365 Sporting Days

Once upon a time there was a London double header at Twickenham to open the season, sadly 2 of the teams involved, Wasps and London Irish lost their way along with Worcester Warriors. Leaving this as the only true London Derby! I can’t buy into any of the hate rhetoric pushed by TNT. I obviously want an away win as a Saracens fan, but mostly before the game starts I’m hoping for a good match! I admire a fair few of the Quins players and as someone who watches Wales regularly I’m excited to see Leigh Halfpenny in the Premiership.

Alex Goode was starting at Full Back pushing Elliot Daly onto the Wing, he had an early step through the midfield. Quins won the first Saracens Line Out, but a Marcus Smith kick was charged down by Fergus Burke, leading to the first scrum Quins were awarded a Free Kick in the scrum. Smithy;s kick went straight to Tobias Elliot who took the ball into contact. Ernst Herbst was penalised for not rolling away as play progressed, Daly kicked to touch. Saracens won the vball this time and Andy Onyeama-Christie stormed through after taking a pass from Ben Earl, before falling with what looked like a bad injury. Onyeama-Christie has been in great form so any injury will be a huge blow to him, Saracens and Scotland. The Incident wasn’t shown again so I can only presume it’s a bad one sadly, there was a stoppage of nearly 10 minutes before he was taken off on a stretcher and the crowd rose as one to clap him off. Tom Willis had to come on with 6.5 minutes on the clock.

Saracens were awarded a free kick in the scrum to restart the match and Earl went quickly, the Quins defence held and drove Saracens back out of their 22 from their 5 metre line. The ball was knocked on and called back for a scrum as Quins looked to try to attack from behind their own line. A great defensive effort by Quins. They then had a great attack from the base of the scrum, the ball was mis-handled by Smith and ultimately kicked out. James Chisholm who’d started the earlier attack was shown a yellow card as he handled the ball on the ground as Saracens attacked, that baffled Ugo Monye, but the replay saw him change his mind, it was cynical play.

Quins held the Saracens maul from the line out and won the scrum put in, Ivan van Zyl went all Danny Care and gave away a penalty as he harassed Will Porter too excessively right in front of Sir. That was a good run of play for Quins in spite of the card.

A mistake by Tobias Elliot after he’d knocked a high kick back, which was then knocked on, he took the ball, a clear Quins Penalty gave them some good field position. The ball was knocked on as they progressed, Saracens chose to play the ball before knocking on themselves. The Quins put in saw a re-set then a pick up from the back by Jack Kennigham playing at 8 while Chisholm was missing, with Caden Murley packed down in his place. The attacking kick was knocked on by Saracens.. 

Quins gave away a penalty as they attacked after Lewies moved on the floor preventing Maro Itoje from accessing the ball. Halfpenny knocked on as the ball was kicked by van Zyl and again Saracens played on, they lost the ball which allowed Quins to clear their lines. Chisholm returned with no score on the board.

Quins had a lovely attacking opportunity with Murley having his first chance of showing his speed, his inside pass was knocked on, again Saracens played on and kicked to touch. Stephan Lewies went down in some pain on 24 minutes, happily he got to his feet.

The ball was kicked up field after the line out and Quins were awarded a penalty, with Sir less than amused at Earl shouting at him from the floor, rightly so! Smith put a great kick in, Earl’s chat costing Saracens 40 metres of territory. Quins took the maul to the floor but went over through prop Fin Baxter, a very costly penalty for Saracens. Smith added the extras giving Quins a 7 point lead on 27 minutes after having little possession.

Hugh Tizzard arrived to boo’s before the kick off with Juan Martin Gonzalez leaving the pitch. More adjustments needed for Saracens. Earl made a great break at speed after taking the ball from Goode, he looked to be on his own, but van Zyl made it to him. The ball was won back in the ruck by Quins, but dropped leading to another scrum. Quins defended well again as Saracens attacked with Jamie George being forced into touch. 

