Saracens march on
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Saracens good run in the premiership continued as they managed to defeat Newcastle falcons by a narrow margin
The hosts, knowing a victory would guarantee their Premiership survival, saw Sinoti Sinoti cross on three minutes but Saracens hit back, Streather's try and five points from Charlie Hodgson giving them a narrow 10-8 half-time lead.
The Sarries flyhalf then kicked two penalties to Joel Hodgson's one to maintain his side's lead before replacement wing Ben Ransom ran in a 60-metre interception try to add some breathing space.
There was still time for Warren Fury to add a late try to ensure a losing bonus point for Falcons but the visitors held on for victory.
The game had began at pace with the hosts, coming into the game on the back of a 13-game losing streak in the Premiership, getting off to the best possible start as Sinoti crossed in the corner after just three minutes.
The move came about from an initial inside pass from Adam Powell and with Mark Wilson keeping the ball moving down the left wing, Sinoti then fended off three men to cross, although Joel Hodgson missed the conversion.
Saracens' difficult start continued just five minutes later as winger Jack Wilson was adjudged to have taken Tait out in the air and was duly sent to the sinbin.
But with nine wins in their previous nine encounters with their opponents, the visitors showed little sign of panic and duly worked their way in front on 11 minutes via a converted try.
With Mike Blair conceding possession from his kick, Goode acted as the catalyst for the attack alongside Richard Wigglesworth, before the ball was recycled out to the right, leaving Streather to stroll in.
Charlie Hodgson added the extras before sending over a 30-metre penalty for a 10-5 lead after the Falcons were penalised for bringing the maul down on 17 minutes.
Saracens continued to look the more dangerous approaching the half hour mark with Wigglesworth – captaining the side for the first time in the absence of Steve Borthwick – controlling things well alongside Hodgson.
They almost got in on 32 minutes with Goode, who was returning to the team for the first time since suffering a head injury against Ulster in the European Cup, almost played in Michael Tagicakibau but the Sarries winger spilled the pass.
Joel Hodgson then reduced the deficit to two with a long-range penalty from just inside Saracens' half as Falcons ended the half strongly.
The second-half started at pace with Charlie Hodgson sending over his second penalty of the afternoon before namesake Joel had a chance to reply with a penalty of his own but he sent his 51st minute effort wide.
But there was no mistake six minutes later as the Newcastle fly-half again reduced the gap to two with a kick from wide on the right.
Newcastle were growing in confidence with Sinoti breaking through in search of his second try but he found his path blocked just past the hour.
But with Saracens continuing to dominate the scrum, the visitors kept the scoreline ticking over as Charlie Hodgson's penalty made it 16-11 before a superb counter-attack try by Ransom.
It was hard on Newcastle who had pushed forward towards Sarries' 22, but with Sinoti sending his pass off target, Ransom gratefully gathered before running in unopposed.
Fury got himself on the scoresheet on 76 minutes with a try following consolation with the TMO – Phil Godman sending over the conversion – but Saracens ran out winners.
Scorers:
For Falcons:
Tries: Sinoti, Tait
Con: J Hodgson
Pens: J Hodgson 2
For Saracens:
Tries: Streather, Ransom
Cons: C Hodgson 2
Pens: C Hodgson 3
Yellow Card: J Wilson
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (captain), 6 Richard Mayhew, 5 Scott Macleod, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Oliver Tomaszczyk, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Grant Shiells.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Gary Strain, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Phil Godman, 23 Danny Barnes.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13 Tim Streather, 12 Chris Wyles, 11 Jack Wilson, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Eoin Sheriff, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Jamie George, 1 Richard Barrington.
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Justin Melck, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Ben Ransom.
Referee: Andrew Small
Assistant Referees: Ross Campbell, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Graham Hughes
Northampton Saint 36 – 21 London Irish
Jamie Elliott grabbed a first-half double, either side of a Kahn Fotuali'i score, before Salesi Ma'afu rumbled over shortly after the interval to seal the bonus point for the hosts, who had lost their last three in the league.
