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Gloucester 22 - 16 Saracens

by KingsholmLad4Eva (U13743902) 03 January 2009
Date:
3 January 2009
Venue:
Kingsholm
Competition:
Premiership
Attendance:
16,500
Player of the match:
O.Barkley & O.Azam
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Gloucester 22-16 Saracens


Gloucester showed all the spirit in the world to win a tight second half 9-0 and come away with a vital Guinness Premiership win at Kingsholm.

Olly Barkley won the battle of the kickers, missing only one and slotting five times and missing only once to push his side those vital few points in front.


The Gloucester centre and Glen Jackson had already swapped penalties when Gloucester crossed for the first try. Olly Morgan started and finished the move, with excellent work from skipper Mike Tindall and Lesley Vainikolo down the left flank putting the full back in.

But Saracens refused to roll over. They has the bulk of territory with Gloucester only threatening in fits and starts, Apo Satala getting the most change out of the visitor’s defence.

Jackson missed one and then slotted a penalty before a moment of opportunism from the Saracens fly half, as he took a quick tap penalty and chipped over to Richard Haughton, who scored on his return from an lengthy injury lay off.

Vainikolo left the field after turning his ankle off the ball on the firm Kingsholm pitch, which survived a 1.45pm inspection and was visibly frosty.

A 39th minute Barkley penalty looked to have nudged Gloucester level at half time until Saracens went straight up the other end and scored a penalty themselves, Olly Azam off his feet in front of the posts and Jackson converting.

Saracens had the first chance to score after two minutes of the second half, but Jackson sent the penalty wide after Carlos Nieto strayed obviously offside.

Five minutes later the scores were level, Barkley slotting the penalty awarded for killing the ball after Kameli Ratuvou had made a hash of a Ryan Lamb up and under.

The game became a clash of defences and kickers, concentrated in the middle of the field for the next 15 minutes, until Neil de Kock, fresh back from the bloodbin sporting a headband, strayed needlessly offside from a line-out and Barkley converted, to make up for a miss in the 57th minute.

Shortly afterwards another daft piece of play from a Saracen gave Barkley the chance to extend the lead, slotting from the right hand side after substitute Noah Cato checked the excellent Satala as he rushed up to put pressure on Jackson’s kick.

A 69th minute sinbinning for replacement back rower Andy Saull pretty much confirmed the Gloucester win, the visitors lacking the endeavour from that point on to haul themselves back into the game.



Gloucester: O Morgan; M Watkins, M Tindall (capt), O Barkley, L Vainikolo, R Lamb, D Lewis; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, A Eustace, A Brown, A Strokosch, A Satala, L Narraway. Reps: A Titterrell, A Dickinson, M Bortolami, D Williams, R Lawson, W Walker, M Foster.

Saracens: A Goode; K Ratuvou, K Sorrell, A Farrell (capt), R Haughton; G Jackson, N de Kock, M Aguero, F Ongaro, T Mercey, H Vyvyan, C Jack, B Skirving, W van Heerden M Owen. Reps: A Kyriacou, N Lloyd, C Visagie, A Saull, M Rauluni, A Powell, N Cato.

Referee: Andrew Small

Attendance: 16,500


KingsholmLad4Eva :
''It wasn't really the most entertaining off affairs, but I am glad that Glaws managed to crawl back in second half and not allow Saracens any points for the whole of forty minutes. Like I normally say about Gloucester, there were chances where I do believe that we should of scored and I think that If we did play our best rugby on the day which we didn't by no means, we would have got an extra 10-15 points on the board.

Sarries like us defended well at times but once again seemed to lack the energy to score as we did. This explains why there were only two tries in the whole eighty minutes. I am glad we managed to win the game this afternoon, which turned out to be a real brutal, intense game of rugby. Credit to Sarries for really running Gloucester close, but indeed credit to Gloucester who stayed firm and got the win in the end.''

