a strong driving maul from the lineout was defended well initially by Yorkshire, before captain Luke Narraway burrowed over to finish the move.

                With Irish leading 10-0, and beginning to take control, it was their failure to control the breakdown area that allowed Yorkshire opportunities to counter attack. However, it was a returned kick from Irish that gave Yorkshire a score from nowhere. With the Irish defence missing tackles it gave a simple two-on-one which was finished well by flanker Josh Bainbridge. The half finished with neither side able to capitalise on their chances, but Irish added a further penalty giving them a 13-7 lead at the half.

                Yorkshire started the second period well, and kept Irish pinned back deep inside their own half for large parts of the opening 10 minutes, but they were unable to turn this pressure into points with Irish disciplined in their exit strategy. The half was sparked into life with a quick tap penalty taken by Ben Ransom which caught the Yorkshire defence off-guard. With defenders struggling to work back Ross Neal made the most of the opportunity stepping past would-be tacklers to run in for a score.

                Irish, now with momentum on their side, continued to apply pressure to the Yorkshire defence. With a penalty kicked to the corner, Irish looked to increase their lead and did so immediately, as Gilsenan’s powerful carry was stopped just short which gave Jebb Sinclair an opportunity to bundle over the line and score on his return from long-term injury.  London Irish sealed the victory with 10 minutes to go as a long floated pass out wide from 19 year old fly-half Atkins finds Ross Neal, who again caused problems for Yorkshire defenders before sending Topsy Ojo in for one of his simplest tries.

                While Irish had the game wrapped up, Yorkshire continued to work hard and were rewarded on the scoreboard for their efforts at the breakdown. With flanker Lewis Wilson breaking through the middle of a ruck and hacking the ball through as Stevie McColl used his pace to beat the Irish defence and fall on the ball over the try line. Yorkshire continued to press in the dying moments being forced to attack from deep, but handling errors left the ball squirting along the ground where impressive winger Matt Williams collected and scored in the corner on the week of his 19^th birthday.

                The final score gave Irish a 37-14 victory over Carnegie, and ensured they progress to the semi-final stages of the British & Irish Cup. They will be pleased to have turned their second half dominance into points in such a clinical fashion with a very strong set-piece lead by Will Lloyd & Connor Gilsenan. There was also much to be excited about in the Irish backline as young players impressed, notably Jacob Atkins, Ross Neal & Matt Williams all put in impressive performances. Yorkshire will be proud of their work at the breakdown as they caused problems for Irish throughout the game with Bainbridge & Smith getting through a huge workload. While their lineout and scrummage struggled, they had plenty of pace in the backline with McColl & Arscott continuing to threaten, but too often being starved of possession.

                Matters will turn back to the league next weekend for both sides. London Irish will host Cornish Pirates for their annual St Patricks Day Party in front of a large crowd on Saturday 18^th. Yorkshire have a crucial game at Castle Park as they seek to end their losing run, which has now extended to four loses, as they hope to re-establish their hold on a home semi-final spot against third place Doncaster.

Controlled England victorious to claim U20’s Six Nations title

England put in a dominant performance against a valiant Scotland side to earn a 33-5 victory at Franklin’s Gardens. England controlled large portions of the game and pulled away in the second half in a victory that saw them crowned Six Nations champions.

U20 Six Nations Champions, England, line-up
for the pre-match anthems

    While Scotland had the bulk of the early possession, neither side were able to capitalise on their opportunities as the set piece failed to fire early on. It was a mistake from a Scottish lineout that lead to the first points of the game as Langdon pounced on an overthrown ball before Ben Curry made yards up the field.  With the Scottish defence out of position a strong carry from flanker Jack Nay saw him over for the opening try.

                England controlled the rest of the half keeping Scotland pinned back inside their own half, and while having several opportunities to attack, the Scottish defence held England out despite periods of sustained pressure. Scotland failed to gain a foothold in the match as the England scrum dominance allowed them to control the tempo. It was some neat handling just before half-time that saw England double their lead, Zach Mercer and Harry Randall linking up to allow the scrum half over in the corner. England leading at half-time 14-0.

