RFUW South One OA Saints 19 Saracens II 22 HAVING beaten Saracens II last season, the Saints were anxious to repeat that performance, especially in their own turf. Under perfect conditions, the Saints put the pressure on right from kick off. A strong lin
RFUW South One
OA Saints 19 Saracens II 22
HAVING beaten Saracens II last season, the Saints were anxious to repeat that performance, especially in their own turf.
Under perfect conditions, the Saints put the pressure on right from kick off. A strong lineout, catch and drive in Saracens' own 22 led to a try by hooker, Nadia Brannon in the first five minutes. Solid tackling by Sarah McKenna kept the opposition centres from breaking the line too.
Saracens ex-England captain and fly half Karen Andrews kicked into space behind Saints wingers to gain some yards. Saints full back and hooker spectacularly clashed heads both diving for a chipped through ball, Andrews capitalized on the gap left by the scattered bodies, picked up and scored. Saints converted to lead the game 7-5.
Saints regained possession to give the backs a chance to run in a second try. Sarah McKenna ran a beautiful line into space, her sister and winger Claire McKenna was in support and secured a try under the posts. This was duly converted by Karina Page to take the Saints into the lead 12-7 at half time.
Just after the restart, great forward and back linking led to full back Megan scoring in the corner, followed by a great conversion by Page.
Saints began to lose a bit momentum in the last quarter, and Saracens managed to punch through and score a try from short range.
A sequence of penalties saw Saracens claim yard on yard culminating in the sin binning of a Saints 2nd Row. With Saints missing one of their powerhouses, Saracens set a rolling maul from a lineout and, after several attempts, got over the line bringing them up to just two points behind the leaders, 19-17.
Saints retaliated and pinned Saracens on their try line with three minutes to go. Quick rucked ball came out to the backs, but the ball was dropped and turned over.
As the Saints were set to attack an instant overlap was created and Saracens' winger ran the length of the pitch to score in the corner.
Saints put up a final fight from the restart gaining a penalty just outside the 22 and a sin binning of a Saracens player for foul play.
The penalty could have brought a draw but it just fell short with Saracens holding on for a 22-19 win.
OA Saints II suffered a frustrating 0-0 draw against Canterbury away.
Both teams are back in league action next week with OA Saints I and II XV playing Richmond II's and Hertford respectively.
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