Sat 7 Dec 2019
Hendon end 2019 at the top of the table and unbeaten in the League
This game started with Hendon getting into their stride within just two minutes as they ran back a Saracens 25 drop out and stand-off Rob Casey sliced through the opposition defence to score under the posts leaving Captain Cian Hynes with an easy conversion. However, soon after Hendon were forced into changes as back row Ronan Jones went off for ten minutes for a blood replacement injury and then centre Nigel Toafa had to leave the field with concussion. Saracens took the opportunity to strike back with a penalty try after a high tackle was adjudged to have prevented a score.
Hendon then knew that they were in for a real contest as Saracens defence were up fast in the line preventing Hendon from dominating the gain line and benefiting from some uncharacteristic Hendon handling errors. They profited with a converted penalty to take the lead but from the kick off Junior Farao collected a Saracens' knock on, made ground and passed to Will Theaker to power down the line to score, with Hynes again converting.
Still the Saracens defensive pressure was constant and an intercepted pass allowed them to score another converted try and to take the lead again. Hendon responded with a line out drive, releasing to the backs with wing Dan Watterson shrugging off tackles to give Hendon the lead again. With Hynes in fine kicking form Hendon took back the lead but were under pressure again as Watterson went to the sin bin for an illegal tackle. Saracens took their opportunity and the half ended at 20 points to 21.
During half time it was clear that Hendon needed to find an answer to the Saracens rush defence and so in the second half started to maul and contest the ruck more vigorously to draw in the defenders before moving it wide. This soon brought success when from a penalty line out the forward maul made ground released the backs and then brought it back for flanker T J O'Sullivan to crash over to secure the bonus point.
Hendon's change of tactics and adherence to the processes practised on the training ground each week at Allianz Park started to bring success with Donal O'Sullivan making ground from the kick-off, quickly releasing the ball for the backs to give replacement centre Chris Kiyingi the time and space to beat defenders with a powerful run to score under the posts.
Although Hendon dominated the play in the second half there were times when there defence was tested and scrum half Billy Burrell spent ten minutes in the bin but Saracens simply could not make an impact and with minutes to go Kiyingi broke through again brushing off tired tacklers to give Hendon their sixth converted try.
The final act of the game allowed Hynes to add to his total points with a penalty under the posts to give Hendon a final winning score of 20 points to 45.
Coach Phil Smith said after the match "this was a tough game and Saracens did not make it easy for us particularly in the first half. But I was really pleased with the way the players at half time identified the problems and changed their tactics to beat the Saracens defensive approach. As we go into the New Year we can look forward to a National Cup game against Teddington on 4th January at Copthall, with all our players fit and with confidence as we then resume our League campaign".
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