Justin Va'a and the Glasgow scrum stood up to the powerful Sarries set-piece

The odds stacked against them by the bizarre decision to play on the waterlogged Hughenden pitch this was all about desire and they demonstrated how badly they wanted to extend their involvement in this competition.

On a day when the Warriors youngsters discovered the downside of being apprentice professionals, conditions could hardly have been worse.

Torrential rain created pools of water all over what could barely be described as a playing surface and the young players had spent the day putting the club's newly acquired range of pitchforks to use, albeit with minimal effect.

From the off, both sets of players could barely stay upright and while it seemed natural that it would be a night for putting boot to ball, those trying to kick could hardly get purchase from their non-kicking foot.

Nothing could have been less well suited to the free-flowing style of game the Warriors coaches have been looking to encourage. By contrast, they seemed ideal for Saracens' powerful pack.

What pleasure Alan Gaffney, their head coach, took from that turn of events might have been mitigated by the withdrawal of Andy Farrell, the former Great Britain rugby league captain, from their side during the warm-up because of a stiff back.

However, that was about the only thing not in the visitors' favour since the vile weather also meant it was a far less hostile environment than they had anticipated.

The crowd was much smaller than had been hoped and the spirits of those hardy supporters who huddled on the terracing under umbrellas and waterpoofs were naturally dampened by the deluge.

It was never going to be a high-scoring game and the only points of the first quarter came when Dan Parks knocked over a penalty after the Saracens backs were caught offside at a ruck just outside their 22.

The stand off was given a an opportunity to increase the lead after Cobus Visagie, the ex-Springbok prop spoke out of turn, but looking for extra power, this time from further out, he slipped, sending the ball off course and past the right post.

What was striking was that, not for the first time, the handling of the Scottish side seemed better than usual in such conditions, but while they moved it efficiently it was almost impossible to generate the pace in their running to get through a committed defence.

Saracens were more incisive when they finally created an attacking opportunity releasing Richard Haughton on the left. The winger appeared unlucky to be denied a try as, after kicking ahead, he sprawled for the ball alongside two defenders.

Instead, the referee awarded a scrum on the five-metre line - a decision which came as a surprise to most within the ground.

Having given away two penalty tries in similar situations when the sides met at Watford earlier in the competition, the Warriors did well to disrupt their opponents and get away from their line.

They conceded a penalty in front of the posts for offside almost immediately afterwards which Glen Jackson kicked to level the scores, but in the circumstances they would have settled for that and it was level at the interval.

The Warriors pack held out once more when put under enormous pressure at a series of lineouts and scrums close to their own line early in the second half, but again ended up conceding a penalty when the backs lost their discipline and inched offside at a ruck under their own posts, Jackson putting his side ahead for the first time.

The response was mighty, the Warriors pack picking and driving their way downfield after a break by their captain Al Kellock, only for Justin Va's to knock on in contact as they made the final surge for the line. The pressure was maintained, eventually earning Parks two more penalty chances wide on the right and after he dragged the first narrowly wide the second was struck magnificently to level the scores once more.

Both sides knew a draw would suit them with Saracens winning the pool while their hosts qualified and in the end that was what both had to settle for.

Report from The Herald

Glasgow draw line in mud as both teams go through Lineen's men make last eight - The Scotsman

Sean: It's a muddy miracle - Daily Record

Glasgow Warriors 6 Saracens 6 - Saracens Official Website

Glasgow through to European last eight - Glasgow Warriors Official Website