Hill's injury adds to Saracens sorrows
London Irish 20 Saracens 3
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As if defeat was not bad enough for struggling Saracens, they also lost their England flanker Richard Hill, who had to be carried off at the end of the first half.
As if defeat was not bad enough for struggling Saracens, they also lost their England flanker Richard Hill, who had to be carried off at the end of the first half.
Hill appeared to twist his left knee, although the Saracens coach, Rod Kafer, clearly angry at the result and at the way some of the refereeing decisions seemed to go against his side, claimed that he had no idea about the extent of the damage, nor which limb had been injured.
"We will know more tomorrow," said Kafer, "but yes, I am very worried about Richard Hill's injury." Hill twisted awkwardly when England colleague Mike Catt sidestepped around him and sparked the move that led to London Irish's first try.
Victory was all the sweeter for The Exiles, who leap-frogged Saracens in the table.
At times the handling and the execution would have looked more at home on the stage of the Whitehall Theatre. Thankfully, London Irish had Catt, who is still able to punch through defences. It was he who supplied Justin Bishop to score the Exiles' opening try late in the first half.
The Exiles' second owed much to an apparent knock-on by Keiran Roche, but the No 8 was able to slip the ball to scrum-half Darren Edwards who fed Delon Armitage to touch down.
The knock-on is possibly what prompted Kafer to add: "There were a number of factors that had a significant impact on the game. We will certainly speak to the referee during the week and to the touch judges as well as the assessors."
Irish's third try also owed much to a knock-on, this time by the Saracens full-back, Robbie Kydd, who failed to hang on to a Nicky Little chip into midfield and, with referee David Rose playing advantage, Michael Horak pounced.
London Irish: Tries Bishop, Armitage, Horak; Conversion Armitage; Penalty Everitt. Saracens: Penalty Little.
London Irish: M Horak; J Bishop G Appleford, M Catt (D Armitage, 65), S Staniforth; B Everitt (N Mordt, 60), P Hodgson (D Edwards, 62); N Hatley, R Russell, R Hardwick (P Durant, 78), N Kennedy (R Strudwick, 60), R Casey, D Danaher, P Murphy (K Roche, 68), K Dawson (capt).
Saracens: R Kydd; R Haughton (B Johnston, 58), T Castaignede, K Sorrell, P Bailey; B Russell (N Little, h-t), K Bracken (M Rauluni, 62); K Yates (N Lloyd, 68), R Ibanez (M Cairns, 50), B Broster, K Chesney (S Raiwalui, 50), H Vyvyan (capt), R Hill (B Skirving, 39), T Randell, D Seymour.
Referee: D Rose (Birmingham).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments