Northallerton.....19

Saracens.................28

FOR the third week on the trot Merit table opposition cancelled and desperate for action Saracens were fortunate to pick up a Pool fixture away to Northallerton First XV.

With the advantage of a stiff diagonal wind they soon had the home side under pressure and Ian Shuttleworth gave them the lead with a penalty and when Northallerton infringed again he extended the lead to six points.

Saracens lost Martin Hainsworth with a badly twisted ankle and Richard Leighton moved to scrum-half with Craig Jackson on the wing but the first time he received the ball he was tackled heavily into touch and broke his collarbone to be replaced by flanker Richard Simpson.

With the home pack starting to get a trip in the set pieces and Saracens clearly unsettled, Northallerton set up a number of moves and it was no surprise when a well executed centre move produced a try wide out. Saracens upped a gear and a powerful run by Ian Judson set up a position for Richard Leighton to take the ball and dive over. Ian Shuttleworth added the conversion and then a penalty to make it 16-5 at half-time.

Northallerton were soon on the attack on the restart using the wind well but the Saracens defence was sure until a sudden switch of play created an overlap on the left and the winger ran strongly to score a try which was converted. Saracens knew they had a gone on their hands but they responded well and Richard Midgeley burst through at the front of the line to feed Steve Hudson, who put Richard Simpson over, Ian Shuttleworth converting to make it 23-12.

The chapter of injuries continued with prop John Cooksey having to leave the field with an ankle injury and the referee ruled uncontested scrums for the last quarter. The Northallerton coach decided to make tactical substitutions replacing his props with more mobile players and they started to spread the ball more to stretch Otley's defence.

The tactics eventually paid off when their centre timed his run well to take a well flighted pass and get outside the defence and race over. The conversion reduced the deficit to four points and Northallerton sensed victory but Saracens were playing with spirit and they took play to the home 22. With time running out Otley won a scrum on the 22 and when Richard Leighton's pass was knocked down the referee allowed advantage and Richard Simpson gathered to burst through and feed Richard Leighton who dived over in the corner.

Saracens played out time for a hard-earned win against the odds. In a spirited performance Ian Judson and Tony Gregg got through a lot of work and Ian Shuttleworth showed what a good acquisition he will be when he has settled in.

Old Mods 'A'.....................17

Viscounts.........................32

Viscounts travelled to Cookridge and had first use of the elements, which they used to good effect. Adam Richards gave them the lead with a good try, converted by Jamie Chappell.

Peter Saddington then linked from full-back to extend the lead before Adam Richards added his second. Ian Matthewman scored a superb try when he gathered a kick over his shoulder to outflank the cover and score to make it 22-0 at half-time.

Mods, with the wind behind them, began to pile on the pressure and they scored two converted tries and a penalty but Viscounts hit back with a Charlie Bowling try converted by skipper Jamie Chappell, who also added a penalty to clinch a good win.

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