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Saracens were 19-10 winners over the Western Force at Old Albanians on Friday night running in three tries against the Super 14 outfit.
Michael Owen crossed the line on his debut and there was also a score from Rodd Penney and a fine team try that was rounded off by Adam Powell that secured the win in front of the 2,500 crowd in St Albans.
Although there is still plenty to work on, Saracens worked hard in defence to restrict the visitors to a single try for Caleb Brown minutes into the second half and offered promising glimpses in attack to take into next week's friendlies against Toulon and the Dragons.
It was the home side who opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a try for debutant Owen. The former Wales captain, a summer signing from the Dragons, drove over the line from short range to cap what was an impressive first appearance in Saracens colours. That score came after a sustained period of pressure in the Force 22 and Owen was on hand to round things off. Glen Jackson struck the conversion from in front of the posts.
Midway through the first half, one of the many penalties throughout the game ended with the livewire James O'Connor striking a penalty from 20m to reduce the scores. And as time was running out in the opening period, O'Connor struck another kick, but it drifted wide and referee Andrew Small blew for the interval.
The visitors started the second period well and really put pressure on the home side. Eventually that told when full back Dane Haylett-Petty broke through the defensive line and took advantage of a missed tackle to pass inside to Brown who had a clear run to the line. O'Connor added the extras to give the touring side the lead.
While his distrubution was incisive throughout the game, O'Connor's kicking radar was a little off and his penalty attempt from 22m just to the right of centre of the posts went wide and within minutes, Saracens had retaken the lead with the try of the night.
It started with a Cencus Johnston barrelling run on the Saracens 22 and ended with Powell diving over the line a minute later. Johnston's powerful run set up the break and when Rodd Penney and Dan Scarbrough took the ball on, Saracens showed what they are capable off, and with the offloading and clever movement working well, Powell found himself out wide and scored. Jackson's conversion went through off the upright.
Three minutes later the lead was extended when after winning the ball 5m from the visitors line, Jackson sent a long miss-pass out to Penney and the wing took the ball on the bounce and had a clear run in. Jackson missed with his conversion.
Late on the visitors made several breaks through the defensive line but the Saracens squad worked hard to get back and put in a huge effort to deny the Force another score and win the game 19-10.
The match also saw both Andy and Owen Farrell on the bench tonight but they didn't get on the field at the same time - in fact it was Owen who replaced his Dad on the pitch. Farrell Snr came on midway through the second half for Powell but he left the pitch minutes later after dislocating his thumb and was replaced by his son.
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Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
hopefully they will be good team mates and get a good catch up
Originally Posted by jono
