365 Sporting Days

The first round of Premiership Rugby saw Saracens travelling to Kingsholm for a 5:30 kick off, I’d made the decision to watch the Women’s first match at The Stonex Stadium and made a hasty dash to friends close by to watch the men play. New captain Maro Itoje let the team out for the first time, this was a new era for Saracens. With a New Fly Half amongst others to replace Owen Farrell. Always well supported at home Lewis Ludlow led his team out, after Ryan Ackermann making his 150th appearance. Gloucester had lost a total of 13 players from last season, signed 4 new and added 5 Academy player. 2 of the new signings are players I’ve watched often in a Wales shirt, the Half-Back pairing of Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe, with Christian Wade on the wing, returning to the Premiership from a spell in France and before that American Football, that was 3 exciting players added.. Kingsholm is never an easy place to visit, playing in front of the Shed being a big challenge.

Saracens started with an early penalty and successful line out, with the ball knocked on by Gloucester as Saracens attacked, the scrum was of some concern for Saracens last year, this first scrums a quick free kick awarded. Fergus Burke, that new Saracens 10 threw a big pass out toTobias Elliot on the wing, he wasn’t quite there in time to stop himself and the ball going into touch.

Saracens won the ball back from the resulting line out an delaying on a penalty the ball was kicked through and taken by George Barton, Alex Lozowski held on to him too long and there was a small show of handbags. The ‘same old Sarries, always cheating’ came out early for no particular reason at all as far as I could see. It was a little after the handbags scenario.

Gloucester lost the ball on their own line out after a penalty but soon won it back, Barton, who really impressed me last season had a great break, Ollie Thorely got involved and a few forwards before they were penalised for holding the ball. The penalty kick was kept in by Gloucester. The ball was booted up field by Ivan van Zyl, well chased by Elliot Daly, but Lozowski had failed to walk back and was penalised, the new ‘Dupont’ Law, kicking in, that means all players in front of the kick must walk back as the ball is in the air until they’re brought onside.

The ball went easily to Gloucester hands this tome but Nick Tompkins ripped the ball to give possession back to Saracens. The ball was kicked up field, too far so straight back to Gloucester and a lovely kick cross field from Anscmobe found Max Llewellyn, a sign of things to come, the ball was ultimately knocked on by Jack Singleton, but Gloucester were playing with a penalty on offer. The line out ball went to Cherry and White hands but was ripped in the maul, bt Tom Willis, so back in Saracens hands. Ivan van Zyl kicked to touch for another Gloucester throw in. Knock on and and scrum with Saracens on the attack was the result, Rotimi Segun showed his pace out in the wing but kicked the ball off the end of the pitch.

However at the next attempt Segun scored a lovely try after a great kick by Elliot Daly, the joy of having a left footed player out on that side. Burke’s conversion missed the posts by some distance, to the delight of the Shed, but Saracens had a 5 point lead after 17 minutes. After that brilliance from Daly he then knocked the ball on, a Free Kick for Gloucester in the scrum saw them on the attack before they too knocked on, an unusual error by Zach Mercer.

Gloucester were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and they attacked well before van Zyl intercepted a pass from Anscombe with no one in front of him, he ran in to score a simple try, a moment to forget for Anscombe. The conversion was good by Burke giving Saracens a 12 point lead.

Saracens 3rd try came after a penalty awarded for a high tackle, Daly kicked for touch and they went through the phases with the forwards doing the heavy lifting, playing with a penalty pending An excellent pass from that man Daly out to Tobias Elliot,making his Premiership debut out on the wing, saw him use his strength to evade 2 defenders, it was a memorable first try after Anscombe and Thorley did well to get back to him. The conversion missed bit Saracens had a lead of 17 with 36 minutes on the clock.

Gloucester went close a couple of minutes later, playing with an advantage, with some good work by forwards and backs alike, Hugh Tizzard held Fredie Thomas up. It was at this point that far too many Gloucester fans did not cover themselves in glory, and a point that made me very glad I chose not to travel. With the clock off Marco Riccioini was injured and down and clearly in big trouble, distressing for the player who’s had a horrible time with injury, really poor from those in the crowd who chose to boo an injured player.

Gloucester tried to batter through the Saracens defence once, dropping the ball. but Saracens had given away a penalty. At the second attempt Freddie Thomas picked up the ball from the back, of the ruck and powered over, perfect timing on the stroke of half time. George Barton’s kick was excellent and the teams went in with the scores on Gloucester 7 Saracens 17.

Gloucester fumbled the Saracens kick off after half time resulting in a Williams kick into touch that gave Saracens a line out in the Gloucester 22, Gloucester conceded a penalty in the line out giving another penalty on the 5m line, this one was driven straight over the line with Andy Onyeama-Christie Christie in possession of the ball, he’d had 2 great warm up matches and was carrying on in the same vein. The speed of the maul taking Gloucester by surprise. The conversion was good and the lead back to 17.

Saracens were held up on 49 minutes and Gloucester gave away a penalty in the ruck as the ball was kicked out, coming in at the side. Jamie George had come on and his first throw was taken by Saracens but Mercer won the ball back allowing Williams to clear the ball. playing with an advantage we say Rhys Carre make a lovely break, the ball was knocked on but there was a further penalty closet to the posts, Fergus Burke took the kick to stretch the lead to 20.

Gloucester were awarded a free kick when the ball hit the referee then a penalty which saw them go deep into the Saracens half. Gloucester tried to go quickly as Saracens had but that don’t quite work, they had a couple of phases trying to go through the Saracens defence before a great little pass from Mercer out to Freddie Clarke who was not going to be stopped close to the line. He’d only been on the pitch for 2 minutes, a decent start! Barton’s kick went wide of the posts.

Saracens were awarded a soft penalty for a leg being lifted in the ruck, the kick was deep into the Gloucester half, the line out saw a training ground move as Onyeama-Christie took a pass from van Zyl who’d taken the line out ball. his 2nd try and Saracens 5th, the kick went wide.

Saracens looked like they’d score a 6th after Ben Earl made a lovely break after a lovely pop pass from Jamie George, they were stopped by Gloucester but at the.cost of a penalty, which was duly converted by Burke to take Saracens to 35. Saracens had another couple of forays into the Gloucester half but quick thinking by Tomos Williams from a tap penalty saw them move into the Saracens half, sadly at that time most of his team mates were a long way behind him.

Jamie George was the next Saracen to have a run, Charlie Atkinson saving the day for the home team. With 10 minutes of the match remaining Gloucester were awarded a penalty close to the Saracens line after Mercer had put in a kick for Barton to pursue, Barton kicked the ball on and Burke gathered the ball but wasn’t well supported, giving the penalty away. Mercer took a quick tap, the forwards kept the ball and Jack Clement got the ball over the line under the posts. Poor Christian Wade who was in acres of space had been shouting for the ball but the direct route worked.

Gloucester also had the last word after defending their line from another Saracens attack and a great tackle on Daly by Wade, former team mates they’ll know each other well. The build up to Gloucester’s last try saw them attacking from virtually their own line, it was some of the best play off the match and culminated in a try for Seb Blake, who’d taken the ball slightly behind him, that was their 4th and bonus point try. Barton attempted a quick conversion but was called back to do it again. Another bonus point was up for grabs for Gloucester and they went on the attack again, they were halted by a forward pass. The final whistle went and the score was Gloucester 26 Saracens 35. From my perspective I thought there were lots of positives for Gloucester to take into their next match, it was a good first game for this new shape Saracens team too.