A late flurry of tries for Premiership heavyweights, Saracens helped them to a 47-17 victory against a belligerent Bedford Blues side under the Goldington Road floodlights on Friday night.
The Premiership side eventually ran in seven tries, but it did not tell the full story as Mike Rayer’s men were level pegging for over an hour before tired legs kicked in and top tier quality prevailed.
Sporting their new aquamarine away kit, Bedford Blues began with great intent but fell victim to the official’s whistle in the opening stages although the Premiership side were not to make the most of early territory.
The home side’s first forays into the enemy patch were promising ones but again, the whistle stopped them in their tracks as both sides spent the first ten minutes feeling each other out.
It wasn’t long however before Saracens were on the scoreboard, Tom Willis getting the final touch at the bottom of a maul and with Fergus Burke adding the extras, the away side led 7-0.
As for the Blues – even when the referee marched Saracens back a full twenty yards for back chat – they could not take advantage of any possession as Bedford failed to trouble the scoreboard.
Blues hold their own
27 minutes were on the clock when the opposition whitewash was found; Lucas Titherington’s break created the opportunity and despite Alfie Garside falling short, Jac Arthur eventually bundled his way over the try line to level the scores.
The Blues were more than holding their own even if, predictably, Saracens had more of the ball but with half-time approaching, it was Bedford who took the lead.
Luke Frost was the try scorer – again in ugly fashion – but it gave the home side a well-earned 12-7 lead and when Sarries were held up on the Blues’ try line in the last play of the half, it surmised what had been an excellent first period for Bedford.
That momentum continued into the second as Jake Garside dived over in the corner within two minutes of the restart despite what was a forward pass in the build up as the Blues extended their lead to 17-7.
A yellow card for Alex Lozowski seemed to compound misery for Saracens but within seconds, the away side had the ball back and Brandon Jackson had turned on the after burners to race home down the left wing to score and reduce the deficit to five.
Despite that, Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall cut a frustrated figure as the Blues continued to create chances, including Matt Worley’s excellent kick that almost found Cameron King in the near corner before an away hand got there first.
Saracens find a way
That scare seemed to spark Saracens into life, and they took the lead once again as Scottish international, Andy Onyeama-Christie scored his first of the night under the posts to restore a 19-17 lead for the European heavyweights.
A penalty try extended their lead to nine and when Josh Hallett collected a pinpoint pass and found the slightest of gaps to score a fifth try, the Premiership side were finally beginning to exert their quality on the encounter.
To their credit, Bedford Blues continued to defend resolutely but they couldn’t stop Onyeama-Christie securing a well deserved brace with a couple of minutes remaining.
Angus Hall also got on the scoresheet to cap a very good second half of his own, with Saracens coming away from a Goldington Road with a 47-17 pre-season victory.
The final scoreline was perhaps a touch harsh on a Blues side who can take away plenty of positives and were in the game for a good hour before the Premiership young guns came on and impressed.
The challenges for Mike Rayer and his men don’t get any easier as they travel to Franklin’s Gardens next Friday night to face reigning Premiership champions, Northampton Saints, before the competitive action kicks off against Caldy in a little over a fortnight’s time.