                England started the second half as they finished the first. With Scotland deep inside their own half and attacking from deep, a miskicked chip was collected easily by Will Butler. England used their width well and Tom Parton put Dominic Morris in for a try early in the second half. However, Scotland hit back immediately with a great individual score from winger Darcy Graham as he showed his pace to break in behind England and then a strong carry to see him finish off the score. With the score at 19-5, Scotland began to work themselves back into the game for a short period but failed to add to the scoreboard.

England soon regained control of the game with further dominance up front failing to allow Scotland any clean ball from the set piece. The Scottish players continued to defend at a very high intensity and did not allow England to threaten the try line. However a handling error from Scotland saw a ball on the ground hacked through by England lock Josh Caulfield, and a fumble from the last Scottish defender allowed Zach Mercer  to cap off an impressive performance with a simple try. England finished the game in style as their dangerous backline connected with neat offloading between Cokanasiga & Mercer gave replacement fly-half Theo Brophy Clews a 30m footrace to the whitewash, scoring in the corner.

The final score was a convincing 33-5 victory for England who controlled the vast majority of the game, with huge credit going to the forward pack which caused problems for Scotland’s scrummage and never allowed them to build momentum. Despite early problems at the lineout, hooker Langdon was very impressive in the loose and put in a huge amount of work. The backrow also were impressive in their handling skills and effort going forward, lead by captain Zach Mercer. The win means England remain undefeated in this seasons Six Nations and will travel to Dublin next week hoping to seal a Grand Slam when they play Ireland. However, it was England & Wales’ victories on the night that saw England crowned winners of this seasons U20 Six Nations Championship.

Axing the play-offs must only be the beginning of resuscitating the English second tier

This week the RFU scrapped the Championship play-off system that had proven the stumbling block for Bristol’s promotion back to the Aviva Premiership for a number of years. While this seemed like a sensible and long overdue decision, it does not necessarily address the plethora of concerns that continue to haunt English rugby’s second tier. With the recent and painful demise of London Welsh, there is still some way to go to provide a stable platform for teams not quite ready to face the likes of Saracens & Wasps.

While scrapping the dreaded play-offs is certainly a good thing, it fails to address the real issues in the Championship. While it will allow the team at the top to better prepare for promotion, allowing time for a proper recruitment strategy, it only really serves the interest of those at the very top of the Championship or bottom of the Premiership, namely Bristol, Yorkshire & London Irish. From 2018 the club at the top of the table will have sufficient time to ready themselves for the top flight, time that Bristol & London Welsh more recently found lacking.

                The RFU also announced a funding boost for all Championship sides, which will come as hugely welcome news in a division where financial strife is felt from top to bottom. However, even this may not be enough to rescue the division from its current state of limbo. The Championship needs re-thinking and re-working. There is such variety in the division it appears impossible for it to succeed in its current format.

This term London Irish at top and are clearly a professional outfit seeking immediate return to the Premiership. Cornish Pirates continue to push for playoff places, having made the final twice in the last six years, yet don’t have a ground that means the minimum standard criteria for the top flight. There are teams such as Bedford, who openly admit to not be seeking promotion, and this year semi-professional outfit Richmond are at the bottom of the table. The Championship is not a suitable proving ground for such diversity.

Ring-fencing, while looking like the simplest option, is in the long run likely to create a stagnant pool at the bottom to the Premiership. As we see with most top divisions in all sports across the northern hemisphere, promotion and relegation is part and parcel of the drama and passion. Therefore, we must create a competitive and suitably funded second tier. This would mean shedding teams for the current Championship to create a smaller group of teams with a desire to play Premiership rugby long term.

