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Sarries into semis despite loss to Dragons
Saracens secured their place in the LV= Cup semi-finals despite losing at home to Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday evening.
The home team were beaten 23-22 by the Welsh side in a game of two halves.
Saracens looked the hungrier of the two teams from the kick off with the forwards making good ground and working hard in support.
Dragons were penalised for not rolling away and Glen Jackson took Saracens into the lead with the penalty.
The fly-half struck again minutes later as the Dragons committed a further offence and he put Saracens 6-0 ahead.
Saracens were looking dangerous with the ball in hand and strong in defence, with the back row and Adam Powell at centre looking particularly dangerous.
It was the visitors who struck with the first try, the Dragons pack turned Saracens over near the halfway line and wing Will Harries spotted the blindside undefended.
He showed exceptional pace to step past the covering Jackson and then turned Rodd Penney inside out to cross the line, Jason Tovey converted to give the visitors a 7-6 lead.
Saracens soon hit back by gradually building pressure on the Dragons line, the visitors committed an offence once more and Jackson regained the lead, before Tovey cancelled the effort out with a monster penalty from near halfway.
The Dragons were proving that they had turned up for a game despite not being able to qualify, there was plenty of niggle off the ball and the visitors certainly looked a threat to Saracens' hopes of qualifying.
Saracens took the lead once more before half time through a Jackson penalty before Tovey responded on the stroke of half time to give the Dragons the lead.
Sarries seemed to change their tactics at half time and began to kick possession to the opposition and rely on their defence to force penalties.
The tactic soon misfired as a loose kick saw the Dragons regain possession with an overlap.
A chip through by the Dragons captain saw Harries race through to score with Tovey converting.
Jackson was replaced by Hougaard who immediately had an impact by dropping a goal to reduce the Dragons lead before Saracens scored their only try of the game.
Another long kick from the fly half saw Tovey collect the ball within his own 22.
The fly-half was charged down by the chasing Chris Wyles who collected the ball to score, Hougaard's conversion gave Saracens a narrow 22-20 lead.
The Dragons soon found themselves back in Saracens half and a Tovey drop goal regained the lead.
Saracens now had fifteen minutes to take control of the game and force a penalty but instead chose to attempt drop goals whenever they had possession in the opposition half.
Every attempt missed by some distance and when the final whistle blew Hougaard kicked the ball off the field in the knowledge that the men in black were through to the semi-finals.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
