Sarries continue to cruise, despite Vunipola red card

SUNDAY WRAP: Saracens continued their unbeaten start to the Premiership season with a comprehensive 34-14 victory at Newcastle.

Max Malins crossed twice as Saracens romped to a five-try triumph at Kingston Park, their fourth successive league win.

Falcons were blown away in the first half, conceding 26 points without reply.

The visitors took the lead with three minutes on the clock, Alex Lewington winning the foot race to Elliot Daly’s kick-in behind to touch down.

Owen Farrell pushed his conversion attempt wide, but Saracens went further ahead after nine minutes.

Newcastle was punished at the scrum as the Saracens pack drove forward and Kapeli Pifeleti bounced off a pair of defenders to go over, Farrell successful with the conversion.

Alex Lozowski grabbed the third try of the afternoon, once again in the left corner as quick hands from Daly allowed him to dive over, Farrell nailing the conversion from out wide.

Saracens looked like a threat every time they came forward as they pinned Newcastle deep inside their own half.

A fantastic break from Ivan van Zyl saw the scrum-half dart through and a long pass released Lozowski, but he was denied by a great tackle by the covering Adam Radwan.

The bonus point was secured with 10 minutes of the first half remaining as neat play down the right involving Billy Vunipola and Nick Tompkins allowed Malins to cross. Farrell was again successful with the extras.

The second half continued in much the same way, with Saracens on the front foot and playing some excellent free-flowing rugby, albeit without threatening the scoreboard.

They suffered their first setback after 54 minutes as Mako Vunipola was given a red card for a dangerous clear-out, leading with his shoulder on Mateo Carreras.

But a minute later they added their fifth try of the afternoon as Malins scored a classy try in the right corner after excellent hands from the backs.

Newcastle finally got on the scoresheet after 65 minutes when Tian Schoeman broke clear and found Jamie Blamire for the England international to score, the South African adding the extras.

A rare error from Saracens handed Newcastle their second try.

A knock-on at the back of the line-out was scooped up by Carreras and he scampered in from 30 metres, with Schoeman kicking the conversion.

Farrell added a late penalty as the Falcons were penalised for not releasing in front of the posts.

Carreras thought he had grabbed his second try with a sensational solo effort, but the television match official ruled the ball had gone dead after he raced from inside his own half and chipped over Tompkins.

* Meanwhile, in the other Sunday fixture, Courtnall Skosan’s last-gasp try gave Northampton Saints an extraordinary 40-36 victory over Wasps, as the visitors scored twice in the last two minutes of a crazy Premiership contest.

Despite having fullback Jacob Umaga sent off, Wasps looked near-certain for victory as they led 36-28 going into the dying stages at the CBS Arena, with Northampton set for the fourth loss in five games.

But the visitors, who were far below their best, for the most part, had other ideas as they left the majority inside the ground stunned by their late double salvo.

Sunday scores and scorers below …

Newcastle Falcons 14-34 Saracens

The scorers

For Newcastle Falcons
Tries: Blamire, Carreras
Cons: Schoeman 2

For Saracens
Tries: Lewington, Pifeleti, Lozowski, Malins 2
Cons: Farrell 3
Pen: Farrell

Red card: Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53)

The teams:

Newcastle: 15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Connor Collett, 6 Will Welch (captain), 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Greg Peterson, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Adam Brocklebank.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Freddie Lockwood, 21 Michael Young, 22 Pete Lucock, 23 Ben Stevenson.

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ivan Van Zyl, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Alex Goode, 23 Josh Hallett.

Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Nick Wood, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Stuart Terheege

Wasps 36-40 Northampton Saints

The scorers

For Wasps
Tries: Willis, Odogwu, Oghre, Atkinson
Cons: Umaga 2
Pens: Umaga 3, Haydon-Wood

For Northampton Saints
Tries: Coles 2, Sleightholme, Skosan, Penalty try
Cons: Furbank, Hutchinson, penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Biggar 3

Red card: Jacob Umaga (Wasps, 66)

The teams:

Wasps: 15 Jacob Umaga, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Kiran McDonald, 4 Joe Launchbury (captain), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Robin Hislo.
Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Rodrigo Martinez, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Ben Morris, 21 Will Porter, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Northampton: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Sam Graham, 7 Lewis Ludlam (captain), 6 Alex Coles, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Tom James, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Courtnall Skosan.

Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, John Meredith
TMO: Claire Hodnett