This smaller group of teams would mean the funding that the RFU currently give to the Championship would go further in supporting their costs, and allowing them more ambition in recruitment and facilities. In turn it would create more professional and competitive teams that are more likely to be able to compete when promoted to the Premiership. This would require commitment from those at the RFU to ensure that there is adequate funding, which is currently lacking to support all 12 sides in the division, and from the clubs involved to pursue a sustainable and competitive division.

The Championship does continue to provide exciting rugby, and vital experience for professional players. Loan agreements with Championship clubs have given players the opportunity to enhance their game at a decent level, with plenty of the current England squad having had Championship experience in their development. However, with low crowd numbers and a lack of direction, the Championship is in need of revamping. In its current format it is not a safe place to build a professional rugby club, you only need ask those at Old Deer Park about the perils of continuing on the same road, and it’s only a matter of time before others succumb to a similar fate. 

Outstanding talent on display at Premiership U18 Final’s Day

               There was skill and excitement aplenty as the top six teams met at Sixways for the Premiership U18 Academy League Final’s Day. There were three very different but equally compelling games on display which showed the promising future of the clubs as they competed for the places in the final standings.

                The day began with an open and expansive game which saw 10 tries scored in an exciting game between hosts Worcester Warriors and Saracens. That fixture was followed by a phenomenal demonstration of control and skill in a tight affair between Exeter Chiefs & Wasps, which would have rivalled some of their Premiership encounters. The final game between Harlequins & Sale Sharks was a real battle for victory as both teams sought to be crowned U18 champions for the season.

Worcester Warriors U18 36-26 Saracens U18

Worcester’s dominant first half performance and solid defensive effort saw them victors in the first game of Finals Day. Their heavy carrying forwards and skilful backline combined to cause problems for the Saracens defence with Worcester leading 24-12 at the break. The second half saw the Saracens replacements inject urgency into their side to turn the game around.  Despite Saracens leading in the second half, Worcester continued to fight to regain the lead and then a huge defensive effort denied a dangerous Saracens side to seal victory.

                There was some real attacking flair shown by both forwards and backs alike, with good handling, strong carrying and a lot of pace on display too.  With Ollie Lawrence, Cameron Harrison & Billy Young all scoring two tries, there were plenty of players who stood out. However it was Worcester captain and number 8 Ted Hill who impressed most for the home side with his tireless commitment and work rate in defence at crucial times as well as in attack. For the visitors Joel Kpoku led the charge well despite playing with a knock to the ankle, a highly rated prospect for the future, he carried well through the tackles and caused problems for the Worcester defence.

Exeter Chiefs U18 29-28 Wasps U18

                In a game played at a high level of skill and control throughout, it was Exeter who edged out Wasps in a game that would not have looked amiss between the two sides’ senior squads. With the lead swapping hands seven times in the game it was a fierce battle led by the strength & discipline of the Exeter forwards and the excitement & skill of the Wasps backline. The Exeter forwards dominated up front as they continued to gain territory, while Wasps were not to be outdone with impressive performances from their backline to put them into the lead. Exeter’s fly half pulled the strings late on however, to put Exeter back ahead which their defence saw them hold in the closing moments.

                Both teams matched the qualities of their respective senior’s sides. Wasps backline was a danger throughout with neat quick handling and dynamic running lines, with Sam Spink & Brenan Clark looking particularly threatening. Exeter, however, dominated up front with a tenacious performance from their forwards to provide a platform to victory, led by big Rusi Tuima & flanker Charlie Wright. The game was dominated by two outstanding performances from both fly halves. Jacob Umaga, who had started for England U20’s at the weekend, demonstrated his ability to lead the attack with wonderful handling and vision as well as accuracy from the tee. Gwyn Parks continued to impress as his kicking from hand continued to pin Wasps back as well as kicking 19 points himself from penalties and conversions, both are real bright prospects for the future.

Harlequins U18 20-8 Sale Sharks U18

                The final was a nervy affair but discipline and control saw Harlequins the victors and crowned champions of the Premiership Academy U18 League for 2016-17. It was Sale that started the brighter of the two sides as their set piece asserted itself as the dominant force early on, providing a good attacking platform inside the Harlequins half. However, late in the first half Harlequins built themselves into the game. This continued into the second half as they controlled possession and territory. Despite Sale endeavouring to attack from deep to get back into the game, it was a late score for Harlequins that sealed the victory.

                Harlequins were deserving winners after strong performances throughout the season, and showing real maturity to control the second half of the final. The Sale set-piece showed promise early on and caused Harlequins problems with Sam Dugdale and Nic Dolly leading the charge. Harlequins lock pairing Hugh Tizard & Henry Paremain impressed with a solid defensive effort as well as dominating the breakdown battle. Fly-half Marcus Smith was the star performer from the final as he controlled the game well with real composure.

Bright future from the stars of 2016-17 Academy League

Throughout the season in both the league and on finals day, the high intensity and skill level on show has been hugely impressive. There were really competitive fixtures across the divisions reflected in the entertaining matches at Sixways. There are a huge number of talented individuals around the squads who will be fighting to be retained by their respective Premiership squads. However, all the players on show should be proud of the commitment and desire that was evident to all as they gained invaluable experience at such a high level. If this is the future of English rugby, then there is a lot to be excited about.

Harlequins control sees them crowned U18 Champions in win over Sale

The final fixture of this season’s Premiership Under 18 Academy League was between Harlequins and Sale Sharks. Both sides were dominant in their respective conferences and lost only one game in the league campaign. The final took place under the floodlights at Sixways in front of an impressive crowd including a number of senior players and coaches, with the winners being crowned champions of the league for 2016-17.

                It was a nervy start to the game with neither side willing to risk too much and well drilled defences keeping either side from gaining an early score. The Sale set piece looked to be in the ascendency as it provided a good platform for Sale to build an attack. Defence continued to prove strong as Quins repelled Sale, however eventually Sale scrum half Matt Sturgess attacked the fringe of a ruck and his quick feet got him over the line for the first score of the game.

                Sale continued to apply pressure as they controlled the attack well and made steady progress up the field. The Harlequins defence continued to deny Sale any significant gain in territory but eventually gave away a penalty in front of the posts. The simple kick for Kieran Wilkinson gave Sale a 0-8 lead. Harlequins had their opportunities in the half with ball in hand but occasional handling errors meant they were not able to capitalise.

                It was clear that Harlequins were beginning to work themselves into the game in the closing stages of the half with more possession and steady progress into the Sale half. A penalty for a high tackle shortly before the half-time whistle gave Marcus Smith a chance to get Quins on the scoreboard. A successful kick brought the half-time score to Harlequins 3-8 Sale Sharks.

                Harlequins started the second half as they ended the first, gaining steady control and territory. Quins’ forwards took charge after a strong driving maul put them in a good position on the Sale 22m. Several phases later the forwards had carried up to the Sale line before backrow Luke James finished off the attack as he stretched out and reached for the try line. The conversion gave Harlequins the lead at 10-8.

                With Harlequins in control of the game, Sale were looking to create their own opportunities to attack with ball in hand. However, with Quins controlling territory Sale had to attack from deep inside their own half. The risk didn’t pay off however as they gave away a penalty in front of the posts after breaking outside their 22m. The penalty was neatly slotted by fly-half Smith to extend the lead to 13-8.

                The game was put to bed shortly afterwards as two pieces of individual brilliance created a try for Quins out of nothing. Firstly Smith showed his own pace and skill with a quick counter attack that brought Harlequins up to halfway, and then winger McDuffus demonstrated his own quick feet as he stepped out of two tackles and burst free before racing in from 40m out to score under the posts, the conversion giving Harlequins an unassailable 20-8 lead.

                Despite Sale upping the tempo in the dying moments of the game and looking to threaten, Harlequins defence saw the game out before the ball was booted off the park. The full-time whistle sparked celebrations both on and off the pitch for the Harlequins players and supporters, as they became Premiership  Under 18 League champions.

