Saracens silenced by Metro
Saracens' Heineken Cup hopes were dealt a major blow on Saturday when they slid to a 24-21 home defeat to French club Racing Metro.
By Simon Dilger
Last Updated: 11/12/10 6:04pm
Saracens' Heineken Cup hopes were dealt a major blow on Saturday when they slid to a 24-21 home defeat to French club Racing Metro.
The Watford-based outfit followed up losses away to Clermont Auvergne and at home to Leinster with defeat at Vicarage Road to leave them in last place in Pool Two, with just a single point from their three encounters with European opposition.
Brendan Ventner's men began brightly and took just six minutes to open the scoring after spreading the ball wide to the right for winger Noah Cato to race in.
Farrell missed the conversion but on 13 minutes he made no mistake, slotting a penalty to take his side into an 8-0 lead.
But Racing hit back almost immediately, Jonathan Wisniewski striking a penalty of his own to close the gap by three points.
And three minutes later Francois Steyn slotted another to make it 8-6 as the French side began to assert themselves more on the game.
Confidence
Racing were rewarded on 25 minutes when Brad Barritt inexplicably gifted the visitors their first try.
Chasing a kick deep into his 22 Barritt needed only to slide onto the loose ball to take it out at the right corner.
Instead, the Sarries fullback decided to flick the ball back in-field in front of his try-line where his opposite number Harnandez was waiting to pounce. Wisniewski added the extras to take Racing into a 13-8 lead.
Racing continued to grow in confidence as the game progressed and as they began to dominate possession, a second try started to look increasingly likely.
The second half began with the Paris side still controlling possession, but it was the hosts who had the first chance to pull three points back on 51 minutes.
Farrell however, was unable push his team any closer as he pulled his kick wide of the left upright for his second penalty miss of the game.
Magnificent
South African centre Steyn extended Racing's lead to 16-8 in the 55th minute with a well-struck penalty.
But Farrell was on target with a long-distance effort a minute later, his kick bouncing off the left post before landing on the right side to make it 11-16.
The young fly-half put his side right back in it on 64 minutes when Sebastien Chabal was pinged for not rolling away, making it 14-16 with a well struck penalty.
But, when Sarries' clearance kick was charged down just a minute later, Wisniewski took no time at all to spot the opportunity and fire over a snap drop-goal to restore the gap.
And as the clock hit 68 minutes, Wisniewski produced a great flick out of the back of his hand that found Sireli Bobo.
The Fijian veteran sidestepped his man and produced a devastating burst of speed that belied his 34 years to sprint 30 metres to the line for a magnificent try.
Frantic
Wisniewski sent his conversion attempt wide to leave the scores on 24-14 to the Frenchmen with just 10 minutes to go.
Staring a home defeat in the face, Saracens pounded the Racing line as they desperately sought to haul the game back in their favour.
Strettle went close but was brought down short, before the pressure paid off when Barritt crossed in the right corner.
Farrell converted with an excellent touchline effort to put Saracens just three points behind and set up a frantic finale.
But it was not to be for Brendan Ventner's men, as Racing held out for a crucial win on English soil that leaves Sarries rooted to the bottom of Pool Two.
