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FINAL SCORE TODAY'S OFFICIALS: Referee I Rob Debney ch Judges I Paul Dix and Andrew Pearce FINAL SCORE

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42 www.bathrugby.com wwv victory as they ran out 31-7 winners against Leeds Carnegie. SARACENS Further wins followed against AGAINST Worcester, and that got the Premiership campaign off to a fine start. In the EDF Energy Cup, two THE ODDS maximum point wins over Leeds WORDS I MIKE HARTWELL PICTURES I GETTY IMAGES Carnegie and Bristol set up a semi-final clash with the Ospreys but that ended in defeat at the Millennium Stadium. However, they got their revenge two weeks later when the Ospreys were beaten at Vicarage Road in the Heineken CLip to set up the clash against Munster in the last four of the competition. Over Christmas, a win at Harlequins but a defeat at home to and a loss at Bristol made it a mixed festive season for Gaffney's men but they still went into 2008 stilt sitting in third place in the Premiership. After that, home wins over Bath and Worcester have kept the club in the top half of the table. However, successive defeats to Newcastle Falcons, Harlequins and London Irish meant recent wins over Sale and Leeds have kept alive Premiership aracens travel to The Rec passion but came up short against Tries from Hugh Vyvyan, Adam hopes. today on the back of a brave the Irish provincial powerhouse to Powell and Neil de Kock saw the However, defeats at Gloucester Sand battling performance in miss out 18-16. Emotions were team to victory in a display which and at home to Wasps ruled out the Heineken Cup semi-final there for all to see at the final owed much to patience, keeping any hopes of a repeat of last ne of the contenders for the 2006/07 Player of the Sea: against Munster last weekend. whistle - especially having come so control of the ball and executing the season's Premiership play-off Neil de Kock made an instant impression on the Sarai The North London club delivered close to upsetting the odds in a game plan. • spot. However, last weekend's following his move from Western Province at the start a performance filled with pride and match where few, if any, pundits Things didn't go quite so according Heineken Cup semi-final O season. A regular with the province in the Currie Cup and al: gave them a chance of winning. to plan the following week when appearance was the fourth time in Super 14 side The , he is widely regarded as one of But today, the action returns to the Gloucester were the visitors to two years that the Men In Black talented scrum halves in South Africa. Guinness Premiership and although Vicarage Road and they left with a have made the last four of a Last weekend's A player who is quick to the breakdown and with an exc 44 Heineken Cup qualification looks 31-38 victory. Saracens led 14-6 competition in what has been an and good tactical kicking skills, he formed a fantastic par Heineken Cup semi-final beyond Saracens for next season, early in the first half but a number exciting period under Director of with Glen Jackson last season that was one of the key re the importance of a strong finish to of scoring chances went begging - Rugby Alan Gaffney and his appearance was the the Men In Black's fourth place Premiership finish. He is the campaign will not be lost on allowing Gloucester back into what coaching team of Richard Graham captain for the 2007/08 season. fourth time in two years Alan Gaffney's side. turned out to be an entertaining and Adrian Kennedy. that the Men In Black Saracens started their 2007/08 clash. campaign against Wasps in the However, the Men In Black were have made the last four London Double Header at back to winning ways the following of a competition in what Twickenham and the European week as they picked up five points at 3 Emotions were there for all to see at the final whistle — especially has been an exciting Champions were beaten 19-29 in Headingley. Tries from Rodd Penney, what was a superb display from the Richard Haughton, Noah Cato and come so close to upsetting the odds in a match where few, if any, pun, period 99 Vyvyan secured the bonus point Men In Black. them a chance of winning 99

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