Saracens Pre-Season Gathering saw a return to the Stonex Stadium and gave an opportunity to meet several first team players from all 3 teams,visit the changing rooms, buy and have Maggie Alphonse’s new book signed by her in person and the highlight of the day a match between Saracens and Bath’s Under 18’s teams.
This is predominantly to share my photos from the game with a few details of the match. I was sat next to the Mum and Sister of Ed Elliott who was on the bench for Bath. His Mum ~Emma gave me a great insight into what life is like for the family of an aspiring rugby player. I asked her whether she was concerned over the recent concussion news, she felt that mental health at this age was the most worrisome aspect. Keeping expectations in control and ensuring that any potential rejection wasn’t too damaging. I had a conversation with Juan Figallo last season a couple of days after he’d had to tell several Academy players they weren’t going to be taken to the next stage, he said it was the of the worst things he’d had to do.
We spoke about Tim Streather who I interviewed a few years ago, he hadn’t made it at Academy level but went to Nottinghamshire, University and was picked up by a coach involved at Nottingham, where he was their player of the season in 2009; picking up the Championship Player of the Year in the 2012-2013 season. From there he went on to be picked up by Saracens, he played 22 games for them in the Centre. He thought the game had passed him by but ended up playing for a team that won both the Premiership and European Champions Cup while he was there.
With the reduction in Premiership clubs to the current 10, there are fewer opportunities at the top level for young players, hopefully all clubs manage their expectations as they go along. At least for Ed he’s not at a Rugby ACE/AASE Academy so his full focus isn’t rugby, it is important for all young people involved in sports to get a back up option. His is a name I’ll be keeping an eye out for, he’s just starting 6th Form/Year 12 so playing in an Under 18’s team at just 16!
Before I move on to the match details, I had a quick chat with Bea, Ed’s sister, it was interesting that she’d only had the opportunity to take part in the more traditional sports for girls at Secondary School. Disappointing when the profile of women’s sport is so high at the moment, with Football, Cricket and Rugby at both codes gaining in popularity; in fact in the last week the ECB have announced that the England Women will receive the same match fees as the men, previously they’ve been paid 25% for white ball cricket and 15% for test cricket – sport is evolving!
I know. Bath won their first match last weekend thanks to Twitter, they beat Bristol Bears by 29-27 – a 70th minute penalty securing the win. I presume Saracens played too but can’t find a record of a game online.
This was an entertaining game with tries aplenty and a scoreline that see-sawed between the teams. Toby Lock opened the scoring for Bath, with the conversion going wide of the posts. Saracens struck through a try for Finn Newton, with an assist from a Centre with a famous surname, Jack Bracken. The scores were even with an unsuccessful conversion.
Bath took the lead back again with a great try from Fly-Half James Linegar who backed himself to run through from the Saracens 22; he converted his own try. Things were moving at a great pace for the crowd, Eddie Alliott took a pass from Angus Hall to score for Saracens and the scores were level at 12 apiece! Lock scored his second as the Saracens defenders seemed to melt away in front of him, a great individual try, the conversion hit the posts but Bath had a 5 point lead again.
Saracens took the lead for the first time as Rohan Burke got over the line, Hal converted the try and the score with half-time approaching was Saracens 19 Bath 17. Bath re-took the lead with a Linegar penalty on the stroke of half-time.
The yo-yoyoing continued in the second half as Saracens came out all guns blazing, Finn newton was path provider this time as he threw a big pass to Fraser Rawlins out on the left wing, Hall converted from the touchline and Saracens had a 6 point lead. The advantage swung back to Bath when Owen Gillett was sent to the sin-bin. Saracens defended well as Bath attacked from a 5 metre lineout, but Bath made the most of the extra man with 19 ,minutes remaining as Sam Janaway scored, the successful conversion gave Bath a 1 point lead.
It was Sam Janaway who sealed the deal for Bath with his second try, the final score was Saracens 26 Bath Rugby 26; a really entertaining game of rugby and a good win for the visitors.
365 Sporting Days 