                After a tight and nervy start, as to be expected in a final, Sale looked to be building a strong performance. Their set piece provided a good platform for the Sale back line to attack but Harlequins defence kept the deficit low before building themselves into the game in the late stages in the first half. That confidence was clearly carried into the second half as Harlequins controlled the second period, keeping Sale pinned well back in their own half and retaining possession well.

                Sale, having given themselves an early lead, will be disappointed to have allowed Harlequins into the game late in the first half and give momentum away. However, they can be pleased that their defensive effort kept the score close till the dying moments of the game. Number 8, Sam Dugdale and hooker, Nic Dolly should take the plaudits for a strong set piece and forwards performance early in the half. While fly-half Kieran Wilkinson controlled the game early on with well-placed kicks from hand.

                Harlequins will be delighted to have fought their way back into the game and controlled large parts of the second half. Credit should go to the lock pairing of Hugh Tizard & Henry Paremain who were very solid defensively and caused trouble for Sale at the breakdown, while centre Jake Hennessey looked threatening with ball in hand, causing the Sale defence trouble with his bright running lines. Having controlled the game from fly-half, Marcus Smith’s  composed performance despite the pressure of a final, earned Harlequins the victory as he controlled the attack and took the points on offer well.

Masterclass in control and maturity as Exeter U18 edge out Wasps

Two very strong sides in Exeter and Wasps were the second match at the Premiership U18 Academy League finals day at Sixways. Both sides were narrowly beaten to top spot in their respective conferences, Wasps finishing on the same number of points as league winners Sale, being beaten only on points difference. 

                 There was much excitement around two fly halves on display, in Exeter’s Gwyn Parks who had impressed with his kicking & game control throughout the season and Wasps’ Jacob Umaga who was the starting fly half for England U20’s win against Wales at the weekend.

                Wasps scrum half got the game off to a lightening start with a great solo try. After collecting the ball just outside his own 22m, the captain Will Porter stepped two Exeter players before bursting into space and using his pace to score an 80 metre try under the posts to give Wasps the early lead. Exeter began to eat into the Wasps lead with two penalties, the first a well struck kick 45m out from Parks and the second following a strong carry by Exeter’s huge presence at number 8 Rusi Tuima, closing the score to 7-6.

                Wasps were back on the attack shortly after and neat hands from Umaga created a simple two on one which was well finished by full back Matt Wells, the conversion extending the lead to 14-6. Exeter’s forwards responded with powerful carries and good support with Charlie Wright making good ground but the Wasps defence hoeld Exeter just short of the try line before conceding a penalty which was calmly slotted. The Exeter forwards continued to dominate as a driving maul from a lineout on the Wasps 22m was driven up to the line before being stopped just short, but prop Danny Southworth finished it off, the conversion giving Exeter a 16-14 lead. With a further exchange of penalty kicks before the half-time whistle, Exeter maintained their lead at 19-17.

                The Wasps backline began the second half in the same way they started the first, looking lively in attack, before earning a penalty on the Exeter 22m, giving them the lead back at 19-20. The Exeter forwards also looked to pick up where they left off as they continued to apply sustained pressure on Wasps, making their way deep into Wasps territory. The pressure eventually told after a number of phases of Wasps defence, as Rusi Tuima attacked on the fringe and crossed the whitewash for Exeter. The lead was narrowed again however, as Wasps winger Taju Atta ignited the Wasps attack using pace to get round the Exeter defence. Despite being stopped just short, hooker Alfie Barbeary kept his width on the wing and went over in the corner, giving Exeter just a one point lead at 26-25.

                The Wasps backline continued to cause problems for the Exeter defence and a penalty 35m out in front of the posts was slotted by Umaga to give them a 26-28 lead with not long to go in the second half. However, Parks showed his skill in kicking from hand and gained territory deep inside the Wasps half, and Wasps then went on to concede a penalty just outside the 22m near the touchline, and Parks calmly slotted the penalty to restore Exeter’s one point lead at 29-28. Wasps pressurised Exeter in the remaining few minutes but the defence held firm and the ball was turned over and kicked off the park as Exeter won in a high class game from both sides.

