Sarries outclass WP at Allianz

English Premiership outfit Saracens outclassed the Currie Cup champions, Western Province in their friendly encounter on Sunday.

Saracens ran in six tries to three in highly entertaining game they won 46-22 on the artificial turf at Allianz Park in London.

It has to be said that WP are at the end of a very long season, after having won the Currie Cup two weeks ago. In contrast Sarries, second on the Premiership standings, are just are just six weeks into their campaign.

The visitors got off to a great start, taking the ball through 15 phases and winning a penalty. Demetri Catrakilis was on target to give Province a 3-0 lead after four minutes.

However, it was former WP scrumhalf Neil de Kock, who seemed to have enjoyed playing against his former team, and Charlie Hodgson that got the home team going.

And De Kock was the architect of the first try, as the experienced No.9 broke the line to feed discarded England wing Chris Ashton – the latter going over in his trademark fashion. Charlie Hodgson kicked the conversion to make it 7-3.

Then the other international discard David Strettle produced a fine individual effort, as he hot-stepped his way past three would-be defenders to finish expertly in the corner a minute later. The conversion attempt was wide, but the home team had opened up a 12-3 lead.

The visitors hit back in the 24th minute, with flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis jinking over. The No.10 hits the upright, but referee Andrew Small ordered a retake after Saracens charged the kick down too early. However, his second attempt also hits the post.

Ashton got his second try in the 27th minute, following some brilliant tracking from the Sarries wing – who collected an inside ball to race away. Hodgson's conversion made it 19-8 just short of the half-hour mark.

Then two South Africans combined for Sarries' next five-pointer – second row partners Alistair Hargreaves and Mouritz Botha with some fine interplay for Botha to race down the right hand touchline. Hodgson added the extras – 26-8, which was also the half-time score.

Province also started the second half in fine fashion, as Catrakilis scored his second try, following some brilliant interplay with Springbok discard Juan de Jongh. Catrakilis added the conversion – 15-26 after 43 minutes.

Sarries were reduced to 14 men a minute later, after replacement Will Fraser was yellow-carded.

However, the visitors failed to make their numerical advantage count – with two Hodgson penalties, the second after a powerful Saracens scrum, took the home team into a 32-15 lead.

Strettle managed to get his second try just past the hour mark, after he raced onto a clever Ben Spencer kick through – which came after Saracens won a turnover from a WP line-out error. The conversion made it 39-15.

Minutes later the WP's Bulls import, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, barged over to score. The conversion was added by another replacement, Kurt Coleman – 22-39.

The home team had the final say when Fraser waltzed in, after Saracens created a three-man overlap for the replacement flank to score. Spencer added the conversion to make it 46-22 – the final score.

The local pundits gave the Man of the Match award to Saracens wing David Strettle.

The scorers:

For Saracens:

Tries: Ashton 2, Strettle 2, Botha, Fraser

Cons: Hodgson 4, Spencer

Pens: Hodgson 2

For Western Province:

Tries: Catrakilis 2, Mbonambi

Cons: Catrakilis, Coleman

Pen: Catrakilis

Yellow card: Will Fraser (Saracens, 44)

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Tim Streather, 12 Chris Wyles, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Gill.

Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Duncan Taylor.

Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Michael van der Spuy.

Referee: Andrew Small (England)

Assistant referees: Andy Watson (England), Simon Mcconnell (England)

TMO: David Sainsbury (England)

@Saracens & @rugby365com