But to the Exiles' credit they came roaring back as Andy Fenby, Shane Geraghty and Jebb Sinclair all crossed the whitewash, much to the concern of the home support.
But Alex Waller calmed any nerves going over with the last play of the game and seal a victory that – with Leicester Tigers' defeat on Friday – tightens Saints' grip on a home play-off semi-final.
Irish made the brighter start but found Saints in an uncompromising mood in defence, George Pisi's shuddering hit on Geraghty a sign of things to come.
George North's first carry got Saints into the Exiles' half and when they won a penalty at the breakdown Stephen Myler made no mistake for the first points of the game.
A clever break from Geraghty down the short side then had Saints in trouble but fine work from North in defence turned the tide and moments later the hosts had the game's first try.
The finish from Elliott was classy but there was an element of good fortune about the build up as Fotuali'i's box-kick was partially charged down and sat up perfectly for his winger who cut infield to slide under the posts, Myler's conversion putting them 10-0 to the good.
The first quarter of an hour was being played at a frantic pace, Geraghty again the fulcrum for Irish when he scooped up a loose ball and hared off down the left touchline but Ben Foden's cover forced him back inside and the chance was lost.
Irish were continually creating opportunities and then wasting them, Fenby fresh from his hat-trick last weekend was the next to break free but having made inroads down the left his offload was intercepted and again the Saints cleared their lines.
Irish were defending manfully but fortune did not smile on them and the second Saints try was as lucky as the first, the bounce of the ball after a charged down Irish clearance again sitting up perfectly, this time for Fotuali'i who raced clear for the second try.
Myler's touchline conversion made it 17-0 to Saints after half an hour, a scoreline that was harsh on the Exiles whose impressive offloading game was still making inroads.
And worse was still to come after Foden bounced out of a tackle from his opposite man Alex Lewington and turned defence into attack with a scampering break.
Saints were on the march for a third try before the interval and when the ball was fed right a delightful Burrell offload meant Elliott was able to burrow over in the corner, Myler's conversion again spot on for a 24-0 lead and taking him over 1000 career Premiership points.
Saints were now in the groove and it was not long after the interval before the Franklin's Gardens crowd could celebrate the fourth try and a bonus point.
Ma'afu barrelled over from close range after Burrell's superb initial break while North also went close for the hosts after hacking through.
Irish were defending stoutly and they deserved a try for their efforts, Fenby collecting his own grubber kick to score and reduce arrears to 29-7.
And a minute later the Exiles were right back in it, Geraghty racing the length of the pitch after an interception to go under the posts, his conversion against his former club making it 29-14.
Waller was then sent to the sin bin and when Sinclair barged over for a third Exiles try in quick succession suddenly a comeback was on the cards.
Yarde had a try ruled out for a forward pass as the Exiles continued pressing but in the game's final play Waller crossed in the corner to seal an important victory for the hosts.
Scorers:
For Saints:
Tries: Elliott 2, Fotuali'i, Ma'afu, A Waller
Cons: Myler 3, Wilson
Pens: Myler 2
Yellow Card: A Waller
For Irish:
Tries: Fenby, Geraghty, Evans
Cons: Geraghty 3
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Tom Wood (captain), 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Ross McMillan, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Matt Williams, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Calum Clark, 20 GJ Van Velze, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Will Hooley, 23 James Wilson.
London Irish: 15 Alex Lewington, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Andrew Fenby, 10 Shane Geraghty (captain), 9 Tomás O'Leary, 8 Ofisa Treviranus, 7 Gerard Ellis, 6 Blair Cowan, 5 Nic Rouse, 4 Kieran Low, 3 Leo Halavatau, 2 Mike Mayhew, 1 Matt Parr.
Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Johnny Harris, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Bryn Evans, 20 Jebb Sinclair, 21 Tom Homer, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Darren Allinson.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant Referees: Andrew Pearce, Nigel Carrick
TMO: Geoffrey Warren
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