                In a game that wouldn’t look amiss in the Aviva Premiership both sides should be hugely proud of the effort and discipline showed throughout the game. Wasps backline looked constantly threatening and Exeter’s forwards were incredibly powerful, but what was most impressive was the level of control and maturity shown as both sides attacked and defended. In the tightest of games, Exeter’s forwards, who had led their team well throughout the season, gave their team the platform to secure the victory and 3^rd place in this season U18 league.

                Wasps, much like their senior side, will be pleased with the dangerous backline they possess. It was led well by lively and quick scrum half Will Porter, and supported well by wingers Atta & Clark both with real pace and an eye for a broken defence. However, the standout performance from Wasps came from fly-half Jacob Umaga. Not only did Umaga kick 13 points from the tee, his distribution from hand was quick, direct and accurate. He controlled the game extremely well and was a great playmaker to make the most of Wasps’ attacking backline.

                Exeter will be delighted to have won this hard fought game and owe a lot of credit to their forward pack which produced a powerful and influential performance. There was a huge work rate across the squad, led well by hooker Ben Phillips working hard in defence. Exeter’s back row also got through a huge amount of work in defence but also dominant carries created great opportunities, with Charlie Wright & Rusi Tuima looking like great prospects. However, as with Wasps, huge credit should also be given to fly-half Gwyn Parks. Parks controlled the game well and his kicking from hand was pinpoint accurate and continued to peg Wasps back. His goal kicking was also vital in securing Exeter the win, nailing a number of challenging kicks and earning 19 points from the tee.

Worcester U18 victorious over Saracens to kick-off U18 Final’s Day in style

Worcester hosted Saracens in the first fixture of the Premiership U18 Academy League Final’s day at Sixways. Both sides finished third in their respective conferences and were hoping to get the day off with a bang, as they competed for 5^th place in the overall standings. With a still, clear day and the artificial surface at Sixways it was bound to be a high scoring affair and neither side disappointed.

                Worcester started the faster of the sides as despite some big defence from Saracens, a well delivered pass from fly-half Forrester put captain Ted Hill through the defence and under the posts for the early score. Saracens hit back straight away, piling the pressure on the Worcester defence which eventually gave way as Saracens star lock Joel Kpoku broke through the line, which left a simple finish for Sean Reffell bundling over a scrambling Worcester defence.

                Worcester regained the ascendancy immediately with two scores one after another, both from centre Ollie Lawrence. The first came from a quick wrap around the defensive line and a fend off put him over in the corner. The next came after another strong break from Ted Hill bringing Worcester back inside the Saracens 22m, Lawrence this time showed his power as he bumped off a tackler and scored under the posts, giving Worcester a 19-7 lead.

                Saracens turned up the pace and were back on the attack shortly after inside the Worcester half, where nice build up play looked to have led to a try in the corner but the final pass was forward and was brought back. Saracens made the most of their next opportunity as the forwards worked their way back inside the Worcester 22m before a well floated pass from fly-half Manu Vunipola put Elliot Obitiyembo in at the corner. It was Worcester who finished the half on top however, with hooker Cameron Harrison collecting the ball and showing a good turn of pace as he made 30 metres into Saracens territory. Harrison then held up possession and created a simple two on one which was finished by James Scott, bringing the half-time score to 24-12.

                The second half started slower than the first as neither side were able to gain ground easily and defences held firm. However, a mistake from a lineout gave Saracens’ Sean Reffell an opportunity to gain ground deep into the Worcester half, and a strong carry from replacement prop Billy Young carried him over the line for his first try. It didn’t take him long to get his second and give Saracens the lead for the first time in the game. A quick tap penalty was taken by replacement scrum-half James Elms and a scrambling defence couldn’t stop Young going over in the corner, giving Saracens a 24-26 lead.

