Welwyn RFC are proud to be a Saracens Partner Club.

CLUBS UPDATE, 7th September 2005

Next Match
Saracens vs Leeds Tykes  

Sunday 11 September
Vicarage Road
Kick Off 15:00


Crowd to play their part!!

Saracens face Leeds Tykes at Vicarage Road on Sunday - kick off 3pm.

Taine Randell is set to come back into contention for the game. Randell missed last weekend's Guinness Premiership opener against Wasps to be at the birth of his new son, but the former All Black captain will be available for selection when the team is named for the game later this week.

Tevita Vaikona, Kyran Bracken, Simon Raiwalui and Andy Farrell will be assessed by the medical staff in midweek.

And Head Coach Mike Ford has called on the crowd to play their part during the game. He said: "The players all noticed the fantastic support we received at Twickenham at the weekend. The fans really do have a big role to play and I can't stress enough just how important it is.
"Your continued backing can really give the players a lift in close games and a huge cheer just as we are running off back to the dressing room before kick off can also give the team a boost. Hearing that noise just before the final team talk can have a massive affect - so let's all really make it a team effort on Sunday."

To book tickets please call the Saracens Ticket Office on 01923 475222 or book online at www.saracens.com.



Team News

Saracens edged out by champions

In a hotly contested game Saracens were just edged out by reigning champions Wasps in the opening game of the new Guinness Premiership season at Twickenham 23-11 despite going into the lead early in the first half through the boot of Glen Jackson.

Saracens rivals out scored them by two tries to one but it could have been so different if they had been able to convert more of the chances into points.

At one point deep in the second half, with the score at 16-11, Saracens had Wasps under the screw in their own half after several phases of play but after taking two wrong options what should have been a try for Saracens almost turned into a match winner at the other end as Sackey raced away unchallenged. But a length of the field dash from the other side of the pitch by Richard Haughton saw the winger heroically hauled down inches short of the line.

Saracens try came courtesy of a break from the back of the scrum by Ben Skirving with the No. 8 racing away past his opposite number and over Wasps winger Paul Sackey. Wasps scored either side of Saracens effort though Tom Voyce and Fraser Waters one minute from time.

Ford takes positives from opening game

Head Coach Mike Ford stressed that the squad will take the many positives from the weekend as they build up to Sunday’s Guinness Premiership clash against Leeds Tykes at Vicarage Road.

Reigning champions Wasps were 23-11 winners at Twickenham on Saturday in the opening round of the new league season, but after watching the video of the game, Ford was upbeat about the performance and the week ahead on the training field.

He said: "We’re disappointed that we didn’t win the game and right up to the point where Wasps scored their last try, we believed we were in a strong position to win the game. After that we were also disappointed that we weren’t able to get a bonus point even though we had 14 men on the pitch.

"But there are a huge number of positives we can take from the game. We put in a huge effort against the Champions of the last three years. The scrum was very pleasing and in terms of breaking through the gain line, we created just as many chances as Wasps. What we lacked at times was that little bit of composure when we had them under pressure which would have won us the game.

"When we go through the video of the match with the players, there will be some disappointment that we missed opportunities, but they will all go out of the room very positive and looking forward to a good training week as we build up to the game against Leeds Tykes."



Other News

Dream Team Game Kicks Off

The new Dream Team Season is under way and Sunday provides the chance for online members to log their team for the Leeds Tykes game.

Sunday gives another opportunity for members to try and work out the selection strategies of the new coaching set up of Steve Diamond and Mike Ford.

From Monday onwards players of the game will be able to select their teams until the deadline of Thursday morning, after which we hope the first team will be selected. Players that select on Monday have the chance to score the most points as their correct selections are multiplied by three. Selections made on Tuesday are multiplied by two and so on with the advantage of delaying being a better idea of what the team will be due to injuries etc.

The Dream Team season is long and hard and it takes a committed player to scoop the crown of Champion come May.

More details can be found online at www.saracens.com

Rugby special – a unique team joins the scrum
A unique Hertfordshire rugby team plays its first fixture on Thursday September 8.

Saracens Brave Herts, made up of players with and without learning disabilities, will be scrumming down against Hemel Magicians at Hemel Hempstead (Camelot) RUFC. The Brave Herts squad was set up earlier this year by county council Adult Care Services staff to give Hertfordshire people with learning disabilities opportunities to play.

Kick off is at 6.15pm and some of Saracens top players are expected to be on the touchline to cheer the Brave Herts on.

County Councillor David Lloyd, Executive Member with responsibility for Adult Care Services, said: “This is definitely a rugby special. We want people with learning disabilities to be able to enjoy the same things in life as everyone else – and that includes having opportunities to take part in team sports. Initiatives like this help to make that possible.”

Registered with the Saracens and coached by players from the Saracens academy at weekly training sessions at Hatfield Sports Village, the Brave Herts squad includes around a dozen people who have learning disabilities plus rugby-playing members of the county council’s staff.Player/manager Simon Lowe, assistant manager of the county council’s Watford and Three Rivers Community Learning Disability Team said:

“We have some very promising players who’ve been training hard and we’re looking forward to our first proper game.

“As far as we know Brave Herts is the only rugby team of its kind in England. The only other team like this we know of is a Welsh side, Llanelli Warriors. If we can get sponsorship to help with the cost, we’re hoping to set up a fixture with them at Stradey Park.”

 

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