SLAITHWAITE Saracens bowed out of the Pennine President’s Cup at the second round stage with a 34-10 defeat at Queen’s.
But it was clear even before the kick-off that this was going to be a tough afternoon.
As well as travelling to face the Pennine League Premier Division leaders, the visitors were lacking eight senior players, including influential half-back Danny Garside.
On top of that, the team took a wrong turning on the way to the Queens ground and turned up just 10 minutes before kick-off.
But nevertheless Slaithwaite still produced a very determined and spirited display against the National and Yorkshire Cup holders.
From the first tackle the Saracens knew it was going to be a physical game, with both teams standing head top head.
It took 20 minutes before the first try was scored through a lucky bounce from a kick which bounced nicely for the Queens full-back to collect and score.
Straight from the re-start a short kick from Holmes (pictured) found touch and from the resulting scrum, neat handling from Birkenshaw and Holmes put Feehan clear to race 20 metres and score, with Worthington failing to goal.
Queen’s responded with their second try almost immediately before another Holmes’ kick found touch and Slaithwaite were backon the attack with head and feed in the scrum.
The Saracens showed great globetrotting skills to keep the ball alive, which ended with a great over-lap pass from Worthington to put Mitchell through a gap and then burst through three tacklers to score and Holmes converted.
At 12-10 to Queens five minutes before the break, the home side were rattled and they resorted to strong-arm tactics.
Unluckily for the Saracens, Queens then scored yet again from a lucky bounce to make it 16-10 at half-time.
The second half shaped up the opposite way to the first as Slaithwaite were unable to look after the ball.
Their hosts held good field position and within 15 minutes had scored two more ties to make it 28-10.
But the Saracens refused to wave the white flag, with captain McAfferty, Reilly, Holmes and Birkenshaw trying anything and everything to turn the game around.
They had their work cut out against a strong Queens defence, however, and with five minutes left the Leeds side had the last laugh.
Although their full-back looked certain to score when he collected the ball on his own line and ran the full length of the field, he was magnificently caught by Feehan.
But on the next tackle Queens forced their way over to make a final score of 34-10, which hardly reflected effort put in by the entire Saracens team.