                However, the lead was short lived as a box kick shortly after the restart was charged down by hooker Harrison who had the composure to collect the ball and score. Saracens looked to be applying real pressure on the Worcester defence and playing inside the Worcester half in the closing stages of the match, but frequent indiscipline and staunch Worcester defence cost them valuable field position.  Worcester backed-up their defensive effort in the final phases of the game with clinical attacking play, as a maul from 15m out from the Saracens try line was driven all the way over with Harrison getting his second of the game and sealing a 36-26 victory over Saracens.

                Despite a very strong second half performance from Saracens, helped by an increase in pace from the replacements, Worcester had done enough with a clinical first half and strong defensive effort to hold Saracens out in crucial moments in the second and were deserved winners.

                Saracens forwards will be pleased with their contribution both in defence and through strong carries, with standout performances by lock Joel Kpoku & backrow pair Sean Reffell and Tobias Munday. Full-back Elliot Obitiyembo came alive in the second half as Saracens came into the game with good running lines, getting himself on the scoresheet. Billy Young will also be pleased with his impact on the game as he came on in the second half, crossing the whitewash twice and playing with a great level of energy from the moment he joined the game.

                Worcester will be delighted to have secured the win with such a complete performance across the two halves, and while despite being disappointed at letting Saracens back into the game, showed real character to see the game out at the end. Captain Ted Hill led by example with a big defensive effort and gained  ground in attack, getting a try himself, and fellow backrow Tom Fawcett also defended well at crucial moments. Cameron Harrison and Ollie Lawrence, both with two tries each, will be pleased with their performances and Alex Bartley looked dangerous on the wing with real pace.

Aviva Premiership Round-Up - Round 14

The Aviva Premiership exploded back into action this weekend. Despite missing internationals away with the Six Nations, there were edge of your seat games across the weekend as teams aimed to hit the ground running into the next group of fixtures. Having been on hiatus for over a month with European and Anglo-Welsh fixtures there were plenty of eye watering fixtures and crucial games at both the top and bottom of the league.

Bath Rugby 32-30 Northampton Saints – 10/02/17

                Bath reignited their fight for the play-offs with victory against a Northampton team who have been struggling to find form this season. Despite Bath building an early lead the second half opened up with the lead changing hands several times within the last twenty minutes to create a nailbiting finish. A moment of individual brilliance from replacement Chris Cook still wasn’t enough to repel Northampton fighting back to lead by a point. A missed kick from the tee by Rhys Priestland looked to have given Northampton the victory, but a misplaced clearance and penalty from the breakdown gave him a second chance at the full-time whistle. A chance he slotted between the posts to the delight of Bath faithful at the Rec.

Sale Sharks 26-24 Newcastle Falcons – 10/02/17

                Sale put an end to a six game losing streak in the Aviva Premiership with a nervy victory of Newcastle at the AJ Bell.  Explosive wingers created ample opportunities with Denny Solomona scoring one and setting up another, but Vereniki Gonevea went better getting a hat-trick including two 50 metre intercept tries. Sale looked to have thrown the game away with a clinical Newcastle making the most of their opportunities. With minutes to go it was Sale’s set piece dominance that came to the rescue as Will Addison’s penalty gave them the victory.  A crucial victory sees Sale drag themselves away from the relegation battle they were slowly falling into.

Bristol Rugby 8-42 Harlequins – 10/02/17

                Bristol may have been hoping to capitalise on a Harlequins side with players missing through both international and injury and a terrible away record in the league this season, but it wasn’t to be as Harlequins easily beat a lacklustre Bristol side. However there was history on the Bristol side as Tom Varndell became the leading Premiership try scorer with his 91^st try, overtaking Mark Cueto. A yellow card just before half-time proved to be somewhat of a turning point as the visitors ran in a total of four tries in the second half. The Premiership break doesn’t seemed to have helped Bristol as they conceded 40 points for the fourth time this season having begun to look more competitive in their last few Premiership outings.

