Connacht played Saracens against a backdrop of huge office buildings and a setting sun at the Honourable Artilary Company (HAC) Grounds in the middle of the City of London. George Naoupu and John Muldoon both won early turnovers but it was the home side who struck first with a penalty from outhalf Farrell. Matthew Jarvis’s boot was called on several times in the opening exchanges and the young outhalf, celebrating his 21^st birthday, made no issue with some huge clearance kicks. Despite going down 11 0 after half an hour Connacht’s forwards were winning every tight exchange, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Matthew Jarvis and former Saracens hooker Ethienne Reynecke all making huge hits and turning over ball with some ferocious rucking but the whistle of referee Sean Davey didn’t blow Connacht’s way and the visitors found themselves 14 3 down at halftime with only a late Mathew Jarvis penalty accounting for Connacht’s points.

A shortened halftime break due to fading light, with both teams staying on the pitch, meant there was only a short break in the action and Connacht were soon back in the thick of it with some huge hits from John Muldoon, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy and George Naoupu while the backline fired well with the little ball they received but Connacht were made pay with a high penalty count from referee Sean Davey swinging the game in Saracens favour. The Connacht backs linnked smoothly with some slick hand from Duffy, Fa'afili and Griffin leaving Tierna nO'Halloran free to sprint in for Connacht's only try of the game. Late trys from winger James Short and flanker Andy Saull sealed the game for Saracens with the final score of 26 8 not reflecting the hard graft put in by Connacht’s defense.

The Connacht coaches will have garnered a lot from the 3 preseason matches and getting a new squad to gel together will be seen as more important than the results as Eric Elwood’s team head off to Benetton Treviso next week for the start of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Connacht 1^st home game is on the 10^th September in the Sportsground on College Rd and tickets can be purchased from www.connachtrugby.ie or from www.ticketmaster.ie