Combination Vase quarter-final

Chipping Sodbury 6 Bristol Saracens 19

CHIPPING Sodbury went out of the Combination Vase as they lost at home to Bristol Saracens.

With the conditions always suiting a much physically bigger Sodbury side, the home side took it to Bristol Saracens during the early part of the match.

Playing with the wind with rain hammering down, Sodbury had Sarries, who have been in outstanding form this season, on the back foot and forced the Bristolians into a lot of unforced errors.

But the big Saracens pack ensure they put Sodbury to the sword early on. The first scrum of the game saw them drive Sodbury off the ball and earning a penalty.

It was Sodbury who drew first blood though. A penalty just inside the Sarries’ half was knocked over following an infringement at the breakdown to make it 3-0.

Saracens hit back when a series of these phases eventually saw hooker James Ball cut a great line off of Conor McCabe and crash over the line for the unconverted score that put them into the lead.

Sodbury were then sent back ten metres for dissent to the referee and Saracens nudged over a difficult kick into the wind to put themsleves five points ahead.

However, Sodbury clawed back to within sight of the visitors with another penalty to make it 8-6 at the interval.

Sodbury had the chance to go in front with a straight forward penalty in front of the posts directly at the beginning of the second half, but Sarries were let off by an uncharacteristic miss and it was to be one of the last forays that Sodbury made into the Saracens 22.

With the wind in their faces, Sodbury were driven back into the corners as Saracens’ fly-half Fox played the tactical game.

And, when a Sodbury player went into a ruck from the side, Sarries were given a penalty and Fox landed it well to make it 11-6 although one try would put Sodbury right back into it.

Sodbury defended admirably in the wet conditions but they made mistakes which cost them dear.

A penalty was awarded at the scrum when Sodbury were accused of standing up at the set-piece, much to their fans’ dismay, and Fox nudged over the three points to extend the lead to 14-6.

Saracens were now in charge and had taken control.

The Bristolians were held up just short of the Sodbury line but Saracens were awarded a penalty that Fox kicked to the corner.

With the rain hammering down, Sarries had a catch and drive from an attacking line-out and Sodbury were driving backwards and over the line for an unconverted touchdown which sealed the game.

Sodbury are back in league action when the second-placed side face a massive clash with third-placed Cirencester with both teams level on points although they are 11 points adrift of leaders Bristol Saracens.