OG’s welcomed a team with a big reputation to World’s End Lane today and proved they could mix it with the big guys. Perhaps the visitors expected the 2 division gap in teams to be worth more, but after 15 minutes, there was still no score. Saracens had much of the possession and the territory but were unable to break through a defence that was scrambling frantically to keep the try line intact.

Finally, the pressure told as Saracens took advantage of a free kick awarded at an OG’s scrum close to our line. It was taken quickly before our defenders could reorganise, and fed along the line to allow a score in the corner.

OG’s returned to dogged defence and kept the visitors at bay despite sustained pressure. Towards the end of the half, we secured a little more ball in midfield. From a solid scrum, we looked to break down the blindside. With space behind, OG’s tried a chip over the top only for it to be caught by the defender. With OG’s high up the pitch and wrong-footed, the Saracens winger was allowed a free run to secure a breakaway try under the posts. The conversion for 0-12 brought the half to an end.

The 2nd half saw the OG’s crowd drifting up the touchline as Saracens started strongly again. But OG’s refused to buckle even when camped on our own line. Saracens pushed hard and started to show signs of frustration until they finally found a way through. Their no.8 picked from the back of a 5m scrum, but was covered well. They ball was recycled quickly and after a couple more phases, the OG’s defenders had been sucked in giving Sarries the opportunity to feed along the line and score in the corner. Shortly after, the score was taken to 0-24 with another series of charges from a 5m penalty. Eventually a gap emerged and a Sarries forward dived through a small gap to score.

This was the last scoring action of the match – but only just. OG’s finished strongly, finally putting some solid phases together and forcing errors from the Saracens to allow us to push up the pitch. A couple of big pushes took us close to the line and then held up over the line. But the score that was a deserved reward for the effort wasn’t forthcoming before the final whistle was blown.

Coach Smith rightly congratulated all the boys for the effort they gave and for lifting their games to take on a big side. We had some lads missing and others playing in less familiar positions, but the commitment was high throughout. Whilst Sarries were strong all through their team and, at times, showed their ability all-round the park, they were never able to really get away from OG’s. It was a testimony to the spirit and tenacity of the u-14’s to match them for long periods of the game. Congratulations to all