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Match Report v Saracens
Bedford Blues gave it their all but were ultimately undone by the might of Saracens and their 11 internationals as the home side secured a commanding 54-13 victory at The StoneX Stadium.
A superb team try to put Pat Tapley in out wide was arguably the standout moment in the game but Saracens’ eight scores of their own ensured a difficult afternoon in the capital for the visitors.
Despite what the score-line might otherwise suggest, there were some unbelievable defensive performances from the Blues – the number of rips and regathering of possession throughout the game was extremely high – and Emmanuel Iyogun, Joe Atkinson and Ollie Newman in particular stood out for their efforts.
In attack, Blues made their imprint on the game when keeping ball in hand but frustratingly couldn’t put those kinds of passages of possession as seen with Tapley’s try together on enough occasions to threaten the scoreboard.
Saracens were able to welcome back Messrs Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly and Mako Vunipola among others to their Starting XV for the contest and were over the tryline inside six minutes, the big second row getting his first try of the afternoon sniping from close range.
Manu Vunipola – who was near faultless in the game missing just one kick – made it 7-0 but that was swiftly reduced through the boot of Tommy Mathews, who finished the game with a 100% kicking record.
On 16 minutes, Billy Vunipola went over after some neat play on the right flank, before Itoje got his second following a charge down on Connor Tupai’s attempted clearing kick. That made it 19-3 following Vunipola’s only blemish on his kicking record.
Another Mathews penalty closed the deficit, but Bedford couldn’t prevent Sarries wrapping up the bonus point by half-time as Billy Vunipola completed his brace after the ball fell kindly to the Number 8 following a scrum.
Blues again came out with attacking intensity in the second half but were frustrated in their efforts by a couple of dubious decisions and knock ons in and around the 22m.
Welshman Aled Davies added Saracens’ fifth try of the afternoon on 46 minutes before Bedford’s best passage of play in the game; ultimately resulting in Tapley’s try.
Newman – who could easily have been the Followers Man of the Match won by Joe Atkinson – made the initial 40m before Tupai picked up well from the base, exchanging passes with Rich Lane to put Tapley in the corner for his 49th competitive Bedford try.
That was just before the hour when both sides wrung the changes. A yellow card for Blues replacement loosehead Sean McCarthy didn’t help things an awful lot and Saracens immediately made the numbers game count through their replacement Janco Venter.
Andy Christie – who had a superb game – was next to get in on the act before the scoring was complete through a penalty try as Itoje looked to complete his hat-trick.
A valiant effort from the boys in blue even if there were no points to bring back to Bedford. Attentions turn immediately to Richmond next Saturday as Blues look for a response.
* All matchday photography provided by Claire Jones - RedHatPhoto*
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. Rich Lane, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Elijah Niko (55'), 12. Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 11. Matt Worley, 10. Tommy Mathews (47'), 9. Connor Tupai (55'); 1. Emmanuel Iyogun (55'), 2. James Fish (55'), 3. Henry Paul (36'), 4. Will Carrick Smith, 5. Lewis Bean (49'), 6. Ollie Newman, 7. Joe Atkinson, 8. Tui Uru (22')
Replacements
16. Jacob Fields (55'), 17. Sean McCarthy (55'), 18. Ed Prowse (36'), 19. Oli Curry (49'), 20. Oli Robinson (22'), 21. James Lennon (55'), 22. Will Maisey (47'), 23. Tom Litchfield (55')
SARACENS
15. Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14. Alex Lewington (61'), 13. Elliot Daly, 12. Duncan Taylor (49'), 11. Sean Maitland, 10. Manu Vunipola (55'), 9. Aled Davies (55'); 1. Mako Vunipola (55'), 2. Jamie George (61'), 3. Vincent Koch (55'), 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Joel Kpoku, 6. Andy Christie, 7. Jackson Wray (63'), 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements:
16. Ethan Lewis (61'), 17. Ralph Adams-Hale (55'), 18. Alec Clarey (55'), 19. Tim Swinson (63'), 20. Janco Venter (55'), 21. Tom Whiteley (55'), 22. Juan Pablo Socino (49'), 23. Dom Morris (61')
