Saracens Amateur RFC Limited

Saracens continued their run of form and ran in six tries to beat a tenacious and young Darlington team.
Saracens saw the better of the opening exchanges, with the front row trio of Hilary Leith, Geri Thomas and Kerrie- Anne Craddock were prominent in their ball carrying, opened up the space for Mckenna on the 22m who danced around the DMP full back to score a wonderful solo effort. The Saracens pack continued to pressurise a long travelling DMP side and this was rewarded when Leah Carey skill fully controlled the ball at the back of a powerful scrum, to push her side over for the second score. 10-0, Saracens.

Georgina Roberts rallied her team and DMP advanced in to the Saracens half off the kick off and won the turnover. Slick handling from Rebecca Scholes, complimented with the strong ball carrying of Sam Jamieson, forced Saracens in to conceding the penalty, which England fly half Kate Mclean gratefully accepted and knocked over a well taken penalty. 10-3. DMP continued to pressurise and play their rugby in the Saracens half. DMP's speedster winger, Julia Hope, outstanding throughout, made big yards up the left and eventually was high tackled resulting in a yellow card for Saracens centre Hannah Cassey. DMP's Mclean again nudged the penalty over and took the scoreline going into half-time, to just 4 points, 10-6.

Despite the great weather and both teams trying to play some open rugby, the error count was high for teams. Half time conversations for both teams were simple and direct and it was DMP who responded first when Julia Hope took off on a mazy run, to be brought down by a great try saving tackle from Saracens scrum half, Leanne Riley. However, a neat offload to her supporting winger Jen Edwards was enough to put her in to the clear to score out wide and take DMP in to the lead 11-10.

Saracens pulled together and increased the tempo with substitutes, Lindsay Wheeler, Leigh Dargan and Kelly Wallis making big impacts. Their strong running and offloading made way for a trademark Alphonsi surge to score just wide of the posts which took the home team back in to the lead 15-11. This gave Saracens the momentum they needed resulting in further a fine score for the former Saracens Captain and returning Sonia Green, and then the every present Alphonsi once again. An interesting last three minutes was witnessed as the impressive and alert Kate Mclean took advantage of another Saracens penalty and scored with some quick thinking and a tap penalty to take the score to 25-16, a testament to the tenacious attitude of the DMP Sharks. Saracens wanted the final say in their last game at Bramley Road before their permanent move to Allianz park, and fittingly it was the hard working Leanne Riley who dotted down for the last try on the whistle. Final score 30-16.