Saracens narrowly lose at Mackenders

The Saracens started Saturday’s game somewhat under-prepared and thin on the ground; with last minute call ups to the first team and injuries leaving the Saracens with only 14 men on meeting at Mackenders. Thankfully they were able to call upon the services of the club’s one legged number 10, Sebastian Goodge, bringing them up to a 15 man starting line-up.
Dereham turned up looking well drilled, and more prepared than Diss, and this was clearly evident when Dereham crossed the line for their first try within 5 minutes of kick off, following a couple of missed tackles by the Saracens. This ought to have been the wakeup call Diss needed, but the team struggled to get going, with silly penalties costing Diss a lot of territory. However, after the usual 20 minute delay Diss finally got going. Some solid work by the forwards, against a far heavier pack, got the Saracens camped in Derehams 22. Several good passages of play followed, but Diss failed to cross the line. The pressure was too much for Dereham and they started to give away penalties, one of which came square in front of the posts. Alan Goymour made short work of the kick to get the Saracens onto the score board. Again Diss looked the stronger side, but a couple of missed tackles and some strong running by Dereham’s centres put their winger over the line, with the conversion extending their lead to 14-3. This added score proved a little too much for the Saracens, and composure started to slip, leaving Dereham with a kickable penalty shortly before half time, which they capitalised on, to go into the break leading 17-3.
The Saracens started the second half with a new momentum, and a superb catch from the restart by Jacob Page took them straight into Dereham’s half. A period of controlled rucks and mauls steadily worked the Saracens up the pitch, before Page made use of his height and dived through the Dereham defence to touch the ball down over the line for Diss’ first try. Goymour duly converted this; putting Diss right back into the game. The home sides’ momentum continued and within 5 minutes a series of well-coordinated backs moves put Diss back into the opponents 22, and flanker Henry Passmore darted over the line in the corner for Diss’ second try. Alan Goymour’s boot was once again put to good use and the ball sailed through the posts to put the Saracens level, much to the delight of the home supporters. Dereham didn’t react well to this, and a series of penalties ended with one of their players spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
Again the Saracens looked strong, and with 10 minutes to go they found themselves back in Dereham’s half. The one legged veteran, Seb Goodge, then found himself in open space square in front of the posts on the 10 yard line, and with the help of a very well executed pass from Will Hemmant, he made an attempt at a drop goal. His one good leg struck the ball cleanly, and it sailed easily between the posts –Saracens now leading 20-17. Diss caught the restart and soon found themselves back in Dereham’s half, and once again the returning veteran found himself in space, this time running with the ball. However, his fitness levels started to show and running out of steam, he found support in Captain Ben Walker cutting an inside line. With a simple 2-on-1 it looked certain Walker would be under the posts to secure his side’s home victory, but in a manoeuvre that earned him the clown of the day award, he was caught by Dereham’s winger and failed to make a clean offload to Angus Williams in support. Dereham’s back line then demonstrated their pace to get the ball deep into Diss’ half, with Tom Miller putting in a massive tackle to stop their centre scoring. With 1 minute to go Dereham won a line out on the 5 metre line, and the pressure was really on. Diss then gave away a penalty for an infringement at the ruck, and were left camped on the try line for the last play of the game. Dereham hit the ball at pace, and looked to spin it wide, and a lack of movement from the Diss defence allowed Dereham’s speed merchant winger to score on the outside. The conversion was kicked cleanly and the final whistle blew to leave the Saracens with an agonising 24-20 home defeat.