In a week that wasn't in terms of numbers at practice and no-shows on game day, the 1st team men attained their goal of a win and bonus point to keep their promotion hopes alive.
With 20 players the Saracens headed out on a long 3hr ride to face a much improved 3-Rivers team. From the get-go the Braves threw everything they had at us, they out rucked us, out ran us and out kicked us, in the first 20min we were not able to get the ball out of our half. And for the first time since the St-Jean game a team was actually able to mount a scoring drive on us that was not due to us giving up needles penalties, 5-0 for the Braves. Not long after, the needles penalties showed up and they scored again from our 5 meter line, it was 12-0 for the Braves.
Thankfully it was a hot day and we got a water break at the 20min mark. This "Holy water" seemed to give us new life as we commenced the next 20min with sustained pressure and pace. It did not take long before we scored our first try due to some great kicking by Stephane Ouellette and good chasing by our backs. It did not take long before we scored another try due to some powerful running by our centres and good support play by our forwards who were hitting the rucks with more conviction, 12-12 half time score.
The 2nd half started much like the first half started with the Saracens giving up penalties that kept us pinned in our zone, the Braves kicked a penalty and were in the lead again, 15-12. After some settling down were able to win our rucks, cleanly, to maintain possession and once again Stephane Ouellette was clinical with his kicks allowing our backs to get under the ball to score our 3rd try, 17-15.
We played most of the 2nd half in the Braves territory and were able to capitalize on a throwing error at the line-out where D'Arcy Whyte caught the ball and ran ten yards to score what would be the game winning try and bonus point. Great work by the team as they never let gave up!
MAN OF THE MATCH: D'Arcy Whyte
Results: Saracens I (24), Braves (20)
Try Scorer(s): Cullen, K. (2), McClintock, S. (1), Whyte, D. (1)
Converts: Ouellette, S. (2)
Penalty Kicks:
Drop Goals:
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