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comment by KingsholmLad4Eva (U13743902)

posted Jan 3, 2009

Yes Tindall was indeed fabulous.

I put Olly Barkley due to his great kicking. But in field and in open play Tindall nearly always broke past the gain line and Sarries just couldn't cope with both his speed and strength. Both our centres today were very good indeed smiley

I sadly thought that Lamb had another shocker today and really didn't seem to show up. It's not as if we DON'T notice it! - He is playing arguably the most important role in the team and these days it seems that 'game in game out' he just doesn't seem to play his best rugby any more.
Don't get me wrong, he DID do one or two clever kicks down field to peg Sarries into their own 22. But as a fly half for a top quality club like Gloucester, Lamb once again just didn't perform in a big game for Gloucester, and it's quite worrying to watch as a Glaws fan.

If he continues like this, I would really love to see the Barkley,Allen,Tindall partnership. Hmm.. doh

I know you people may seem to think that I am being unfair to Lamby but I really am not. I have always admired him and rated him fairly despite the errors that he makes during games.
I hope that you all see where I am coming from and indeed what I am trying to say. winkeye

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comment by McCawIsNotACheat (U12172800)

posted Jan 4, 2009

Barkley is not a fly half, he said he came to Gloucester to play 12.

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comment by KingsholmLad4Eva (U13743902)

posted Jan 4, 2009

''Barkley is not a fly half, he said he came to Gloucester to play 12.''

I appreciate you telling me, but of course I already know that.
Barkley is far better at 12 but can still play a good game at 10 (better than Lamb can at the moment!)

That is why I would like to see those three combine and see how it goes. You think Allen will complain if Barkley goes 10? You think that if D.R will try Barkley at 10 for a few games that he'll argue with him..?! cake

I know what you say is correct. But I would like to see that happen.

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comment by glawsteruk (U6616146)

posted Jan 4, 2009

The referee made one good decision - he allowed the game to take place! All credit to the players from both sides for providing good entertainment in very testing conditions.

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comment by Glosefc (U10710907)

posted Jan 4, 2009

"Also seemed to be an unusually high amount of noise/booing in the shed when Jackson was kicking, not on!"

part timers - always around new year games.

anyone else like azam's grubber kick which found touch?

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comment by thespider26 (U1679041)

posted Jan 4, 2009

Interesting that no-one here has picked up on the real reason that our fly halves have struggled this season - our scrum halves. We have had three players start there this season and all have struggled and faced criticism at the end of the game.

All have received the same poor service. Lawson and Cooper spend an age getting the ball out of the rucks giving the defence time to adjust. Lewis is much quicker but how many times did i see Lamb (and Barkley) reaching to get the ball and then having the defence on top of him before he could do anything.


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comment by manoftheshed (U10800153)

posted Jan 4, 2009

Oli number 1 i.e. Azam had a stormer, looked the most motivated out of all of Glaws, quality breaks and THAT tackle.

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comment by chewy102 (U10983691)

posted Jan 4, 2009

"Lewis is much quicker but how many times did i see Lamb (and Barkley) reaching to get the ball and then having the defence on top of him before he could do anything."

Furst time I saw Lewis play live, and I couldn't see what much of the fuss was abiout. the service was in general quick, OK, but you're right to state that it was often too high / low. Also, although he made one brilliant run, there was too much sideways movement before passing the ball (in one case being wrapped up and conceding a turnover).

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comment by shed_head (U1826862)

posted Jan 4, 2009

chewy - lewis wasnt as good as he had been previously, however still no worse than cooper or lawson, hes young and needs polishing. Its a pity there is no proper reserve league where players coming back to fitness/ those who need more high quality action can regularly play.

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comment by IPW133 (U13717888)

posted Jan 5, 2009

I agree with Manoftheshed. I thought the team had eaten too much turkey and pudding as seemed sluggish. Only Oli seemed like he wanted to eat the opposition.

Nevermind - a win is a win, and weaker teams can have 'on' days like others have 'off' days.

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