Worcester Warriors 24-18 Saracens – 11/02/17

                Worcester will be delighted to have made the most of a Saracens side missing a few notable names away on international duty with an impressively controlled performance at Sixways. Despite outscoring the hosts two tries to zero, Saracens had to settle for a losing bonus point with a penalty in the closing stages of the game.  Worcester were the beneficiaries of 24 points from the boot of Ryan Mills that gave them a vital victory after Bristol’s defeat the night before. Worcester will be pleased with the manner of the performance against the champions with a huge team effort for the entire 80 minutes. The win sees them move 5 points clear of Bristol at the bottom while Saracens will be hoping the pick themselves up quickly as the chasing pack moves closer at the top of the table.

Leicester Tigers 34-9 Gloucester Rugby – 11/02/17

                Leicester earned their first league win under Aaron Mauger with a powerful performance against Gloucester. The Tigers forward pack dominated proceedings from start to finish with three tries earned by the forwards and one for Adam Thompstone giving them a bonus point victory. With Freddie Burns being replaced early, Owen Williams got the chance to show his future employers at Gloucester what they’re getting next season with decisive kicking both from the tee and in open play. The victory for Leicester will keep their hopes alive of chasing down the top four positions before the end of season while Gloucester continue to struggle with getting the job done on the road this season.

Exeter Chiefs 35-35 Wasps – 12/02/17

                Another real classic between these two sides saw points shared in a thrilling game at Sandy Park. In a game that had everything, including 10 tries, two penalty tries, two yellow cards and a red, there were huge levels of power and skill in both sides. Wasps threatened with their explosive backline through Wade and Eastmond, but Exeter weren’t to be outdone with their skills in handling shown throughout the squad. A red card for Exeter’s Jonny Hill early in the second half still didn’t dissuade either side from going for the victory but in the end Joe Simpson’s late try was enough for a draw. With Saracen’s loss Wasps extend their lead at the top to five points and Exeter also close within five of last season’s Champions.

Round 15 Preview

Gloucester Rugby v Saracens – 17/02/17
                Gloucester will be hoping their home form can start to see them crawl up the Premiership table as they host a vulnerable Saracens side. Saracens, on the back of their loss against Worcester, will be keen to right the wrongs of last weekend and prove the real strength in depth they possess.
Prediction: Saracens by 4

Leicester Tigers v Bristol Rugby – 18/02/17
                More of the same will be asked of Leicester as they’ll be targeting another big victory in front of the Welford Road crowd as they welcome bottom of the table Bristol. Bristol will be hoping to correct those defensive errors against Harlequins and put in a performance to show they may be down, but not out.
Prediction: Leicester by 18

Bath Rugby v Harlequins – 18/02/17
                After securing a late victory of Northampton, Bath will look to continue to put distance between them and the chasing pack as Harlequins are the visitors. Quins will be buoyed by their first win on the road but will still be without a number of key squad members and will have it all to do.
Prediction: Bath by 8

Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs – 18/02/17
                Worcester, coming off the high of beating last season’s champions, will look to win their third successive home game in the league against a dangerous and exciting Exeter. Exeter, having played in a thrilling draw against top of the table Wasps on Sunday, won’t want to let their fight for a home semi-final stutter and will seek a big performance on the road.
Prediction: Exeter by 6

Sale Sharks v Wasps – 19/02/17
                Sale, having done enough to see off Newcastle on Friday night, have a long turnaround as they welcome top of the table Wasps to the AJ Bell on Sunday afternoon. Wasps, with such a threatening backline, will look to exploit any defensive frailties in Sale and cement their place at the top of the table.
Prediction: Wasps by 11

Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints – 19/02/17
                In what could be a season defining game for both teams, there is a lot on the line at Kingston Park. Newcastle will look to exploit their home field advantage against a Northampton side who will be hurting after being beaten in the last play against Bath. Victory for either side could see them looking up the table at the top 6 positions and a fight for top flight European rugby next season.
Prediction: Newcastle by 3