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Click here to see last season's writeups.
| End of Season - 2007/2008 |
Bath Saracens rounded off a successful season with a weekend tour to Holland. Based in the centre of Amsterdam they travelled to Hoorn on the Saturday where they played RC West Friesland and won 22-12. The game was played in front of a large crowd bolstered by a lot of pre-match publicity in the local papers. On Sunday they made the short trip to RC Haarlem. Here they faced much stronger opposition and this along with the after-effects of a long weekend of celebrations resulted in a 55-25 defeat. Back home, after gaining promotion last year Bath Saracens finished a respectable 5th in Dorset & Wilts League 2 North. Their 60th year is concluded with the annual club dinner at the Bath Recreation ground on Friday May 9th. Rob L | |||
| Sutton Benger - 12th April 2008 |
Sutton Benger 48 Bath Saracens 6 After gaining promotion last year Bath Saracens finished a respectable 5th in Dorset & Wilts League 2 North. However their final game away at league leaders Sutton Benger is one that they will want to forget. Sarries were in touch at 12-3 just before half time when a dreadful injury halted the game for 45 minutes. Flanker Rich Polhill was air lifted to hospital with a broken leg. In the second half the hosts ran away with the game winning 48-6 and subsequently lifted the league title. This weekend Sarries travel to Holland where from their base in Amsterdam they will play two long standing friendlies. On Saturday they visit West Friesland followed by a trip to Almere on the Sunday when they meet the RC Bulldogs. On their return they have one further friendly fixture before concluding their 60th year with their annual club dinner at the Bath Recreation ground on Friday May 9th. Rob L | |||
| Pewsey Vale - 8th March 2008 |
Bath Saracens 40 Pewsey Vale 5 Bath Saracens continued their recent good form, notching the 5th win in their last 6 league outings. With their forwards in fine form and dominating the scrums, Sarries won plenty of quality ball and ran in 6 tries. Scrum half Adam Prickett opened the scoring with a penalty goal, before left Wing Simon Porter finished off a break by centre Tom Marrett. Prickett added another penalty before flanker John Catchpole pounced on a loose ball to score the home sides 2nd try. Shortly before half time full back Owen Swaby joined the line and touched down, Prickett added the conversion and Sarries turned around at half time leading 23-0. The 2nd half followed the same pattern. Further pressure from the Sarries forwards provided fly half Rob Mazzeo with 2 tries, Prickett adding a conversion. Pewsey then got on the score board with their solitary try from a quickly taken penalty, deep in the hosts 22. Sarries however had the last word when right wing Sam Bulmer finished off a great break from Sarries excellent outside centre Simon Harrison. Bath Saracens entertain Devizes at the Sulis Club next Saturday to complete their 'catch up' on outstanding league fixtures. Rob L |
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| Chippenham 3rds - 1st March 2008 |
Bath Saracens 19 Chippenham 3rds 17 Bath Saracens moved into the top half of the table with another home win in Dorset and Wilts league division 2 North. Chippenham got on the score sheet first after Sarries made an error with the kick off which allowed the visitors a series of scrums in the home twenty two, resulting in an unconverted try. Sarries restarted and gradually began to gain the upper hand. A superb run by Sam Bulmer resulted in a try for the young Sarries right wing and then shortly after, fly half Rob Mazzeo skipped around the defence to score Sarries second try which he duly converted. Sarries started the 2nd half well on top and flanker Rich Polham crashed over for the home side's third try of the game, Mazzeo adding the conversion. It looked like the Sarries were going to run away with the game but playing with an increasingly strong wind behind them Chippenham were able to gain far more territory in the final 20 minutes and started to put pressure on the home sides try line. 2 trys and 1 conversion in the last 10 minutes left Chippenham a conversion attempt with the last play of the game. Fortunately for the home side the kick went wide and Sarries grabbed the 2 league points. Rich Polham was the Sarries man of the match and young lock Jack Biss who was the star man the previous week put in another creditable performance. Rob L |
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| Colerne - 23rd February 2008 |
