Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Bristol Saracens RFC
7th November 2026

Following a successful trip for the 1st XV, last Saturday to the Forest of Dean, this weekend saw Es hosting a double-header of fixtures at Fortress Hallen. A midday kick off for the Es Thundercats vs Caerphilly BaaBaas, who were on tour, was to be followed by a 2.30pm kick off for the 1st XV in a league match, a local derby against Bristol Saracens.

Es Thundercats Squad: Tom Hargroves, Harry Redfern, Conor McGrath, Dan Leach, Alex Ganfield, Joe Spicer, Angus Clifford, Harry Wiseman, Wil Paterson, Dom Swann, Ben Simmons, Alex Potts, Scott Tomlins, Tom Scott- Dempster, Jacob, Turato, Adam Skyner, Harrison Nash, Josh Barreto, Lewis Coates-Johns, Mark Sweeney, Ned Stott, Oli Clapp, Phil Warwicker, Rob Munro, Will Laver, Lucas Sadler

MATCH REPORT:
A really great turn out for the TCs against a strong touring side who are apparently topping their division in Wales. Great to see Tom Hargroves back in an Es shirt! Also, a warm welcome back to Harrison Nash for his first game since dislocating his ankle back last season whilst playing for the 1st XV.

Our very own President Phil Cheek was officiating this game as Ref. There were some good early exchanges between the two teams, for Es a glorious run by Ned Stott stood out. Caerphilly were the first to gain access to a 22 zone and this led to an early try in the far right hand corner and an even more impressive touchline conversion (0-7).

Another Es player getting stuck in was Angus Clifford who had a couple of fine runs. The conditions were however damp resulting in a slippery ball and Es were seen to drop the ball a number of times. Es however responded well to Caerphilly taking an early lead when Wil Patterson stole over the white wash in the far left hand corner, not converted (5-7).

Dom Swann and Alex Potts were combining well and the Es Thundercats were enjoying a fair bit of possession and territory but struggling to make it count. Caerphilly broke out of their 22 and their No.15 sold an outrageous dummy completely fooling the TCs defence and he strolled through to score a try under the posts, duly converted (5-14).

Caerphilly go further ahead when their No.12 showed some good dribbling skills before touching down + conversion (5-21).

Es Thundercats continued to see a lot of the ball and were threatening the Caerphilly line a number of times but poor last passing, poor ball retention and lack of phases were letting the TCs down.

Half Time score (Thundercats 5 – 21 Caerphilly).

Early second half pressure saw Caerphilly use the full width of the pitch moving the ball from side to side before scoring a further try, not converted (5-26).

Some poor defence then saw the TCs give away a further try when immediately from the kick off a Caerphilly player ran straight through the defence to score + conversion (5-33).

Skipper Alex Potts put in a thundering tackle against the Caerphilly big boy and you could hear the thud! Wave after wave of Caerphilly attacks were met by some stern TCs defence, a good break out run by Ben Simmons took TCs back up the pitch for some of the best TC phases before the ball was spilled in the tackle. The Es TCs were trying to run the ball from our own 22 led by Harry Wiseman (you can see why he is really a 1st XV player!) before Caerphilly really put the game to bed with a converted try under the posts (5-40). Fair play to the Thundercats though, as they continued to play some exciting rugby and in the last move of the game a good break from Wil Patterson saw him slip the ball to Harry Wiseman for a well deserved try, not converted (10-40).

FINAL SCORE: Thundercats 10 – 40 Caerphilly

A thoroughly enjoyable game to watch and the scoreline certainly seemed to flatter Caerphilly but well done to the Thundercats.

SCORERS:
Tries: Wil Patterson (2).

Spectators Man of the Match: Harry Wiseman

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1st XV SQUAD: Jack Houlder, Fergus Blyth, Callum McCarthy, Tom Bendall, Ben Charlton, Matt Bailey, Jakob Harding, Herbie Gale, Fin McCarthy, Sam Hygate, Ollie Brown, Pat Dore, Sam Brewer, Alex CS, Arthur Mills, Greg Foord, Hamish Watson, Alex Potts

MATCH REPORT:
Bristol Saracens were greeted, in a typical rugby fashion by a noisy Caerphilly support which carried on throughout the game. A good start by Es saw them kick to touch from a penalty and a well won lineout saw Es forwards and some of the backs drive over the line giving skipper Pat Dore a touchdown, the conversion kick just creeping over, bouncing off the bar (7-0).

A strong take by Tom Bendall from the restart, but it wasn’t long before Saracens were pressurising the Es defence, however, Es cleared their lines and another penalty kick to touch gave Es the opportunity for another push over try but somewhere Es lost the ball and Saracens were able to clear their lines. Es scrum initially started well but then Saracens seemed to get the upper hand making it difficult for Es to manage their own put in. A good move by Es saw Alex CS almost home before being bundled into touch 5m out. Es then knock on and Saracens break, kicking through to score an opportune try and conversion (7-7).

This was proving to be a good hard competitive game with both sides running hard and straight lines. A good run from Sam Brewer should have led to an Es try but a deliberate knock on by a Saracens defender saw him sent to the touch line with a Yellow Card, which could have been a Penalty Try, but alas not! Es then took the opportunity to take the lead again with Sam Hygate (a firm favourite of the Caerphilly supporters), slotting the ball between the posts from a penalty kick (10-7).

Es extended their lead soon after following a 30m line out and a good three quarters move and Fin McCarthy scoring for Es, not converted (15-7).

Es scrum seemed to be coming under increased pressure leading to a number of penalties and Saracens capitalised through a move from a penalty with their No.13 slipping through the Es defence for a converted try (15-14).

A good run by Herbie Gale off the back of the scrum almost led to a further Es scoring response but again they somehow lost the ball as the referee then blew for Half Time.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 15 – 14 Bristol Saracens).

Greg Foord on for E’s. Great tackle by skipper Pat Dore having another sterling performance following last week’s Supporters Man of the Match. Es were struggling to get out of their own half but a good penalty kick clearance from Sam Hygate took them past half way into the Saracens half. Once again Es penalty count was starting to mount as Saracens seemed to have got the measure of the Es attack. So, taking a 30m kick for goal from another penalty seemed the right option and Sam Hygate didn’t disappoint cooly adding three points (18-14).

Another Es penalty kick for posts a few minutes later, which would have taken Es 7 points clear saw the kick fall just short. A high return kick from Es fell out of the bread basket of the Saracens defender only to be greeted with the loudest cheer of the afternoon from the Caerphilly support. Es continued to be penalised and Saracens called for a 5m scrum from which a quick move saw them slip through the Es defensive line for a try and conversion (18-21).

Despite some good efforts by Es, Saracens now had their noses in front and were strong in defence such that the scoreline didn’t change before the final whistle.

A tough game which could have gone either way. Es have now played 7 games with just two wins and a draw but importantly they have accumulated 17 points, picking up at least one bonus point from each of the 7 games, interestingly now moving ahead of St.Marys who have lost their last three games! With Cheltenham North having dropped out of the League it now leaves Es with two free Saturday’s. Watch this space for any news of other games!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 18 – 21 Bristol Saracens

SCORERS:
Tries: Pat Dore, Fin McCarthy.
Conversions: Sam Hygate.
Penalties: Sam Hygate (2)

Skippers Man of the Match: Jakob Harding

Spectators Man of the Match: Sam Hygate

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Reports by: Paul 'Blakey' Barrington

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