Owen Farrell’s boot helps Saracens capture 2010/11 Aviva Premiership title – Rugby news
Saracens star fly half, Owen Farrell, has kicked the Sarries into the winners circle for the Aviva Premiership title at Twickenham on Saturday, May 28. Farrell’s five penalties in the match ended the Leicester Tigers eighth premiership title hopes.
Saracens finished second at the end of the round matches with 80 points coming from the 23 games they have played in the season. Saracens won 19 of the 23 games, which was the highest number of games won by any team during the 2010/11 premiership season.
Saracens defeated Tigers 18 – 22 in a closely contested match to secure their first premiership title. The match was a rematch of last year’s epic final in which the Tigers defeated the Saracens 33 – 27 to clinch their seventh title.
Both teams started the match strongly, however, the defending champions suffered a blow when their scrum half was sin binned during the fifth minute of the game. Saracens were awarded the penalty on the offence on which their fly half, Owen Farrell, capitalised
to put last year’s runners up in the lead.
Tigers regrouped from the initial setback as they looked to take control of the ball and retain ground. Tigers equalised during the ninth minute of the game courtesy of their fly half Toby Flood’s first penalty of the game.
Tigers did well to retain the ball possession even with one man missing and denied Saracens from scoring easy points. With Young back on the field, Tigers earned their second penalty of the game on which Flood score to put the Tigers in lead during the 17th
minute of the match.
Saracens replied strongly with Farrell’s 19th minute penalty followed by their winger James Short’s 29th minute try. Farrell added a conversion to extend the Sarries lead by seven points.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, both fly halves exchanges penalties during the 35th and 38th minute of the game to leave the scorecard reading 9 – 16 in favour of Saracens at the end of the first half.
The squads came out after the break with all pistons firing. Farrell and Flood exchanged penalties during the 42nd and 49th minute of the game as the Saracens defence was impressive and they denied Tigers from scoring easily.
With approximately 20 minutes remaining in the game, Tigers gathered momentum, which was coupled by an error ridden Saracens defence. Flood’s 69th minute penalty reduced the lead to just four points. However, Farrell’s 73rd minute penalty
again extended the lead by seven points.
Tigers had more ball possession and were able to control more territory but managed to score just a penalty during the remaining 14th minute of game including the seven minutes of the extra time. The credit goes to the Saracens defence that held
off the Tigers late surge to secure their first premiership title.
Tags: