Gloucester Premier

Bristol Saracens 35 Chipping Sodbury 7

THE TRIP to Bristol Saracens didn’t yield the result the Sodbury faithful had hoped for but both they and the players now have a better idea of what it takes to enjoy continued success in Gloucester Premier.

Sodbury had a number of new combinations in the line-up but they took a little bedding-in as Saracens threw themselves at their visitors. The pack got through a huge amount of work early doors, with both Dave Telford and Jason Petchey tackling ferociously. Phil Player dealt with an unsteady scrum admirably at No. 8, while Ollie Hunter’s efforts at hooker were Hurculean; only the noise of passing lorries drowned out his heavy breathing.

Saracens’ first 3 points came from a player sweeping the ball back by hand at a scrum on the 22. With the rain stinging their faces, Sodbury charged back into the home half and forced two kickable penalties during a 15-minute purple patch – unhappily, the stiff breeze blew them wide.

Sodbury were able to build multiple phases but the end result was missing; when Saracens picked up a spilled pass and kicked ahead into Sodbury’s 22 they retained the ball and, three quick rucks later, had their reward. On the stroke of half time they built more pressure and used their lineout to drive Sodbury back for a 15 – 0 lead.

The only score during the third quarter was a Saracens penalty; they also had a player yellow carded. As the weather brightened, the Sodbury lineout sprang back into life, with the usual brilliance from powerhouse Steve Hopes. Petchey also showed up well, but it was the work of Player at the back that caught the eye.

While Saracens were suffering from the yellow card, Sodbury put them under the cosh with some great phase play; this forced penalties, which allowed Sods to kick for a 5-metre lineout. The throwing of Hunter was assured, as was the execution of his replacement Martin Moorhouse, who had removed all his tweed for the occasion.

The Sodbury pack marched forward and once Peter Butcher had his big hands on the ball a try was inevitable; Dan Bradley converted to make it 18 – 7 on the hour. The game now loosened up but it was Sodbury who started to run out of tackles, which allowed Saracens in behind the normally solid defence. Sodbury were guilty of trying to play too much rugby in their own half and paid for it as Saracens built the score.

The cruellest blow was an interception at the death in Sodbury’s own 22; this was a real gift after making Saracens work extremely hard for all their points during the game.