I arrived a little late for this one, but happily arrived in time to see Zoe Harrison score after Poppy Cleall had picked the ball up from the back of the scrum.
Tigers showed their passing skills from the kick off and were then awarded a penalty deep in Saracens half. Tigers went into a very effective maul from the line out and scored through Roisin McBrien having had a few attempts at the line. Both conversions were good so we were 7 apiece after 12 minutes.
Tigers didn’t clear their lines from the kick off but were awarded a penalty, with the kick not making the Saracens half. Saracens then failed to roll away just inside the Saracens half. Another penalty was awarded against Saracens for a tackle that was very close to a tip. Saracens winger intercepted the ball and we had a couple of kicks exchanged before a high tackle from Tigers gave Saracens some attacking ball. Harrison kicked the ball out on the full giving Tigers a line out back where Saracens had started.
Another penalty from Saracens gave Tigers a closer line out on the Saracens 22. Cleall came up with the ball but Saracens had given away a penalty in the line out. The throw was too long for Tigers but Saracens kick away was poor.
Saracens were awarded a penalty from a strong scrum in midfield, Harrison missed touch and we ended back with a scrum near the halfway line.
At the 26th minute mark Tigers were playing by far the better rugby. Yet another penalty was given away by Saracens but this one didn’t make touch.
Saracens had a good chance after a lovely kick through by Harrison, Lottie Clapp didn’t get a good bounce of the ball however and the ball was knocked on. Tigers took the ball from their scrum with the clearing kick going to Clapp. Tigers were then off-side giving Saracens a good opportunity, they crossed as they rolled forward giving away a penalty, then another as the original penalty was kicked.
May Campbell scored a welcome try for Saracens after a failed Tigers line out saw them attack the line through the forwards. The kick was good and the score was Saracens 14 Tigers 7 with half-time approached.
Poppy Cleall went down for a while with an injury before she was led from the field. She’d been shown a yellow card, so it was unclear if the injury would stop her returning. (I learnt after the match that Cleall was carded for her words rather than her actions, which is poor). The halftime whistle went with no further scoring. Saracens could consider themselves fortunate to be ahead.
Tigers with their 1 player advantage, scored from the base of a scrum close to Saracens line, with Number 8 Tahlia Brody going over with some ease. The kick looked over, but wasn’t.
Saracens had a line out close to Tigers line, after being awarded a penalty, they lost the ball forwards however. Tigers failed to clear and Saracens came up with the ball and scored through Infante. Having just watched the try online, the touchdown didn’t look good, but the try was given.The kick, a hard one, was a good one.
Cleall returned after her card and brought Marlie Packer with her, to the delight of the Saracens crowd.
Tigers were awarded consecutive penalties to get themselves a great attacking line out, their maul was too strong for the defence and they scored through Leah Bartlett, the kick was a tough but went throiugh the posts. Tigers trailed by just 2.
Saracens scored through Clapp after they’d kept the ball in the scrum, Cleall came away with the ball and this time things went well for Clapp, the kick went wide.
Saracens were looking a bit more like Saracens with Packer on the pitch and Bryony Field was next on the score card after Saracens had attacked from a line out close to the Tigers line. The kick was good and Saracens had a 14 point lead.
Things that hadn’t worked in the first half started working for Saracens in the second and a ball chipped over the Tigers defence was taken by Cleall, it found Jess Breach out on the touch line, twice, and she used her strength rather than speed to score. The try was close to the touch line, so the kick was another toughie, but, goodie, the score was Saracens 40 Tigers 19.
We saw a lovely individual effort from Paige Farries for Saracens next try, she ran through to score under the posts, a much easier kick it took Saracens to 47.
With the clock in the red Saracens carried on attacking after being awarded a penalty. Packer showed every bit of her strength and skill to take the ball upfield. Cleall was the scorer this time, the kick was good. The final score was Saracens 54 Tigers 19. This one was definitely a game of 2 halves! With the Saracens bench making all the difference.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBgfUM. A few photos from the match
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