Owen Farrell and Saracens kick their way into Aviva Premiership Finals – Rugby news
Saracens fly half, Owen Farrell, has helped his side into the Aviva Premiership Finals by defeating Gloucester Rugby in the second Aviva Premiership Semi-finals at Vicarage Road, Watford on Sunday, May 15. An audience 12,302 saw the two point win thanks
to Farells fantastic kicking.
Saracens were coming into the match from 11 consecutive wins in this season, including a victory over Gloucester on April 24, at the same venue. Gloucester had recently defeated the Sales Sharks 68 – 17 in a May 7 encounter. Nonetheless, Saracens started
the match as favourites because they held a psychological edge over the visitors.
Gloucester Rugby played exceptionally well thanks to their recent form and matched the Saracens in every aspect of the game. Saracens made 97 run attempts, compared to Gloucester’s 96.
Saracens slightly dominated the territory possession as they had run 366 metres with the ball as compare to the Gloucester’s 356 metres. Similarly, Saracens made 111 passes, compared to Gloucester’s 167.
Saracens started the match positively and were in the driving seat from the start. They missed on some easy chances during the initial passage of the game that allowed Gloucester to come-back and fill the holes.
Saracens continued pressing the Gloucester’s defence and denied them control of the game. Saracens were first to put points on board after an impressive move from their attack helped the team win a penalty.
Saracens fly half Owen Farrell took the penalty and slotted it in during the 16th minute of the game. Saracens scored again as Farrell landed his second penalty of the first-half during the 22nd minute of the game.
Gloucester tried hard to score but failed to do so until the last minute of the first-half. Fly half Nicky Robinson successfully kicked his team’s only penalty of the game to leave the visitors trailing by three points at half-time.
Both teams started the second half with intensity and denied each other ball possession. Farrell landed his third penalty during the first minute of the second-half to extend the host’s lead. Saracens captain and lock Steve Borthwick was sin binned during
the 61st minute of the game that allowed the Gloucester to capitalise.
Gloucester’s attack manages to find an opening that allowed their fly half to score the sole try of the match during the 68th minute of the game. Robinson scored on the conversion to put the visitors in lead for the first time in the game.
However, Saracens replied with Farrell’s 72-minute match deciding penalty to leave the visitors trailing by two points. With Saracens back to full strength, Gloucester found it difficult to score in the remaining half.
Saracens will take on the Tigers, which is a rematch of last year’s finals, to fight for the Premiership title.
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