Cardiff Rugby bowed out of Europe but restored pride in the jersey in a thrilling Challenge Cup last 16 encounter at the Stonex Stadium.
Following two sobering Welsh derby defeats to the Scarlets, Dai Young’s side were desperate to produce a vast improvement in the daunting challenge against Saracens.
They were left under no illusions that their recent form in the United Rugby Championship was unacceptable and in a fresh competition they fought to the bitter end and made the English heavyweights work for everything.
A try from Tomos Williams and the boot of Rhys Priestland, kept Dai Young’s side in touch at the break and an Owen Lane score gave them a brief second-half lead.
But Saracens’ powerful pack and electric backs eventually proved too much to contain as they took control of the encounter, with Owen Farrell and Max Malins inspiring a flurry of second half scores.
Rhys Carré powered over for a late try against his former side and Evans converted to set-up a tense final five minute, but the Blue and Blacks were left with too much to do as Saracens secured their place in the final eight.
The Blue and Blacks were dealt a succession of blows in the the build up to the game with club captain Josh Turnbull ruled out and Will Davies-King and Will Boyde late withdrawals due to injury.
But it did not disrupt Cardiff’s commitment and fighting spirit as they now turn attention back to the URC and a home derby against the Ospreys.
With no uncertainty of what to expect from Saracens, Cardiff played for plenty of territory at the Stonex Stadium.
Rhys Priestland and Owen Farrell exchanged plenty of kicks before the Blue and Blacks kicked a long penalty towards the corner.
The lineout, which misfired last week, was secured and Cardiff went through a succession of phases, with Tomos Williams continually changing the point of attack. They did well to maintain possession but were unable to make major inroads and Saracens soaked it up before forcing a knock on.
Having coughed up possession, Cardiff soon found themselves on their own five-metre line after Saracens countered and then earned a penalty of their own, which was kicked to the corner.
They set up a driving line line-out, which could have set alarm bells ringing given last week’s woes, but they held the hosts at bay, strangled the maul and then turned over possession.
Priestland spread the ball wide from behind the try-line and Amos was released out wide before kicking downfield to relieve the pressure.
Moment later, Cardiff were awarded a penalty and Priestland opened the scoring kicking low into a swirling wind.
Farrell levelled the scores after a Williams box-kick was blown off course and the pack were caught offside on 15 minutes.
Cardiff should have taken the lead as the 20 minute mark approached and Hallam Amos sliced through the home defence after some clever play from Priestland.
Amos drew Alex Goode to put Lane away but the wing, who had previously bagged seven tries in 10 games this season, uncharacteristically left the ball behind with the try-line at his mercy.
He instantly threw his hands to his head in despair and let off a wry smile but Cardiff could be encouraged by the start with the back-row profiting at the breakdown and their carriers matching the English pack.
An outrageous 50-22 from Goode, who was well in his own 22, soon put Saracens in the ascent but Cardiff held firm and the hosts settled for a penalty. Farrell made no mistake to give his side a 6-3 lead.
Some good defensive work from Sean Maitland forced another penalty around the half-way line, which Farrell rifled into the corner but the Saracens lineout malfunctioned and Tomos Williams snatched possession.
That gave Cardiff a brief reprieve before Farrell added a third penalty to give his side a 9-3 lead. However, the Blue and Blacks secured a penalty straight from the restart and Priestland cut the deficit back to three.
With just minutes of the half remaining, Saracens’ unrelenting physicality took it’s toll and with three Cardiff players down and out of the defensive line, a beautifully delayed pass from Duncan Taylor put Dom Morris slicing through.
Farrell converted to open up a 16-6 lead but Cardiff came roaring back. Priestland twice threatened with arcing breaks from first receiver and his side finally struck in the last play.
Having survived Priestland’s antics and cleared, Saracens would be forgiven for believing they would take a 10-point lead into the sheds but Williams struck from a lineout.
He took the ball off the top from Rory Thornton and sliced through two Saracens’ forwards with a dummy, stepped Max Malins and stretched over despite the last-ditch efforts of Taylor.
It was a stunning individual score and well-deserved for his side’s first half efforts with Priestland converting to make it 16-13 at the break.
Saracens called on the heavy artillery at half-time with Eroni Mawi and Billy Vunipola coming on in the pack and Manu Vunipola at 10, with Farrell moving to inside centre.
Priestland had the opportunity to level the scores shortly after the restart but he hooked his effort and Saracens soared upfield. They piled on the pressure and it appeared ominous but Dillon Lewis pounced for a trademark turnover to earn a penalty.
With the strong wind now at their backs, Priestland fired a long penalty deep into Saracens’ 22 and Seb Davies won possession at the front.
Williams buoyed by his first-half effort sniped from the base and managed to break his hands free between two defenders to release Lane, who needed no second invitation to make amends and take the lead.
Priestland converted from wide to stretch his side’s advantage to four-points at 16-20 but it did not last long.
Just minutes later a flat, inside pass from fly-half Vunipola released Malins and he drew Amos before putting Maitland away. Farrell bisected the posts to put Saracens 23-20 in the lead.
A successful Priestland penalty tied the scores on 55 minutes but the highly entertaining encounter continued as Saracens quickly claimed another try.
With two play-makers on the pitch and plenty of firepower out wide, they threatened on almost every occasion they had attacking possession. And it was that Vunipola-Farrell axis that paved the way for Maitland to cross once more on the switch.
Farrell’s conversion from wide blew short and Priestland quickly added another penalty to cut the deficit to two but the game continued to yo-yo as the hard work was undone.
A line break from Malins did the damage before a tricky grubber to the corner was not secured and trickled into the path of Aled Davies. Farrell was again off target as Cardiff remained in touch.
A stunning Farrell offload out of contact unlocked the Cardiff defence once more as Malins seemed to put the result beyond doubt.
But the Blue and Blacks kept fighting and pressed for a late try. They were turned over on the Saracens’ try-line and Malins looked to go the length but Lane’s efforts to race back and make a try-saving tackle typified the much improved effort.
The referee, Pierre Brousset, then went back to replays, as it appeared Carré had in fact scored, and the conversion from Evans brought the visitors within a converted try.
A late penalty paved the way for one final Cardiff attack, as a fine kick from outside half Evans brought play into the corner. Teddy Williams secured the resulting line-out but a powerful counter effort from the home pack disrupted the drive, forcing the turnover.
The Cardiff defence continued to battle until the very end, hunting a turnover and a final opportunity, but the hosts held out to claim the win and a place in the quarter final clash with Gloucester.