BATH SARACENS 16 COLERNE 12 Bath Saracens gained quick revenge for their previous week's defeat at Colerne, in this Saturday's Dorset and Wilts league reversal at the Sulis club. Sarries took the lead early with an Adam Prickett penalty but shortly after were trailing 7-3 after loss of concentration allowed Colerne to get on the score board with a converted try. Almost immediately Sarries hit back with a second penalty from Scrum Half Prickett, and with their forwards providing plenty of good ball from the set pieces the Sarries backs were allowed to show just how dangerous they can be. A scorching break by left Wing Simon Porter set up Centre Tom Merrett for a try. Shortly after, quick hands from a penalty set-piece put Merrett over for his second touch down, and Sarries turned around at half time with a 16-7 lead. The second half was just as entertaining but the only points added came through a Colerne touch down from a quickly taken penalty. This set up an exciting finale but Sarries' stubborn defence held firm and they desevedly walked away with 2 valuable league points. Sarries still have games in hand over the teams around them, and more performances like this will keep them well on target for top half of the table position come the end of the season. Rob L |
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| Cooper Avon 2nds - 9th February 2008 |
Bath Saracens 36 Cooper Avon Tyres 17 Bath Saracens ran out worthy winners in their first home league match of the new year. The Sarries backs looked dangerous every time they had the ball, and the forwards worked hard and effectively against the heavier visitors pack. Sarries turned around at half time leading 22 - 0 with tries from Scrum Half John Catchpole, Centre Simon Harrison, and Prop Martin Solomon. Fly Half Adam Prickett added 2 conversions and a penalty. In the second half the visitors got on the score sheet with 3 tries, 2 from their excellent inside centre. However Sarries kept the game well out of reach with further tries from Catchpole and Harrison, with Prickett adding both conversions. Rob L |
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| Malmesbury - 2nd February 2008 |
Malmesbury 12 Bath Saracens 17 Bath Saracens picked up a valuable away win in this Dorset & Wilts 2 league fixture at Malmesbury. Sarries led 12 - 0 at half time with tries from Scrum Half, Adam Prickett and Lock, Tony Milne. Prickett added a conversion. Malmesbury came out stronger in the second half and soon got on the score sheet with a converted try. Sarries then stretched their lead with a try from Winger Simon Porter, but Malmesbury hit back almost immediately with their second try. This set up an exciting last quarter with the hosts going all out to break down the visitors defence. However the Sarries were not prepared to give away their lead and some excellent tackling saw them travel back to Bath with the points. Rob L |
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| Old Morganians - 8th December 2007 |
Bath Saracens 45 Morganians 3 Sarries got back to winning ways, scoring 7 tries in Saturday's friendly against Morganians from Bridgewater. Their opponents competed well up front and with line-outs a lottery in the windy conditions, Sarries relied on their pacy backs to secure a much needed win. Full back Dan Nicholls, centres Chris Carmichael and Simon Harrison each scored 2 tries, with flanker Adam Cubbage also crossing the line. Joe Blank and Skipper Tony Lai shared 5 conversions to complete the scoring. Sarries are holding their annual Xmas draw and Vice Presidents day next Saturday and entertain a touring side from Cardiff, KO 2.30pm Rob L |
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| Malmsbury - 3rd November 2007 |
Bath Saracens 29 Malmsbury 19 An excellent game of rugby played by two sides determined to run with the ball at every opportunity, was overshadowed by the sad event of the previous week. Before the kick off both teams observed a minutes silence as a mark of respect to Gethin Bevan, Sarries young number 8, who died suddenly the previous Friday. It was a fitting tribute that both sides treated the spectators to an excellent game, Sarries winning by 5 tries to 3, with 2 conversions each. This result moves Bath Saracens into the top half of the league, on a day when the match and its outcome took second place to events off of the field. Rob L |
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| Old Culverhaysians - 13th October 2007 |
Bath Saracens 22 Old Culverhaysians 5 Sarries picked themselves up from the disappointment of their previous week's league defeat in this rearranged friendly at the Sulis club. Sarries led 17-0 at the break with two tries from No.8 Gethin Bevan and one from winger Alan Porter. Fly half John Armstrong added a conversion. Sarries added a further try in the second half from centre Simon Harrison, before the Culverhaysians crossed the line shortly before the end for the last score of the game. With a number of regulars unavailable (was this international duty?!) it was encouraging to see so many new faces contributing to what was probably the best performance of the season to date. Gethin Bevan picked up the man of the match award (shame he was so slow drinking it!), Prop Ross Davidson was outstanding, and Alan (Rimmer) Porter scored his first try for the club. The result (and not least the performance) was particularly significant as we now face four consecutive league fixtures and a Somerset cup match against Avon RFC from the Someset Premier division. Rob L |
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| Cooper Avon 2nds - 29th September 2007 |
Cooper Avon 2nds 3 Bath Saracens 39 Newly promoted Sarries had a great start to their league season with a comprehensive away win. The hosts put Sarries under pressure in the first quarter but all they could manage for their efforts was a penalty which gave them a 3-0 lead. A great individual effort from centre Robbie Mazzeo gave Sarries a 5-3 lead shortly before the break. The centre chipped the ball through and raced past the defence to score the first try of the game. The 2nd half was one way traffic. With the Melksham forwards tiring, Sarries mobile pack was well on top and tries quickly followed. Fly half Dan Nicholls and Lock Tim Badcock each grabbed a pair, skipper Tony Lai and No. 8 Ross Davidson also crossed the Melksham line. Michael Tennant added 2 conversions. Rob L | |||
| Cooper Avon 2nds - 29th September 2007 |
Cooper Avon 2nds 3 Bath Saracens 39 Bath Saracens won their first league match of the season with a convincing performance. The first half was fiercely competed, with Saracens just in front at half time. An initial score came after 20 minutes from home team Cooper Avon through a penalty kick in front of the posts, and Sarries replied fifteen minutes later with an unconverted try after an interception and a determined run. The second half then showed how much Sarries had worn down their opposition when they ran-in a sequence of 6 tries (2 converted) with no reply, amply demonstrating their fitness and handling skills. Hugh S | |||
| Bradford on Avon 2nds - 22nd September 2007 |
Bath Saracens 10 Bradford on Avon 2nds 5 Sarries looked a bit 'ring rusty' as they played their first competitive match of the season against a side who had already completed two league fixtures. Sarries led 5-0 at half time with a try from scrum half John Catchpole. Bradford hit back with a try early in the 2nd half to level the scores. The moment of the match was Sarries winning try from Robbe Mazzeo who was playing his first game for the club. The winger raced over in the corner to secure the first win of the season. Sarries now look forward to their first league game, away to Cooper Avon (Melksham) next week. Rob L | |||
| Start of season - 2007/2008
Text from the Bath Chronicle Rugby supplement 3rd September 2007. See the photo here.
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BATH Saracens long-serving treasurer Hugh Sawyer has handed over the club's purse strings to a new successor after 20 years ahead of the 2007/08 season. A former player and the epitome of a club rugby stalwart, Sawyer will be staying on the Sarries committee along side another long serving member, Rob Lawrence. Lawrence will carry on playing this season, which will see another club cornerstone Paul Kavanagh taking on coaching duties after hanging up his boots. Sawyer and Kavanagh have both signed off on a high after seeing Saracens, who switched to the revamped Dorset & Wilts league structure last season, win promotion. They have followed Dorset & Wilts 3 West champions Corsham up to Division 2 North for the coming season - a campaign which Lawrence insists the club is looking forward to. "Promotion last season was a fitting reward for the work people like Hugh and Paul, probably the best players every to wear a Sarries' jersey, have put in down the years," said Lawrence. "Looking back, we were probably put into the bottom division of the Dorset & Wilts structure from Somerset 2 into a league below our level. "The old Somerset 2 Division was always competitive and last season Corsham ran away with the Dorset & Wilts Division 3 West title and we went with them all the way." Lawrence insists promotion will pose Sarries with a bigger challenge in a division where they expect to come up against far stronger opposition. "That's a challenge we will enjoy and we'll be looking to build a strong base in Dorset & Wilts 2 North to make sure we're still there the following season." Sarries will boast a stronger squad this winter following the return to their ranks of lock/back-rowers Rich Polham and Tim Badcock after spells away from the club and the city. Last year's captain Dan Nicholls has stepped back to the vice-captaincy for 2007/08 with Tony Lai taking over the leading on-pitch role. And the club's strong ties with the University of Bath have also helped broaden their playing base with more new faces set to make the presence felt this winter. Sarries, who do not start their league programme until September 29, played a trial match recently against Bath Old Eds and Lawrence is looking forward to the start of the competitive season. "It's a late start for us because of the World Cup, but we're very positive about what lies ahead," he said. "The atmosphere around the club is great and after winning promotion - a new experience for most of us - we're all keen to see if we can build on that success." | |||