Old Merchant Taylors 11 Barnet Saracens Elizabethans 25

London League Division Three (North-West)

A brace of tries from Mark Caylor and deft kicking by Richard Perkins gave Barnet Saracens Elizabethans an unexpected but well deserved win over Old Merchant Taylors at Rickmansworth on Saturday.

Outscrummaged by a heavier home pack and denied much lineout ball, Barnet had to work hard to use their limited possession.

However, their defence was solid and won a lot of second phase ball by robbing OMT in the tackle. Barnet outmauled their opponents and were superior in rucking.

Barnet went ahead after only two minutes when Perkins kicked a penalty. They had some luck in that the OMT kicker had a nightmare, missing four of his five chances at goal. But he levelled the scores with a penalty kick from under the posts.

BSE were stronger among the backs, running hard and creating chances. When they worked good ball out to the left wing, they quicky switched direction and Caylor had plenty of room to run in a try, converted by Perkins for a 10-3 half-time lead.

They had played the last five minutes of the first half a man short James Geekie was receiving atttention for a leg injury.

Although Geekie started the second half, he lasted only a few minutes before the injury was aggravated. Rupert Long replaced him, with Lee Gray moving to the second row.

This did not affect Barnet's play as they won a lot of loose ball and used it well. Their defence was excellent, with Miguel Gomez and Michael Gray outstanding in the set and loose play.

OMT reduced the lead with a penalty goal, but Gomez and Gray put Caylor in for his second try.

Good forward possession allowed Perkins plenty of time to think about a left-footed drop-goal, before switching to a sweetly-hit right-footed effort.

When Barnet lost possession OMT's winger took advantage with an opportunist try, 18-11.

But the visitors had the satisfaction of scoring the last try, when Perkins wriggled his way through, and converted himself.

Although Barnet's points were scored by just two players, this was a fine team performance they aim to repeat in their home game against West London on Saturday.

October 23, 2001 13:42