For the second game in a row the scoreline does not reflect the game, as LAMBS U18s went down 7 – 27 to Saracens on Monday night.

The game started with the LAMBS making a 50m break from their own try line, a break that wasn’t finished off, and one that set the tone for the game in terms of ambition and execution.

From the opening break, it took only one missed tackle and Saracens took a 0 – 5 lead, a lead they extended with a simple front of the lineout move after 10 minutes. Interestingly, for the second week running the LAMBS lineout allowed only minimal clean line out for the academy side throughout the game. Saracens then scored a turnover try to move 0 – 15 ahead, despite much of the ambitious running rugby coming from the pink shirts.

The LAMBS continued to attack, with yet more clean line breaks, largely in the 13 channels where Scott Duguid (Berkhamsted School) was making his debut. The boys in pink were unlucky not to get on the scoreboard when a George Hitchcock (Felsted) break was interchanged between the supporting forwards before being deemed knocked on over the line. The half ended much the same, as an ambitious break from Oliver Short (Wisbech Grammar) was fed to Mason Knowles who made a 50m break before being turned over by the impressive Saracens back row.

The second half started like the first, with a quick try from Saracens. At this stage both sides opened up with some ambitious running rugby, the LAMBS evidence their ‘Fast and Free’ selection, with props Ben Oliphant-Thompson (Blundell’s) and Charlie Bannister (Canford) making numerous breaks around the park, alongside replacement hooker Cory Nelson (Caterham). This ambition showed that its not just the back line that cause issues in the pink shirts.

Saracens scored anther turnover try, before some sustained pressure from the LAMBS was rewarded with a try from Louis Fraser (Woodhouse Grove) following some sublime slight of hand from Ben Oliphant-Thompson. Just reward for the fantastic rugby played all night.

After the game National Director Alex Laybourne said:

“We played well again tonight, our attacking shape was good and we just needed to be a little more clinical and retain the ball a bit more. I am confident that we will be successful with our ‘Fast and Free’ philosophy when we tour Argentina later in the month.”

Full Time: Saracens 27-7 ISRFC Lambs

Tickets for the Lambs end of season dinner are still available, just follow this link for details: End of Season Dinner