365 Sporting Days

I’m coming to this a day late, having decided to watch the women in their first league game, and they did not disappoint! This was billed as the Derby weekend and with Quins and Saracens the only teams left flying the flag this was clearly one such. TNT as it’s now known seemed intent on building this Into a hate thing, it was good to see Danny Care and Jamie George, England team mates put paid to that idea pre-match. Sport, especially rugby should never be associated with the word hate! I was babysitting as the match was going on last night, but couldn’t resist checking my SofaScore notifications and I have tp say I was somewhat surprised!

Saracens who have a fair injury list lost both Elliot Daly and Ben Earl in the warm up and Alex Lozowski in the first 2 minutes of the game, that’s a lot of skill lost to their match day squad! Ollie Hartley joined the fray in place of Lozowski. Tom Parton replaced Daly. I’m waiting with baited breath to hear the commentary having read much criticism during the day. Saracens hadn’t lost at The Stoop since January 2020 and had won the last 9 in all against Quins.

Joe Marler was making his 200th Premiership appearance of Quins and Owen Farrell his 150th for Saracens. Farrell kicked the game off in the battle of the incumbent England 10 in Farrell and the oft wished for Marcus Smith. Smith put in a huge tackle on B+Ncik Tompkins but gave away a penalty as he failed to roll away, Farrell missed touch – schoolboy error.

Tyrone Green put in a perfect kick after taking a less than perfect kick from Jamie George, the ball stopped just short of dead in the in goal area, giving Quins the ball from a Saracens drop out. Quins won a penalty as Andy Christie moved away awkwardly. Marcus Smith missed the kick from straight in front of the posts. Unusual from him.

Saracens showed some early flair after rolling a maul from in their own half, playing on a penalty the ball made its way to Farrell who flew a huge pass out Parton who showed his speed, he got to halfway but Saracens conceded a penalty.

13 minutes in and not a point to be seen, the commentary? Sometimes less is more! Not every second needs to be filled with voices. Saracens lost their own line out, another unusual sight, but Saracens somehow forced Quins back 10 metres. Quins did however have a lovely looking attack soon after, but Saracens defence held firm. But that defence did give a penalty away, Smith kicked for the posts and a harder kick, sailed through the posts to give Quins the lead.

Quins were then penalised as their defenders were shouting maul, maul, maul, before pulling it to the floor. Joe Launchbury was then penalised as he changed his bind and took the next maul to the floor. Jamie George pulled away from the next maul and a couple of players had a go at the line, it was new signing, Argentinian Juan Martin Gonzalez who got the ball down, Farrell added the extras.

Saracens had taken the lead in the 20th minute and they kept it for the duration of the game, the 1st scrum came in the 24th minute and collapsed, that was after a great break by Andy Christie, joined by Ivan Van Zyl. Joe Marler won a penalty on the 2nd attempt in the scrum.

Saracens won the penalty in the next scrum, Marler being penalised this time. Alex Goode showed his dancing feet after a great interchange with Farrell, playing with a penalty coming Ollie Hartley stretched to score out on the right wing. Farrell’s conversion hit the posts to the delight of the Quins fans.

Another penalty, given away by Will Evans, who really is an excellent flanker, saw a 2nd awarded as Saracens rolled the maul from the resulting line out. The next line out saw Janie George take the back at the back of the maul and he touched down as it rolled over the line. The conversion was good, giving Farrell the opportunity to make the Joining Jack sign, something he rarely forgets to do to his credit.

Quins had a good attacking spell which kick started the crowd and Might Quin, a good sound in the game. The ball was kicked ahead and Saracens had the line out throw, strangely Quins didn’t contest that line out. Iva van Zyl cleared the ball a good 35-40 metres. We had a scrum to finish the half, with a Saracens put in, it collapsed at the first attempt and a free kick was awarded to Saracens on the 2nd, Farrell booted the ball out to send the teams in with the score on Harlequin 3 Saracens 19.

Most of the comments from Quins fans gave credit where due, but I did see one that suggested Saracens had no flair, yet the first half started with Maro Itoje throwing a dummy to run through, Smith did well to bring him down but the damage had been done, another penalty awarded saw Saracens literally storm over the line in the maul, Andy Christie scoring the bonus pointy try, again Quins didn’t;t contest the line out and the try was almost immediate, a very strange tactic from the Quins forwards. Not great to concede the 1st points in the half. Farrell missed the conversion.

It was very worrying to see Jamie George getting a lot of medical attention, especially when it was his neck being checked. Danny Care came on for Quins and again we had the hate word mentioned by the commentators, just no! George continued happily. Quins looked a lot livelier with Louis Lynagh heavily involved, their attack was halted by a forward pass from Smith. Not sure why that was booed? Saracens were awarded a penalty from the resulting scrum. Another line out without any Quins jumpers. Joe Marler left not long after.

Quins won a penalty from the next scrum and took another scrum after Nick David dropped the ball as he was tackled. Will Collier was sadly injured in that scrum. The scrum collapsed, so another put in for Care. Playing with an advantage Quins kept battering the lI dxiine before Smith passed out to David, he was well tackled and play went back for the penalty. Smith kicked to touch this time. Quins took the ball from the line out but Saracens turned the ball over, with George booting the ball up the pitch. Quins had another good attack but the ball was ultimately knocked on. Saracens changed their whole front row before the scrum. That scrum was actually a clean one.

Ollie Hartley looked to have scored a great try for Saracens, but Itoje had pulled Sam Riley back stopping him from jumping on the ball, Itoje’s move wasn’t overly needed but the try was rightly wiped off. Saracens were however awarded a penalty as they’d been playing with an unknown advantage. Farrell kicked to touch. Aled Davies replaced van Zyl just before the line out.

The maul collapsed from the line out but Saracens spun the ball out, with Alex Goode in particular throwing a beauty of a pass to Parton who’d shown his speed on the wing several times during the game, he scored the try, Farrell added the extras.

Goode then put a lovely kick to touch in after his team had won the ball back in a maul after Lynagh threw the ball out. Quins again lost the ball as they aimed to exit after the line out. Hugh Tizard was interviewed as the game was ongoing, I’m not a huge fan of that idea, he was asked if the situation as it stood was bittersweet, as a former Quins, his answer was the perfect, I’m not going to comment on that.

Both Farrell and Smith in subsequent moves saved the ball from going into touch, I am a fan of Smith, but I can’t understand why he feels the need to do the hitch kick thing quote so often, that is one 0of my few criticisms of him, Play progressed and Saracens were awarded a penalty from a line out on around half way. The next line out close to Quins line was again not contested, I’m not sure Quins contested any of the Saracens throw in, Theo Dan took a nasty knock as he took the ball from the back of the maul, the ball got into backs hands and Goode was again involved with a lovely grubber kick for Alex Lewington who raced on to the ball to score. Farrell added the extras to take Saracens to 38. Dan was still struggling and replays showed that his head was hit by the shoulder of James Chisholm, he was shown a yellow as a 2nd player was also involved.

Quins had the last word with a very Quins like effort, Andre Esterhuizen scoring after besting Lewington close to the line. That took Quins to 10 and the score finished on Harlequins 10 Saracens 38. Andy Christie was awarded the Player of the Match plaudit.(the cover photo is of Christie celebrating at Newcastle)

I didn’t find the commentary as annoying as many seemed to, not having Lawrence Dallaglio in particular with his particular brand of one sided commentary was quite refreshing.