Thomas Castaignede marked his return to action with a fantastic display as
Saracens put rock-bottom Rotherham to the sword at Vicarage Road.
The Frenchman, making his first start after injuring his hand at Bath six
weeks ago, scored two and made two of the home side's four tries to leave the
Yorkshire side without a league point after 11 Premiership matches.
England's World Cup heroes Richard Hill and Kyran Bracken received a rapturous
welcome from the home crowd but it was Castaignede who stole the show.
He set Saracens on their way to victory after just 43 seconds when he went
over in the corner for the first try.
And the man of the match turned try-creator five minutes later when his deft
chip-kick was grounded by wing Denis Cech and the Frenchman also added the
conversion to open up a 12-0 lead.
Castaignede maintained his stranglehold on the match when slipping a tackle by
Rotherham scrum-half Jacob Raulini to touch down in the corner and add the
extras to leave the Yorkshire facing an uphill battle at 19-0.
The visitors improved as the half progressed and scored a converted try off
their first meaningful attack when number eight Geraint Lewis went over next to
the posts after a good break and feed by fly-half Phil Jones.
Rotherham fly-half Jon Benson and opposite number Castaignede traded penalties
early in the second half as the hard-working Yorkshire side continued to make
the home side work hard for the bonus point.
World Cup hero Bracken entered the fray as a replacement after 49 minutes and
his presence prompted the home side to find another gear and the fourth try when
his international team-mate Richard Hill pounced on another Castaignede pass to
score under the posts.
Castaignede converted to leave Rotherham 19 points adrift and staring another
defeat square in the face.
Saracens took their foot off the gas in the final quarter, content at opening
up an 18-point gap between themselves and Rotherham at the foot of the table.
But the proceedings were livened up when a brawl ended with Saracens'
replacement Johnny Marsters and Rotherham lock Luke Gross sin-binned.
The delay failed to disrupt the rhythm of the home side, who closed out a win
which goes a long way to securing their top-flight status with the Premiership
season now at the halfway mark.
Teams
Saracens: Haughton, Cech, Johnson, Bailey, O'Mahony,
Castaignede, Williams, Bergamaschi, R. Russell, Visagie,
Raiwalui, Codling, Hill, Roques, Randell.
Replacements: Bracken for Williams (50),
Marsters for Bergamaschi (76), Broster for Visagie (40),
Chesney for Raiwalui (25), Skirving for Hill (58).
Not Used: Little, Winnan.
Tries: Castaignede 2, Cech, Hill.
Cons: Castaignede 3.
Pens: Castaignede.
Sin Bin: Marsters (79).
Rotherham: Benson, Elliott, Jorgensen, Umaga, Ewens, Jones,
Raulini, Lloyd, Johnson, Noon, Kenworthy, Gross, Greeff,
Spence, Lewis.
Replacements: Keyter for Elliott (71),
Pritchard for Umaga (38), Easterby for Raulini (56),
Smyth for Johnson (64), Rawson for Noon (77),
Pendlebury for Kenworthy (56), Earnshaw for Greeff (56).
Tries: Lewis.
Cons: Benson.
Pens: Benson.
Sin Bin: Gross (79).
Att: 5,680
Ref: R Goodliffe (Sheffield (RFU)).
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