Aviva Premiership Under 18 League Finals Day. Game 3 of 3.Northampton vs Saracens

So we come to the final game of the day, Saracens, the hosts, against Northampton Saints, the defending Champions. A mid-season friendly between these two saw Saracens the victors, but how much can be drawn from this clash? Both squads are shy a couple of players away with injury, with Harry Mallinder one of the immediate names to stand out as absent. A quick name check, Saints 22, James Grayson is the son of former Northampton legend, Paul Grayson. This league likes to see the sons and brothers of Premiership players come into their own.

No love will be lost between these two sides over the years, and the knowledge that the two Premiership finalists are at it again in a final, albeit with a lower average age. Both teams start things off with a stand off, not wanting to be the first to break from their huddles. Morris trots out from the changing room a lot later than everyone else, to the bemusement of his team, and Northampton prepare to kick off.

Northampton secure the possession and this game looks already to be a feisty encounter. Saints are penalised for holding on in the ruck, and Saracens clear to touch. First lineout to the men in black. Sarries win it, and Saints are penalised again, this time for not rolling away. Patton takes a quick tap, but as he runs towards the retreating Northampton men, his support passes find touch. The Saints clear, but it finds touch straight away, bringing them back on the defensive. Saracens run hard and fast, breaking through the lines with clever passes from Moody and Gilham letting Wadleton run through unopposed to score the try. A kick from out wide is slotted by Malins, making the score 7-0 to the home side.

Again, Saints secure at the restart and warn Saracens that they will not be messed with. Loose hands from the back of the scrum find touch, but a Saracens knock on gives the Saints a scrum. A sniping run from Segun gets the Saints on the front foot, and from there, quick hands to the fullback gives Furbank the try. This time, the wide conversion is Saints but Haldane kicks it wide.

Saracens try to secure the possession at the restart, but the ball runs into touch for a Northampton lineout. Saints clear, but a powerful run from Eveleigh puts Saints back into their half. A fancy kick dummy from Haldane, then some quick feet from McKibbin comes to naught as the Saints are hit with a big tackle, giving the Saracens the put in. Malins attacks the line, but a Northampton tackler doesn’t release. The hosts point to the posts and Malins kicks the goal. 10-5, Saracens lead.

Saracens try to clear from the restart kick but Walker is offside, failing to retreat despite warnings. Saints take it quickly and charge to the line. Saracens try to intercept but the ball is knocked on, giving advantage as the Saints press on. The grounding is held up though, and a Saints scrum 5m out takes place. The scrum is won, and the ball is kept tight, going wider to the backs before being slowed down by the defensive efforts. However, a beautiful dummy from Richardson forces the defensive line to rush up, leaving the dogleg for him to snipe in for the try. Haldane misses the conversion, so 10-10 the score.

The handling errors are slipping into the game again, as they have all afternoon as the Saracens knock on, leading to a Saints scrum. Segun shows his pace again, and sprints ahead, though he becomes isolated and the ball is dislodged from his hands. Malins clears from the back of the scrum and it fades into touch for a Northampton lineout. The moves off the lineout work well for Northampton, but a pass from Furbank to Shaw goes wildly forward, setting up a Saracens scrum. Malins dummies and picks the gap, chipping ahead. However, he’s caught in the process and goes down, giving a penalty for the Saracens on the 5m line. They opt to scrum and Patton picks and goes from the base. Saracens work the line but Malins hits the ground as he drops the ball, turning it over to a Northampton scrum. Northampton are forced into a substitute, Haldane off for Grayson. Northampton hook it back and pass it out to McKibbin, who holds onto it, forcing a penalty. Malins converts it comfortably, the score now 13-10.

As the rain falls harder than it has all day, Saracens enter a ruck from the side, and Saints kick to touch, clearly wanting the try points more than to just keep level. The lineout is won, and Saracens infringe again, this time, not releasing the player. Grayson points at the posts this time, a much closer shot, and knocks it over. 13-13 now.

