Saracens and Kaiapoi to play for NC title

• Published date: 29 July 2021

Saracens comfortably accounted for Oxford 37-10, while Kaiapoi was forced to grind out its 19-3 over Hurunui in last week’s semi final encounters.

Saracens ran in five tries to Oxford’s two at Southbrook Park in a game where both teams played an attractive brand of rugby.

Saracens superiority however came in the forwards, with a scrum that laid a platform for its backs to work on and exploit the Oxford defence.

Fullback Harry Murray was quickly into the action for Saracens when he scored after finding room down the blind side touch 25 metres out from the Oxford line. Oxford missed a penalty attempt before Saracen’s Alex Kennedy scored from a pushover.

Although the Saracens pack was starting to dominate, Oxford spent time on attack that resulted in its impressive number eight, Jesse Houston, scoring in the corner.

The scene for the final outcome was set on the stroke of half time when Willie Kerr was on hand to score after the ball was swung wide on the open side.

Leading 21-5 going into the second half, Saracens Ricky Allin added to Oxford’s pain kicking two penalties in the first 10 minutes.

Oxford again spent time on attack and was rewarded with a well-executed try from full back Angus Mitchell.

That however was the end of the scoring for Oxford, and with the penalty count steadily stacking against them, it allowed Saracens to dominate the final quarter, with Matt Freeman and John Wakelin both scoring tries.

Lock Alex Kennedy was a stand out for Saracens, on a day that could have seen him rowing in the New Zealand eight in Tokyo, but he chose to remain at home. Willie Kerr relished being back on the side of the scrum and Ricky Allin was again accurate with his tactical kicking.

Jesse Bowring and Angus Mitchell were dangerous in the Oxford backline when getting an opportunity, while nobody tried harder in the pack than evergreen Stew Dalzell.

Scoreboard: Saracens 37, Alex Kennedy, Harry Murray, Willie Kerr, Matt Freeman and John Wakelin tries. Ricky Allin 3 conversions and 2 penalties. Oxford 10, Jesse Houston, Angus Mitchell tries.

Kaiapoi off boil

As a spectacle the semi-final between Kaiapoi and Hurunui rarely got out of second gear, frustrating both sets of coaches and the spectators.

The action never moved far away from the forwards, but the defensive lines of both teams were very efficient.

Hurunui hit the front after just 6 minutes with a Digby Heard penalty, but that was to to be the only time Hurunui offered any employment to the scoreboard...