Datch u15s v Saracens B - 08/10/2017 – Won 36-24

A great team performance saw Datchworth close out a memorable 36-24 victory over a strong Saracens team.

A fast start and a superb team try after only 5 minutes set the tone for the rest of the performance. We played with great continuity and the handling drills midweek and before the game seemed to have paid dividends; the errors that saw us fail to capitalise on opportunities in previous games were, for the most part, eliminated.

Saracens came back hard though and the game see-sawed for the next 45 minutes, with only two points in the match one way or another for the most part. Finally, though, Saracens were unable to cope with the pace at which we played the game. There were some notable individual performances in what was a great team effort. Ollie B had a fantastic running game and cut the Saracens defence to ribbons on several occasions. Angus put in a great shift at 10 in the second half - and there was very effective direct running as usual from Will G and Kieran, making the hard yards and building the platform from which our backs were able to mount attack after attack.

There were elements of ‘total rugby’ in this performance - with Rhys demonstrating time after time that you don’t need to be a forward to play like one at the breakdown in midfield - and Jamie putting in a running game from back row that a wing or outside centre would be proud of. He may have scored the individual try of the match - carrying three or four Saracens players over the line with him from 10 metres out in a man of the match performance - but overall this was fantastic team performance, encapsulated by the 20 metre driving maul from a line out towards the end of the game that provided the platform for our final try. Saracens were unable to live with us in those last ten minutes, during which we were able to extend our lead, close out the game, and banish the memory of the recent very close defeat in the final play of the game against Royston.

No performance is ever perfect of course and we need to work on defensive positioning in open play to avoid being outflanked as we were for a couple of the Saracens tries. We may also have lost a few breakdowns that we should have won. But overall this was a performance of which every player involved should be proud.