Quins won their line out ball and Porter kicked up field and into touch. Saracens were repelled as they attacked and a good kick through by Alex Lozowski was taken by Halfpenny who was then pushed into touch by Daly. George flung the ball from the maul, with his close options closed off, he had little choice but he was lucky the ball went to Saracens hands. George took a quick line out and Daly had a good run before an excellent tackle from Baxter. Quins gave away another penalty and Saracens failed to roll the maul over and went with ball in hand. Quins won a penalty as Saracens held on to the ball. Great defence again.

Itoje then gave away a penalty in the line out giving Quins another opportunity in the Saracens half. Kennigham made a great break followed by Porter, it was a good attacking opportunity but it was held up and the whistle went for Half-Time, with Quins holding the 7 point lead, in spite of Saracens having most of the ball and territory.

Tom Willis made an early steal from Halfpenny on the ground, he’s another who’s started really well for Saracens this season. Elliot was pushed into touch as he go the ball in his hands for one of the first times in the game, he pushed the ball back, but to a Quins player. Saracens won the ball back and as play progressed were awarded a penalty as Quins handled on the floor. Daly kicked to the corner but there was still no way through for the maul. Saracens went through the hands and the ball was knocked on by Quins. after a loose throw by van Zyl. 

Saracens were awarded a free kick in the scrum and Earl went quickly, Saracens went through the phases, and scored through Tizzard on the 13th phase, cue more silly booing, it is Panto season soon! Lozowski added the extras to take the scores even again.

This was a mich tighter game than in recent years, largely down to the Quins defence. Earl spilled the ball as he attacked which saw Quins on the attack Herbst lost the ball himself straight into Itoje’s hands, Saracens played on with van Zyl kicking on. Quins scored a beauty through Lennox Anyanwu, Murley had taken the kick, Smith then passed on to Porter, in spite of Itoje literally hanging onto his shirt tails, Porter then found Anyanwu who scored a cracker. Daly had leapt ahead too quickly to give Smith room. Smith added the extras to take Quins 7 ahead again. 

Nick Tompkins gave away a penalty after Burke had kicked on, picking the ball up when he was in front. Smith then knocked on as Quins attacked. Lucio Cinti came on for Tompkins, a player who’s rarely substituted. Both teams had made a couple of changes and Quins made 3 more as Saracens had been on the attack and with a Line out pending.

Tobias Elliot had a couple of good runs, including going round Halfpenny but Saracens knocked on as he went for a second time. He got plenty of plaudits from Monye, fair as always as a commentator I feel. Porter cleared the Quins line with a good kick.

Launchbury was penalised to much booing as Saracens attacked, he and the crowd were unhappy with it, the commentators agreed with the decision. Lozowski missed with the penalty kick to many cheers. Chandler Cunningham-South joined the fray on 64 minutes.

Goode making his 275th appearance had been having a great game, but gave away a penalty for holding on thanks to pressure from Nathan Jibulu, on as a sub of rtes 2nd time in the game, permanently this time.

Saracens won the penalty this time as Quins attacked, with Eroni Mario doing good work in the ruck. Saracens then gave away a penalty after Will Evans had taken the ball in the ruck. With 11 minutes remaining Quins held their 7 point lead. Joe Marler came on to lots of fanfare.

Quins won a penalty as they attacked, that was one that could have gone either way as Earl was on the ball, Monye thought it was the wrong way. Smith kicked for the posts and added the 3 with less than 10 minutes remaining, he ran the clock down completely and it looked like a win for Quins for the first time in 8 meetings. 

Saracens won a penalty as they attacked having faced another great defensive effort, the forwards were immense, Lozowski took the kicking option and closed the gap back to 7. taking his personal tally in the Premiership past 600 points.

Itoje stole the ball from the ground as Quins attacked with less than 5 minutes on the clock, Simpson’s kick was well taken by Halfpenny. Itoje won a penalty for Saracens, debated by the commentary team. with less than 3 minutes remaining Saracens had a good attacking chance, but Quins held Elliot up before putting him into touch. Kennigham at the centre of that defensive effort again. Quins tucked the ball up their jumpers, protecting it until the final whistle went, a deserved win for Harlequins. Their defence being the main factor in this long awaited win. Fin Baxter was awarded the Player of The Match plaudit, it could have gone to several of the forwards. Well played Quins, a great performance and match!