Flawless Farrell leads Sarries to cup success

OWEN Farrell came out on top in his personal battle for No 10 supremacy with England rival George Ford yesterday to engineer Saracens’ second English Premiership title success.

Farrell amassed 18 points including a fine try as Mark McCall’s men overcame a Bath side 28-16. Bath fought back strongly in the second half but came up short at Twickenham.

Victory for Sarries, in their fourth English final in six years, helped them exorcise the mental demons of last year’s double final defeat by Northampton and Toulon. But it was a tough defeat for a Bath side playing in their first English Premiership final for 11 years.

Hooker Jamie George and No 15 Chris Wyles also crossed for Sarries, who finished fourth in the table, with Bath’s only try coming from England centre Jonathan Joseph.

Bath began nervously and Sarries dominated the opening half to grab a commanding 25-3 lead by the break.

It would also have been a tense afternoon for England coach Stuart Lancaster with 19 members of his World Cup training squad in the game.

Farrell was, however, fortunate to escape at least a yellow card for a clear high tackle on Bath fullback Anthony Watson.

Referee Wayne Barnes chose to merely give a penalty as England’s second-choice fullback dangerously dragged his international teammate to the turf.

Farrell then showed the good side of his nature as his sublime dummy pass fooled the Bath defence and opened up a hole for the No 10 to dart through and over the line. He composed himself to kick the extra points for the 2011 champions.

Sarries almost capitalised again when Bath wing Matt Banahan lost Farrell’s high punt towards the right corner due to the glare of the sun. David Strettle jumped with Banahan but just failed to catch it. If the wing had managed to do so, he would have been over for a second try.

Yet it did not take long for the men in white to race over the Bath line again with hooker Ross Batty failing to hold onto centre Kyle Eastmond’s short pass. It bounced down invitingly for Sarries No 2 George, who showed commendable pace to cross the line.

It was the perfect way for George to celebrate his unexpected call-up to the England training squad, in place of the suspended Dylan Hartley, 24 hours earlier.

Farrell increased the lead with his first penalty before Bath finally found some momentum and pressure, and Semesa Rokoduguni almost set up a try. The right wing broke down the flank, chipped ahead but was cynically taken out by fullback Alex Goode. George Ford kicked the penalty to put Bath on the scoreboard.

Sarries were controlling the game and a third try was soon on the cards with a sublime piece of skill from Strettle, who managed to keep the move going as he chipped and caught the ball at full pace, which led to George unselfishly passing it on to Wyles to stroll over the Bath line. Farrell converted but Sarries lost their captain and lock, the SA-born Alistair Hargreaves, who sustained a head injury at the start of the break.

The tide, which flowed in favour of Sarries in the first half, suddenly turned.

Ford’s second penalty sparked a fightback, and Joseph darted over for their first try, converted by Ford. Suddenly Bath were back in the race.

Ford and Farrell exchanged penalty blows but Bath failed to continue their revival and Sarries held firm for the victory. — AFP

It did not take long for the men in white to race over the Bath line again