365 Sporting Days

In spite of it being Round 2 of the Six Nations Tournament, Premiership Rugby still continues.  That seems slightly crazy, especially for those teams with lots of players featuring for their country.

And so 2 such teams, Saracens and Bath Rugby faced each other at Allianz Park.  My journey was a different one to my usual M25 madness.  I was picking my friend Tracey up near the A406, a smooth journey down the A12 until I turned off.

Then I was very nearly wiped out by the worst and craziest piece of driving I’ve ever seen! On a 30mph road a car came from a side road the opposite side of the road at what must have been 60-70mph.  There was a big line of traffic his side, how he missed them I do not know – Thank goodness I swerved as he came at speed towards me!  I picked Tracey up with shaky legs to say the least!

On to Allianz Park we went – with a few A406 problems but other than that we arrived in one piece.  There’s a decent food offering available but we arrived with only 30 minutes to spare, not enough time to queue and be sitting in time.

Rather than sit in my own seat I sat with Tracey a bit nearer to the Halfway line.  We sat in very good company – James and Mark – which meant we laughed a fair bit!  Always a good thing!

I am going to write a match report – so only a few words about the game.  Bath arrived with a strong team in spite of 3 of their star Backs putting in a superb performance at Twickenham.

The one man in Rugby union who must have had more words written about him that any other, Sam Burgess, was playing at Outside Centre.  The game was one of those – games of two halves – the teams went in at half time with the score on Saracens 11 Bath 3.

A hard fought but low scoring half – that all changed in the 2nd half – with Jamie George for Saracens then Semesa Rokoduguni for Bath swapping tries 2 minutes apart.

Chris Ashton and Saracens answered with a try a mere minute later – something of an exciting spell!  That try opened up an 18 point gap.

As a Saracens fan it felt that a win was in the bag – an Alex Goode Penalty stretched the gap further.  However tries by Olly Woodburn and Semesa Rokoduguni made the last 9 minutes a nail biting time!

Bath were back in losing bonus point territory – but an Alex Goode penalty took that point away from them.

The score finished on Saracens 34 Bath Rugby 24.  Closing the gap between the 2 teams sitting 2nd and 3rd in the table.

Tracey and I had the cupcake and hot chocolate we were going to have when we arrived after the game – £4 each for cake and drink was good value!  And much needed after no lunch!

We touched base with a few friends then headed off – having dinner in a Vintage Inn on the way – in spite of feeling way too full after a Roast Dinner we still wolfed down a desert – has to be done!

I’ve shared Saracens facts before so for this game just the moments in the day thing.

• Nicest moment of the day – spending time with Tracey – but the best thing was the singing and shoulder dancing on the drive home!  Good job it was dark – and we didn’t care!
• Best moment of the game – All 3 of the Bath tries were very exciting – but I have to go with Chris Ashton’s try – well worked and well scored!

The drive home was I’m hugely pleased to say uneventful!  Song of the journey was – I Found Lovin – The Fatback Band – and oldie but goodie!