Saracens duly booked their place in the fifth round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup
on Saturday but only after a struggle against National League One side Bedford.
A major Cup upset had looked on the cards early on after the Goldington Road
club, who were relegated from Premiership One last season, scored two tries in
the space of 12 minutes.
Pacy winger James Hinkins touched down on the left wing after just 21 seconds.
Hinkins caught the visitors napping after full-back Hinshelwood's feed and
capitalised to charge 50 metres up field.
Centre James Shanahan missed the conversion but Bedford were soon back on the
scoreboard with a try by prop John Brooks. Shanahan once again failed with the
conversion to make the score 10-0.
Tim Horan, making his debut for the Saracens after being sidelined with an
ankle injury since April, set up his side's reply however. The double World Cup
winner made a searing break upfield before being brought down just short of
Bedford's goalline. Saracens were awarded a line-out and forward Tony Diprose
duly scored.
Nevertheless fly-half Duncan McRae missed the conversion and with Chris Bajak
touching down for Bedford's third try of the afternoon, Saracens were still left
playing catch-up.
But then the tables turned. The Vicarage Road, who won the Cup in 1998,
clearly had no intentions of an early exit from the competition with Tony Roques
leading the way with a try after 26 minutes.
McRae this time converted before Bedford old boy Darragh O'Mahony levelled the
scores at 17-17 with a try a minute later. Again Australian McRae converted
before scoring Saracens fourth try of the afternoon. His conversion then gave
Saracens a 26-17 lead at the break.
Horan then continued Saracens' menacing form after a sustained attack on
Bedford's goalline led to his first try for the club. That then opened the way
for a frenzy of tries by David Flatman, Brett Sparg and O'Mahony, all of which
were converted by McRae.
A last-gasp converted try by Bedford's Mark Sharp was just a consolation as
Saracens clinched victory by 30 points.
Teams:
Bedford: B. Hinshelwood, Bajak, Whetstone, Shanahan, Hinkins,
Wallwork, Crane, Brooks, Davies, Skillecorn, Clarke, R. Ward,
Summers, Browne, White.
Not Used: Jackson, Rudd, Sharp, Hennessey, Otte, Fox, Whitford.
Tries: Bajak, Hinkins, Brooks, Sharp.
Cons: Shanahan 2.
Saracens: Sparg, O'Mahony, Horan, Sorrell, Arasa, McRae,
Walshe, Flatman, Cairns, White, Davison, Grewcock, Chesney,
Roques, Diprose.
Not Used: Russell, Wallace, Hooper, Roche, Hampson, Johnston,
Haughton.
Sin Bin: Hampson (76).
Tries: Sparg, O'Mahony 2, Horan, McRae, Flatman,
Roques, Diprose.
Cons: McRae 7.
Att: 3,012
Ref: John Barnard (RFU).
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