Saracens left feeling Blue
By Administrator
Last Updated: 12/01/26 6:49am
Saracens saw the EDF Energy Cup hopes ended by a 40-29 defeat against Cardiff.
Saracens will want to forget the past week - and quickly.
Two heavy defeats, first to London Irish and then Sunday's 40-29 thumping against Cardiff Blues, ended their EDF Energy Cup hopes and sandwiched the on-going controversy surrounding cross-code convert Andy Farrell.
Alan Gaffney's men can only hope that the Guinness Premiership offers them more luck after a poor performance against Cardiff did little to lift the gloom hanging over Vicarage Road at the moment.
Sarries were completely outclassed by the Welsh club - with tries from Tom Shanklin (2), Marc Stcherbina, Mark Lewis and Mosese Luveitasau putting the game out of sight, while Ben Blair added 15 points with the boot.
More worryingly for Saracens is the way they fell away after just edging the first 40 minutes.
Sarries had reached the break 22-15 in front, with fly-half Glen Jackson slotting over five penalties and converting Tomas de Vedia's try.
For the visitors, Blair found his range with a penalty and a conversion after Shanklin and Stcherbina had both crossed.
But despite their good work in the first half, Saracens were comprehensively brushed aside after the break. Quick tries from Lewis and former Sarries player Shanklin put Cardiff firmly in control, while Blair added another conversion and a penalty to his personal tally.
Not even the introduction of Farrell - tellingly, on as blindside flanker - could stop the rot as Luveitasau's interception try, converted by Blair, sealed Saracens' fate.
Ben Johnston did score a try for the home side, with Jackson tagging on the extras, but it was too little too late.