Saracens 18-14 Castres
Saracens join Toulon on 13 points at the top of Pool 3
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Saturday, 19, Dec 2009 09:22
Saracens narrowly beat Castres 18-14 at Vicarage Road to boost their chances of qualification from Pool 3 of the European Challenge Cup.
The French side threatened to steal the win by grabbing two tries but six penalties from Glen Jackson saw Saracens home.
The win moves Saracens level with Pool leaders Toulon with two group matches remaining whilst Castres remain third ahead of Rovigo.
Saracens dominated the opening 40 minutes but only led 12-7 through four Glen Jackson penalties with Paul Bonnefond scoring Castres' try.
Yaon Audrin's solo effort edged Castres ahead but two more Jackson penalties earned Saracens a deserved victory.
Saracens had Chris Wyles, Rodd Penney and Alex Goode back after being rested for the trip to Castres last week whilst Justin Marshall, Matias Aguero, Tom Mercey and Don Barrell were also in the starting line-up.
For Castres Charlie Sika returned along with Ibrahim Diarra whilst a new front row of Daniel Saayman, Aksventi Giorgadze and Yannick Forestier took to the field.
Hugh Vyvyan came close to opening the scoring in the opening minutes but knocked on with the try line begging.
On eleven minutes the hosts had another chance to edge ahead but Jackson pushed a drop-goal attempt wide.
With 17 minutes on the clock Jackson finally gave Saracens the lead, landing a penalty after Giorgadze had gone off his feet at the breakdown.
Castres came storming back and scored with their first real attack of the game.
Philip Christophers made the initial break and set up good field position from which Rodrigo Capo Ortega fed Bonnefond who slid over in the corner.
Thomas Bouquié added two points with a magnificent kick from the touchline.
On 22 minutes Castres were penalised for holding on and Jackson was on target with a second penalty to make it 7-6.
Ten minutes before half-time and Saracens led for the second time as Jackson struck with his third penalty after Castres deliberately wheeled a scrum.
The hosts were starting to dominate proceedings now and three minutes later their lead was up to 12-7 as Jackson kicked penalty number four from bang in front of the posts.
Saracens twice turned down the opportunity to add three points to their score and were made to pay as Castres took the lead with their second try.
A swift backs move found Yoan Audrin on halfway and the replacement chipped ahead, fly hacked and out ran Marshall to score. Bouquié made it 14-12 with the conversion.
It might have been worse for Saracens but Bouquié was off target with a penalty attempt from the touchline with an hour gone.
With nine minutes remaining the match swung back in Saracens favour as they took a 15-14 lead thanks to Jackson's fifth penalty after Castres were adjudged to have killed the ball.
Further indiscipline at the breakdown allowed Jackson to seal victory with his sixth penalty with four minutes remaining.
That proved to be the last act of the match as the hosts saw out the remaining minutes to earn a narrow yet deserved victory.
Tom Powell