Saracens 40 - 33 Cardiff Rugby
HT 16-13
Sun 17 April 13:00 StoneX Stadium European Challenge Cup
Overview
Live
Report
80

Full Time

Heartbreak for Cardiff as the European dream is over for the season. An admirable performance full of heart in London but the Blue and Blacks just fall short in the final moments. Balch iawn o berfformiad y bois ond Saracens sydd yn fuddugol.40-33 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

78

Saracens do enough to disrupt the maul and force a turnover. 40-33 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

77

Amos is obstructed on the chase and Cardiff have a penalty on half way. Great effort from Evans, who pushes the limit and brings it right into the corner. 40-33 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

75

Try

TMO pulls play back and a try is awarded to Rhys Carre. Evans adds the extras to bring the Blue and Blacks within a converted try. 40-33 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

74

Navidi looks to be over, but he's judged short and the ball is recycled. Carre is up next and somehow Saracens come out with the possession on the line and counter. Superb effort from Lane and Bradley to cover back and win a turnover. 40-26 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

72

Botham and Davies combine in midfield to hold Vunipola up in the tackle and force a turnover. 40-26 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

70

Try (Opp.)

Despite Tomos Williams' line speed to put pressure on Farrell, the Saracens captain manages to find Malins in space with an offload out of the back door and the English international extends the hosts' lead. 40-26 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

64

A speculative kick through from Dom Morris as Cardiff don't deal with it behind and Aled Davies is on hand to dot down. 33-26 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

61

Penalty Goal

Priestland keeps chipping away at the scoreboard as we head into the final quarter with all to play for. 28-26 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

59

Try (Opp.)

Maitland grabs a brace and Saracens are back ahead after Farrell and Malins combine in midfield. 28-23 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

55

Penalty Goal

Priestland adds another penalty from 40m out. We're back where we began! It's all square and tense here at StoneX Stadium. 23-23 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

53

Try (Opp.)

Saracens bounce back and regain the lead as Max Malins' break leads to a run-in for Maitland. 23-20 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

50

Try

Tomos Williams' snipe once again providing the spark. This time the scrum half is caught but manages to free his hands and offload to Lane to finish. Priestland makes no mistakes to add the extras. 16-20 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

48

Huge distance from Priestland to bring play into the Saracens 22. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

48

Saracens on the attack after Maitland coasts clear, but as they start to raise the pressure in the 22 Dillon Lewis comes up trumps in the breakdown, winning a crucial penalty over the ball. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

45

Tim Swinson penalised at the line-out but Priestland's effort is pulled wide. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

42

Max Llewellyn just gets his boot caught as he threatens to break clear but play comes back as the ball was knocked forward in the air by the competing Summerhill. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

41

Kick Off

Play restarts here at StoneX Stadium and Hallam Amos is called into action early to deal with a Farrell kick through. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

40

Try

A lovely snipe from scrum half Williams to make the break past the first line of defence. He steps back on the inside and does enough to stretch for the line and finish a stunning solo score. Three points in it at the interval. 13-16 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

38

Try (Opp.)

Dom Morris is over for the first try of the game as Saracens pounce from a loose kick. It did look like someone was taken out in the midfield but play continued and Saracens have a 10-point lead as we approach the break. 6-9 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

33

And it's an immediate response from the Blue and Blacks' Priestland, who makes it a three-point game once again with a driven effort. 6-9 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

31

Penalty Goal (Opp.)

Navidi is penalised for not rolling away and Farrell points to the stick. His strike opens up a six-point gap on the scoreboard. 3-9 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

29

Amos caught deep by the defensive line-speed, and Maitland forces a penalty. Saracens have an opportunity five meters out but there is an over-throw at the line and Tomos Williams gathers the scraps. 3-6 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

25

Penalty Goal (Opp.)

Farrell adds his second of the afternoon to edge the hosts ahead. 3-6 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

21

Good work from the pack to win a penalty and Priestland finds touch inside the 22 as Cardiff press for the game's first try. 3-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

19

A try goes begging as Hallam Amos slices between Wray and Morris to go racing clear. He feeds Lane in space on the outside but the wing can't keep hold of the ball. 3-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

16

James Botham the latest to claim a breakdown turnover, this time getting himself in a strong position over Christie on the halfway line. 3-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

15

Penalty Goal (Opp.)

Owen Farrell is on target with his first attempt of the day and it's all square here in London. 3-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

12

A fortuitous bounce of the ball gives Saracens possession on the front foot, however a crunching tackle from Domachowski on Itoje takes some sting out of the attack. 0-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

9

Penalty Goal

Hell of a swerve on it, but Rhys Priestland opens the scoring from the tee. 0-3 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

7

Huge steal by Seb Davies in the maul to prevent the Sarries drive. Summerhill clears and then it's Shane Lewis-Hughes who wins a penalty from the hosts' counter. 0-0 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

5

Dillon Lewis is pinned for going off his feet as he attempts the turnover, leading to a Saracens line-out inside the 22. 0-0 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

4

Tomos Williams making a dent down the blindside but a couple of phases later the possession is lost in midfield and Farrell clears. 0-0 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

3

Saracens' kick-chase penalised for offside giving Cardiff an early attacking opportunity on the edge of the 22. 0-0 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR

0

Kick Off

We're underway at StoneX Stadium, with Rhys Priestland kicking us off for this European Round of 16 match. Rhys Priestland yn cychwyn y gem yma yn Llundain. 0-0 #ChallengeCupRugby #SARvCAR