Saracens Ams

Saracens Ams

2nd April 2005

Vs Saracens Amateurs (home) Herts/middx 3 North

Result 33-29

CHAMPIONSHIP CLINCHED IN CLOSE FOUGHT DERBY WIN

For Ashmole this was the biggest game of the season, the penultimate stand off, the league decider. A game that they must win if they are to take their second title in two years, but Saracens would be no push over, they took OA's down to the wire when they met earlier in the year and they fancied their chances of an upset.

Saracens hit OA's for six with two tries in the first five minutes, a handful of missed tackles allowed the visitors a twelve point lead. It was the worst possible start for Ashmole and that upset looked a real possibility.

OA's were not about to give up the title that easily and following the early tries they shook themselves off and took the game by the scruff of the neck. They camped down on the Saracens line looking for their first try but the referee had other ideas. Following a clear attempt to kill the ball by a Saracens forward, several Ashmole players rucked him with the boot only to have the referee blow up for a penalty. Ashmole assumed the penalty would be for them but it was not, scrum half Emile was unfairly sin binned for what appeared to be the referee's dislike for an aggressive rucking style of rugby. This bizarre incident would structure the whole game as the ref made it clear he would not tolerate any use of the boot, whether it be legal or otherwise and this gave Saracens the ideal opportunity to kill the ball and slow the Ashmole attack.

OA's did finally get their reward not long after the incident. They made a brilliant come back in the 1st half with tries from Seve, Miller, Johan and some superb kicking form from Andy Martin.

Both sides suffered a further yellow card from the referee, a Saracens forward and a Ashmole back were both given ten minutes for incidents that are still unclear to me, Saracens exploited the space in the OA's back line and got themselves back in the game before the end of the half.

The referee's over sensitive approach to rucking in my view only aided the already tense and aggressive atmosphere between the two sides. He now seemed ready to produce cards at will and it was beginning to destroy a very exciting game.

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first, very `tit for tat' with both sides battling hard for the upper hand.

With an hour gone another incident caused largely by the referee's earlier decisions forced him to produce cards, yet again.

Flanker Miller and the earlier sin binned Saracens number 8 were red carded for an early attempt to exchange shirts. The referee again in my opinion over reacted and despite the protests was clear on his judgements even if others were not and both players left the field of play.

It is in my opinion that the entire event could have been avoided had the referee allowed the aggressiveness and only curbed the cheating, by banning any aggressive rucking he coxed the cheating into the game and that lead to the ensuing nastiness.

With both sides down to 14 permanently it was a question of determination and concentration, after all the distractions either side could have lost there way, OA's arguably had more to lose but they kept their heads and their thoughts solely on the league title.

During the fracas Saracens had managed a further five points, a simple try in the corner helped by some unusually poor OA's tackling which gave them the numerical advantage but with only minutes left OA's fired everything at the visitors, and second row Jacob got the all important score from close range. He was never due to play because of injury but had played threw the pain barrier and the former player of the year gave them the try that could have won them the league.

Whilst mathematically the Hackney game and results elsewhere could still see Ashmole fail to take the Championship it is not a likely possibility. This was possibly one of the most exciting games of the year, both sides and supporters agreed it was an enthralling match and one that will be remembered. Old Ashmoleans can now bask once again in the glory of a league title and look forward to the harder games they rightly deserve in Herts/Middx 2.

Scorers = Seve, Tarron Miller, Jacob, Johan, Andy Martin

Pens/Cons = Andy consx4


	Top Scorers 2004/5 SEASON \| Hendon \| Totts \| Saracens Ams \| Ignations \| Woodford \| Hemel \| Watford \| Totts \| Hackney \| Saracens Ams \| Hendon \| Harrow \| Letchworth \| Watford \| Ilford \| Hatfield \| Upper Clapton \| West London \| Mill Hill \| Aylestone Saracens Ams 2nd April 2005 Vs Saracens Amateurs (home) Herts/middx 3 North Result 33-29 CHAMPIONSHIP CLINCHED IN CLOSE FOUGHT DERBY WIN For Ashmole this was the biggest game of the season, the penultimate stand off, the league decider. A game that they must win if they are to take their second title in two years, but Saracens would be no push over, they took OA's down to the wire when they met earlier in the year and they fancied their chances of an upset. Saracens hit OA's for six with two tries in the first five minutes, a handful of missed tackles allowed the visitors a twelve point lead. It was the worst possible start for Ashmole and that upset looked a real possibility. OA's were not about to give up the title that easily and following the early tries they shook themselves off and took the game by the scruff of the neck. They camped down on the Saracens line looking for their first try but the referee had other ideas. Following a clear attempt to kill the ball by a Saracens forward, several Ashmole players rucked him with the boot only to have the referee blow up for a penalty. Ashmole assumed the penalty would be for them but it was not, scrum half Emile was unfairly sin binned for what appeared to be the referee's dislike for an aggressive rucking style of rugby. This bizarre incident would structure the whole game as the ref made it clear he would not tolerate any use of the boot, whether it be legal or otherwise and this gave Saracens the ideal opportunity to kill the ball and slow the Ashmole attack. OA's did finally get their reward not long after the incident. They made a brilliant come back in the 1st half with tries from Seve, Miller, Johan and some superb kicking form from Andy Martin. Both sides suffered a further yellow card from the referee, a Saracens forward and a Ashmole back were both given ten minutes for incidents that are still unclear to me, Saracens exploited the space in the OA's back line and got themselves back in the game before the end of the half. The referee's over sensitive approach to rucking in my view only aided the already tense and aggressive atmosphere between the two sides. He now seemed ready to produce cards at will and it was beginning to destroy a very exciting game. The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first, very `tit for tat' with both sides battling hard for the upper hand. With an hour gone another incident caused largely by the referee's earlier decisions forced him to produce cards, yet again. Flanker Miller and the earlier sin binned Saracens number 8 were red carded for an early attempt to exchange shirts. The referee again in my opinion over reacted and despite the protests was clear on his judgements even if others were not and both players left the field of play. It is in my opinion that the entire event could have been avoided had the referee allowed the aggressiveness and only curbed the cheating, by banning any aggressive rucking he coxed the cheating into the game and that lead to the ensuing nastiness. With both sides down to 14 permanently it was a question of determination and concentration, after all the distractions either side could have lost there way, OA's arguably had more to lose but they kept their heads and their thoughts solely on the league title. During the fracas Saracens had managed a further five points, a simple try in the corner helped by some unusually poor OA's tackling which gave them the numerical advantage but with only minutes left OA's fired everything at the visitors, and second row Jacob got the all important score from close range. He was never due to play because of injury but had played threw the pain barrier and the former player of the year gave them the try that could have won them the league. Whilst mathematically the Hackney game and results elsewhere could still see Ashmole fail to take the Championship it is not a likely possibility. This was possibly one of the most exciting games of the year, both sides and supporters agreed it was an enthralling match and one that will be remembered. Old Ashmoleans can now bask once again in the glory of a league title and look forward to the harder games they rightly deserve in Herts/Middx 2. Scorers = Seve, Tarron Miller, Jacob, Johan, Andy Martin Pens/Cons = Andy consx4