A DARK SIDE TO THE GAME ...

Tonight North London was the scene for what could be the start of the Wasps comeback … the crowds flocked in to see the Wasps batter a lack lustre Sharks side by 3 tries to nil. The whole team looked tighter tonight and they seemed to have stemmed the run of basic mistakes which has cost them so dearly in the last few weeks. More from our ‘at the ground’ reporters tomorrow as our attention must turn to the fireworks seen in Paris …

A VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE …
Horizon Sports camera were witness to what can only be described as a blood bath tonight … the young French men who had taken their Valentines to see the ‘gentleman’s game’ must have rued their decision as the match, which finished scoreless, was the most vicious encounter we have seen since the infamous Lions tour matches of South Africa. It was obvious from the outset that Saracens had gone to Paris intent on ‘revenge’ and to win at ANY cost, after the first 3 minutes it was plain that Stad were not going to let their unbeaten streak come to an end at ANY cost. Pre match sledging by the Saracens coach was followed by reported anti-French comments directed at the Stad players throughout the game and ended with Saracens losing 3 key players through injury, some for the entire season.

It all seemed to start about 15 minutes into the half from a Hernandez cross kick which went astray leading to a break from the Saracen winger, who had in training been showing a great deal of skill (skill loaded). Corleto raced back to make the tackle, it is claimed that it was at this point the Saracen players heard Parrise shout to the fullback to ‘put him out the game’. Corleto hesitated on making the tackle but was spurred on by Parrise into making, what to many seemed like, a head high dangerous tackle, this left the winger on the deck and we believe out for quite a few games. While the Saracen players rushed in to let their opinions be known it seemed like the ref was unsighted, Stad gathered and hoofed a long long kick down field. (Parrise was now an ‘inspiring’ player and the ref roll for the tackle was passed on a reroll using his ability) McTague was livid on the touchline. The situation was tense and it seemed like the players were forever niggling each other, the dirty play was stifling the game but seemed to go unnoticed by the Irish Ref. It was from another Hernandez cross kick and gather that the game really went down hill. As the Stad center rose to catch the ball he was blatantly taken out by the Saracens prop which resulted in the only sin bin of the entire game. It was such a horrendous spearing that even McTague was reported to be amazed at how the player was not sent off! Hernandez kicked into the corner and Parisse seemed to be directing the French team and generally getting under the Saracen players skin. The last play of the half and De Villiers drove over from the lineout as the Saracen players were calling the throw not straight (another reroll due to Parisse) He carried 3 Saracen players over the line with him (hand off and crash tackle) and appeared to have grounded the ball easily. In an mirror image of the previous game the TMO ruled that the ball was held up and the players went into the changing rooms in uproar … McTague was at this point threatening to ‘chin’ Parisse himself!

It was at the start of the second half that the ref, who had shown no real authority so far, completely lost control of the game. In an obvious planned move the Stad kick off targeted the prop fresh from his sin bin, again with Parrise seeming to encourage them a high hit was put in which dislodged the ball. Mctague was fuming on the touchline again and from that point on we can honestly say there was not a phase of play which did not involve a number of high tackles, dangerous double spearings and over zealous use of the boot in the rucks. Both sides were equally at fault although many the other coaches would agree that Penney (who has been the target of many a complaint this season) got his payback. After being involved in a particularly nasty tackle to Hernandez he found himself pulled into the resulting ruck, severely worked over and apparently out for the rest of the season!

The referee was having a shocking day, perhaps there was too much to be keeping an eye on, and appeared to miss everything. There was not even a hint of a yellow card as players were being dropped all over the field on every play that seemed like it may produce a score. Stad came closest to scoring … in the very last second it seemed that Saubade was away, a kick through and gather from Hernandez had released him through the middle and it seemed that no one could catch him until the Saracen captain De Kock seemed to find sudden pace (break away) and shoulder charge him down. It appeared to all in the ground to be a blatant charge and not a tackle … but again the ref let play go on. From the resulting confusion a Stad player must have retaliated as the Ref gave Saracens a penalty which was quickly put into touch ending a very sordid game.

Horizon Sports hope that McTague is not going to do the silent treatment again as there are lots of questions to be answered about the game … we managed a quick word with Jones after the match who didn’t let us get a question in …

“What we saw out there tonight was a disgrace to what we call ‘God’s Game’ … I admit my side were not wholly innocent but it was not us that started it. The Saracen players are claiming that Parisse was urging dirty play, I think that they are mistranslating his rousing shouts, remember his mother tongue is Italian, his French is a bit ‘ropey’ as encouraging dirty play. Even if it was though it would still not be any excuse for the way Saracens played the game, I don’t think they made a ‘normal’ tackle the entire second half … how can you play against an attitude like that!

As for the Ref .. don’t get me started, players on both teams were getting away with almost literal murder out there … no one likes to see any one get hurt but saying that I think Penney got what was coming his way. I believe McTague had made some comment in the first half about our team being a bunch of ‘french tarts, little girls’. If that is the case then his mighty team just got ‘beaten up’ by a bunch of ‘girls’ as it is not us with a couple of players in hospital!

That TMO call … never seen anything like it, the ball was clearly down, but in rugby nowadays I think you have to roll with the punch there … win some and lose some. The actual score pales into insignificance to what we witnessed out there tonight … it was closer to ‘Rollerball’ then the PEWC CUP”


Breaking News … it seems like an emergency meeting of the PRB (Pewc Rugby Board) is going to recommend that both teams be docked 2 points for their failure to control their players in tonights game. A spokesman has said,
“We can not be seen as taking no action against clubs who act in such ways … as for the referee I think we can safely say Mr Stiles will not be refereeing another rugby match again … reports are he is going to concentrate on soccer from now on!”

Great television but a dark evening for the game – Horizon Sports will not be showing re runs of the game as we normally do for fear of it having a negative influence on our young budding players!