Saracens will travel to France next weekend confident they can book their
passage into the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup after a convincing
quarter-final first leg 19-6 win over Brive.
By no means were the Watford side in scintillating form but right from the
first whistle Saracens had control of the rain-soaked game.
Fly-half Nicky Little put the building blocks in place for the home side as
they galloped into a 13-0 lead by half-time.
The Fijian first added a drop-goal and then a penalty but the real break for
Saracens came when full-back Mark Bartholomeusz darted through Brive's defence
to open up a ferocious Saracens attack.
Bartholomeusz was brought to the ground before the line but hooker Matt Cairns
was in support to set up super sub Paul Bailey over on the right wing.
Little duly converted, adding the conversion, and with Brive winger Julien
Laharrague missing his first kick at goal Saracens found themselves in a
comfortable position.
Little continued where he left off after the break with a second penalty but
Brive's blushes were saved when Laharrague finally found the target with 55th
and 71st-minute penalties.
However, a third converted penalty maintained Little's 100% strike rate to
send Saracens into the return leg of the quarter-final clash at the Parc
Municipal Des Sport next Sunday in high spirits.
Teams
Saracens: Bartholomeusz, Haughton, Sorrell, Harris, Vaikona,
Little, Williams, Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie, S. Raiwalui,
Fullarton, Randell, Seymour, Skirving.
Tries: Bailey.
Cons: Little.
Pens: Little 3.
Drop Goals: Little.
Replacements: Bailey for Haughton (21),
Johnston for Harris (60), Raulini for Williams (55),
Yates for Lloyd (69), Kyriacou for Visagie (80),
Chesney for Fullarton (60), B. Russell for Skirving (76).
Brive: Le Roux, Laharrague, Valbon, Couttet, Donguy, Penaud,
Pejoine, Rodriguez, Djoudi, Capdevielle, Manhes, Welborn,
Minassian, Bonvoisin, Azoulay.
Pens: Laharrague 2.
Replacements: Moreno for Djoudi (77), Maleyrie for Azoulay (60).
Not Used: Pani, Drodz, Courrent, Laloo, Leite.
Att: 4,210
Ref: Giulio di Santis (Italy).
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