Fake money rains down but visitors have the last laugh
THE CLOCK was yet to strike 12, but with the lager already flowing at the Deans Walk Inn, Gloucester’s fans were certainly keen to rub salt in Saracens’ wounds.
‘I had the fez left over from a Madness gig at Kingsholm four years ago and my wife is going to go mad when she realises all the monopoly money is missing,’ said Cherry and Whites season ticket holder Chris Marsden as he sipped a pint and talked over English rugby’s biggest talking point. ‘I had to take these chocolate coins from the kids’ Christmas stockings. They will have to be replaced.’
There was only one topic on the supporters’ lips at Kingsholm and the pubs around the ground — Saracens’ 35-point deduction and £5million fine for breaching the Premiership salary cap. This was the reigning champions’ first game since the ruling shocked the division earlier in the week. Waving his monopoly money and coins as he walked into the Shed — Kingsholm’s most vociferous stand — Mr Marsden, 48, and his fellow supporters were bang up for battle.
Fake £50 notes and monopoly money were thrown in the air. Bill Turner, Mark Ford and Phil Bennett — ‘Not that Phil Bennett,’ he joked — each wore a fez with ‘-26’ on the front — Saracens’ points total before kick-off subject to their upcoming appeal.
Fans from both sides also wore hats with vegetables taped to the side, their ‘celery caps’ a questionable play on words.
‘The financial penalty is a joke. The general feeling among Gloucester fans is this has been a long time coming,’ said Bennett, who backed the strong criticism of Saracens by former England captain Chris Robshaw.
‘To have a man of the calibre and class of Chris Robshaw call what Saracens have done cheating sums it up for me. I feel sorry for their players, but my feeling is the Saracens management shouldn’t be allowed in or anywhere near a Premiership ground until we know for sure they are definitely playing by the rules.’
Keen to have a laugh at Saracens’ expense, Gloucester’s raucous fans booed the visitors on to the field, but their good mood didn’t last long once the action started.
As Saracens pulled clear, the mood in the Shed turned feral, fuelled by frustration at Gloucester’s poor performance.
As expected, Saracens fans were few and far between but they watched their team come through a week of adversity to deliver an impressive performance.
‘Nothing has been proved yet, but they are already trying to take away our titles,’ said Saracens fan Duncan Hanton, the celery flopping out from his woollen hat. ‘Chris Robshaw and Harlequins have been very vocal, but people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. We’ve given everything to England in terms of the World Cup players and then for this to happen has been a real kick in the proverbials.’