Through the middle of a midfield ruck, Wadleton darts through, but gets brought down. Saracens are forced into phase play, looking for opportunities to attack and exploit the holes in the defence of Northampton. The Saints force the turn over, but lose it again to the Saracens who are attacking right back at them. Saints eventually win the penalty for a Saracens player not releasing. We stop for an injury and it looks a serious one as the stretcher is wheeled out. The referee blows for half time and play comes to a stop.

An unfortunate injury to Adams brings on Hughes, as well as Moody substituted for Munday, and play restarts. Saints set up a driving maul and make up ground.  A clearing kick bounces over the deadball line, but advantage was being played, so Saints still maintain possession and take a lineout in the Sarries 22. The maul is difficult for the saints but Segun darts for the line, only to be held up short. The Saints look to go wide, but butcher a 3 on 1 overlap. McKibbin keeps running the ball into contact, but a kick into the space finds only the deadball line. Shortly the Saints have another penalty after the 22 drop out, and go for the lineout, deep in the 22. The ball is cleared and the Saints push into the Saracens half again. Northampton lose possession, and Saracens gain no advantage, so a scrum on the Saracens 10m line. Saracens make use of the possession, but get penalised. From the penalty, Grayson kicks a glorious touch-finder deep in the Sarries 22. Sub King for Lester.

Saints have another penalty, the count building now, and Grayson shoots the goal. 13-16 to the defending champions.

 Scrappy play from both sides in the now relatively heavy rain, and Saints look the stronger, forcing penalties of the Saracens defenders. Patton and another player come off for Lennon and Ramsey.

Saints set a driving maul from a lineout and have a free play, but a forward pass brings them back for a penalty attempt at goal. Grayson dutifully slots the kick, and brings the score to 13-19.

The tight play favours the Saints, and they turn over ball quick rapidly. However, the common issues of handling problems have persisted all day, and a Saints knock on gives Saracens the attacking play. A later penalty gives them the attacking lineout on the 5m line, but Saints defend it, until even the backs swarm in to push the maul forward and the try is awarded. Who to, we don’t know, but Malins lines up the kick. It looks good … BUT hits the crossbar! Saracens 18 – 19 Northampton. Try is awarded to Walker.

The play continues to be scrappy, and a Saracens boxkick to touch from Lennon goes straight out. The depressing sound of an air horn blows across the field, sounding much like a mournful cow. Saints attack and look dangerous, but Cox gets isolated and turned over. The ball gets chipped back to Saints, but after four phases, the knock on comes.

Subs: Dickinson Earl for Longhurst and Moon for Trinder. Byrne and Painter come on for Eveleigh and Jeannot.

Saracens clear from the scrum, and Northampton attack the lines. A kick from Grayson goes into touch directly, coming back for the Saracens lineout on the halfway line.

Another penalty against the Saints gives a lineout on the 22, with Sarries substituting Earl and Brownhill for Hughes and Brooks. The attack from the lineout pushes the Sarries just over the 22, but a knock on in play gives a chance for Saints to regroup. Although the ball is won, a midfield knock on by Hamilton gives the ball back to Saracens.

Saracens pressure the line, moving the defence first left and then right, allowing Grayson to dive in the corner. 

The conversion is missed, but the score is now 23-19 to the home side.

Saints substitute again, emptying the bench, Cox and Hamilton, for Marmion and T. Segun.

Saints turn over from Saracens open play, and rush at the lines, running hard and hitting the home side in the fringes, working left and right. Saints are forced to slow phase play but changing lines with the speed of R. Segun. But a knock on by Cardall brings proceedings to a close.

The champions of the Aviva Premiership Under 18 League are Saracens, winning with the score of 23 to 19.

Saracens Malins has been playing a blinder today, as has R. Segun. The running lines of both players and the kicking game of Malins, combined with the out and out pace of Segun put both of them make it to the Ones to Watch list.

As a super bonus for getting this far, I have the match reaction from both Mark Hopley and Donald Barrell HERE!